28th Oct 04

A unique new guide to Scotland's Burns treasures is now available. This full colour publication has been specially compiled by the many curators, librarians, and private collectors who care for Scotland's direct link with the poet and those priceless manuscripts, paintings, books, relics and memorabilia found across the country. This will be the first time that information on separate collections has been pulled together into one guide. Burns in Scotland: Highlights of the National Burns Collection will be available at most Burns venues from late November.

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28th Oct 04

An exciting new trail highlighting the life and legacy of Robert Burns in south-west Scotland will be created by a local partnership and the National Burns Collection.

Ayrshire and Arran Tourism Forum in partnership with Kilmarnock College, Scottish Agricultural College and local history groups, will produce in total 3 tourist trails for Ayrshire.

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25th Oct 04

A working group of organisations holding significant Burns material in and around the village of Tarbolton are due to meet for the third time at Burns Cottage on 25th October. The Tarbolton Forum was set up in July 2004 to discuss common issues such as museum development, the organisation of Burns events, and initiatives such as community exhibitions and Burns trails.

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13th Oct 04

Edinburgh's status as the first international City of Literature was announced on 13th October by the Assistant Director-General of Culture at UNESCO, Mr Mounir Bouchenaki.

Edinburgh's City of Literature bid was generated and developed by the Scottish literary and publishing community, and identifies Edinburgh as a literary gateway to Scotland. Seed-funded by the Scottish Arts Council, the concept is formally backed by the Scottish Executive and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, The City of Edinburgh Council, the National Library, the University of Edinburgh, Scottish Enterprise and many other city agencies who have made covenants in support of the project.

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14th Sep 04

Letters written by Bishop John Geddes, the Roman Catholic clergyman whom Robert Burns befriended during his time in Edinburgh, were recently discovered by the National Burns Collection in their audit of Burns material in Scottish collections. The previously unpublished material, held by the Scottish Catholic Archives, reveal Burns' behaviour during his time in Edinburgh and Ayrshire.

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