Scottish Connections Advisory Panel meeting: October 2024

Attendees and apologies

• Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (AR)
• Lolita Jackson, GlobalScot (LJ)
• Mark Kent, Scotch Whisky Association (MK)
• Fran Hegyi, Edinburgh International Festival (FH)
• Kim Atkinson, Scottish Sports Association (KA)
• Prof. Tanja Bueltmann, Strathclyde University (TB)
• Rebecca Brooks (RB)
• Ian Houston, GlobalScot (IH)
• Billy Kay (BK)
• Andrew, Viscount Dunrossil, Scottish Council of Standing Chiefs (AD)
• Prof. Murray Pittock, University of Glasgow (MP)
• Scottish Government Scottish Connections officials, Secretariat (SC)

Items and actions

Introductions and opening remarks

 AR talked about the importance of the Scottish Connections framework and a joined up approach to diaspora while understanding that there is a significant number of organisations in Scotland who do this already (tourism, education, sport, culture etc.) There is a whole series of organisations that are internationally oriented from Scotland and have their own network of people around the world. AR also talked about taking a thematic approach to diaspora engagement and mentioned a change in Scottish Government with external affairs and culture becoming part of the same directorate.mThis change is a reflection of how seriously we take the international importance of culture in both directions. AR also noted the need for the panel to provide a clear focus for the framework in order to have measurable progress. 

Engaging with historically marginalised groups and non-english speaking diaspora

AD suggested an individual from the Muscogee Creek tribe that would be a key stakeholder to engage with on native American diaspora links. The individual is involved with native American groups in Oklahoma as well as being the independent curator for two fine art exhibitions in 2022: “Chiefs, Clans and Kin” at the Living Arts Centre of Tulsa, Oklahoma and at the Choctaw Cultural Centre, Durant, Oklahoma and “Matrilineal: Legacies of Our Mothers” Santa Fe, New Mexico. With reference to these exhibitions AD noted the maternal links to native American cultures through intermarriage with Scots men. AR recalled speaking at an event for the Edinburgh Fringe where he met the co-directors of a large festival in New Zealand who were Māori; her cousin runs the Scottish diaspora museum in Waipu. LJ noted that she is the only black person on the St Andrews society of New York which didn’t let in women until 15 years ago. She says there is a role for SG encourage the societies to be more inclusive about who they admit to the societies; particularly for slave descendants; In the Caribbean – roughly 25% of surnames are Scottish for example. AR noted he has always had a positive experience of engaging with African American diaspora and recalled his experience of meeting a man outside the World Bank who had done a DNA ancestry test and discovered he had Scottish heritage.

AR also referenced work currently being undertaken by National Records of Scotland and that there may be other Scotland based organisations that may be able to help with projects in collaboration with the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. MK noted the positive sentiment in South America even for example Buenos Aires which has very few first generation Scottish people but a large diaspora and that there is a need for Burns suppers not being a closed shop linguistically. AR recalled a German/Scottish language Burns supper translation and the importance of  international students and alumni to build links with who will become diaspora in future. TB noted that she can provide details on inclusivity based on historical data/research -- some of that might be useful to inform how this could be approached.

SC gave an overview of work to date, next steps for the year ahead and overall ambition within the policy area

Digital tools 

AR referenced Scotland.org and the directory as well as the wider digital toolkit. AD noted that ‘new diaspora’ (non-genealogical) engagement should not be at the expense of ‘traditional’ diaspora so to speak.  AR noted that the Irish are the gold standard in relation to diaspora engagement and Scottish Government’s ambition is to be as good, if not better although noting that the nature of Scottish diaspora is not exactly the same as Irish diaspora groups.

Cross-party support 

IH impressed at how quickly the Scottish Connections framework has progressed. He noted that, in his view, one of the finest moments in the Scottish parliament was watching AR lead a discussion on the framework with multiple voices across the political spectrum contributing. He noted that it was a refreshing discussion and a positive spirit and suggested recapturing that sentiment it as it was hugely motivating.

Harnessing and improving Scotland’s national days

IH also noted the unique position in the US where St Andrew’s Day, Burns Night and Tartan Day are regularly celebrated but he would welcome a stronger definition of what St Andrews Day means; he reflected that the day is unlikely to ever be as expansive in the US as St Patricks Day but could be badged as a day of service leading up to thanksgiving in the States. He noted that we need to be creative in how we mobilise and brand it, perhaps so it could be seen as a day for Scots to serve in their communities (with voluntary work in the spotlight). AR noted that for Tartan Day we should continue to be creative with the audiences that we are engaging with and mentioned last year’s visit to the Frederick Douglass statue in Central Park. He, however, also noted the importance of bringing Scotland to new communities. He stated that Tartan Day is not just about NYC and Washington and we need to mobilise Global Scots in communities that aren’t hearing that message. He noted that the USA, NYC and Washington in particular are an exemplar of how other communities can do it better and referenced the oldest Tartan Day being in Canada as well as relatively new Tartan Day festivities in Australia.

AR mentioned that there is also an opportunity to inject modernity into Burns Suppers, for example, by showing videos from VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise/SDI or the Fringe at the start of the events; this is something that Global Scots could implement in their various networks. AR noted that he set up the Burns supper in Vienna when there were no resources or support for doing do. He referenced the work of Glasgow University to document all the Burns suppers in the world and the need to give them something that they can use at these events.  MP noted that Burns suppers are all shapes and sizes all over the world but charitable giving is the thread running throughout all of these. He suggested SG to write to the big burns suppers and to recognise their work and the importance of carrying Scottish culture across the world. MP also mentioned the British and German Chambers of Commerce in Frankfurt tend to get whisky for events from Diageo and so there is an opportunity to showcase Scotland at these suppers.  MP also noted an offer from Clark McGinn on a database and advice on burns suppers worldwide.

GlobalScots 

AR referenced the economic focus/remit of GlobalScots and his desire to broaden out the role and expand it to include individuals with a cultural locus.

Diaspora research 

TB noted that it’s important to look at the current diaspora demographic and understand who you want to target in terms of gaps and ‘new diaspora’ that we want to attract; ‘who are we looking at and who are we looking for’. Scotland’s diaspora is an extension of Scotland itself but who is active and choosing to be interested in this must be explored as well as what we can do more to capture who currently isn’t engaged. TB noted that she is interested in making diaspora tangible. Her latest research on Scots in continental Europe ask a question around being part of a diaspora; 47% of respondents do feel a strong attachment to Scotland; the Welsh polled at 14.3% and the English 14.2%. TB now conducting research to understand the picture in other geographies around the world. Her research undertaken in continental Europe highlighted that a number of Scots felt they weren’t being ‘used’ enough and wanted more engagement and direction from the Scottish Government on how they can promote Scottish interests abroad. AR made reference to the SG international offices (9), SDI offices (30) and the Global Scot network and noted that the point about not being ‘used’ enough is absolutely key in all of this. He noted that not everybody wants to do the same thing but we have to make it easy for people to be connected and to be involved perhaps through utilising a toolkit. Research in this area is key. MP noted the general assumption that the diaspora exists and want to engage with SG but we need to explore who they are and what they want. A large scale survey of various categories of diaspora – such as a meta survey through Facebook - would help determine what they want from Scotland.

Engaging diaspora groups

BK used the example of a friend of his who is a broadcaster of a Scots-Irish Celtic music programme that airs across the US. He made reference to the Scottish Enlightenment and US universities (Princeton) Nassau hall was funded by money from Scottish Churches, but hardly any Scottish studies taught today in Princeton compared to an Irish literature course. MP noted that Scottish products/culture are often absorbed by the stronger Irish brand and that we should think about how to tackle this. He made reference to an Irish Whisky shop in France which has nothing but Scottish single malts in the window.

Philanthropy/fundraising

FH on Fundraising and US culture – We are leaving a lot of potential on the table and we are not as organised as we might be. Fundraising in the US is a really expensive business and we can’t afford to do it. The opportunity to set up a Scottish Government fundraising office as a route for attracting investment into Scotland is determined by the question of capacity. There needs to be prioritisation and focusing our efforts to give a charge and a boost to have a network of GlobalScots supporting our strategy ‘A Trading Nation’. Ask questions like; What does success look like? Are there numbers around that? What does it look like? MP noted that Caroline McCracken-Flesher at University of Wyoming cmf@uwyo.edu has some interesting views and been involved with NTS USA and well connected in Scotland as well. 

Sports diplomacy

KA highlighted the power sports diplomacy. The Euros and the tartan army provided an opportunity to connect with people in a different way; it’s in sport where we find that commonality. It’s important to consider the governing bodies for different sports in Scotland and what are their priorities – KA mentioned a few opportunities coming up; the launch of new physical activity for health framework with world leading cross-policy working particularly in relation to access rights which could bring in investment in a different way; bid for a number of events including world wheelchair curling championships and the commonwealth games; men’s Euros; mass participation events for curling; men’s cricket in 2030. AR noted that we should also engage sportsmen and women form elsewhere who are playing here or who did play here and went back to their countries of origin. 

Actions

• to share panel members’ contact details so that they can engage with each other on ideas out with panel meetings
• to create a stakeholder engagement list based on contacts suggested by the panel
• share links to digital products to the group post meeting
• officials to follow up with TB on the research mentioned