Scotland Art and Culture

Scotland has a rich heritage of art and culture and today the traditional and the contemporary, the Celtic and the diasporic all have their place in the fabric of the country. Over the years the population composition of Scotland has changed with new immigrants coming from different lands. This has led to a change in the culture, food and lifestyles of the people but it has only served to enrich the land and the lives of the people of Scotland.

Scotland is home to the world’s largest and most famous festival, the Edinburgh International Festival which showcases and celebrates myriads of art forms. Every year thousands of people from all over the world flock to Edinburgh for the main and fringe festivals. Edinburgh has excellent art galleries and museums with paintings and artifacts by top artists, sculptors and artisans from all over the world.

The Islands and the Highlands are thriving centers of art in many levels and forms. The influence here is mainly Norse and Gaelic. There are more than seventy art festivals held here every year and over a hundred and fifty art galleries open to the public. There are over a hundred museums and twenty theater groups here. While the traditional art forms are gaining popularity, there is also an increase in the outside influences bringing about changes and enriching the cultural fabric.

The music of Scotland exists in many forms. Through the summer tourists are regaled with traditional sounds of the bagpipes, highland music and dance. A number of pop and rock groups of Scotland have gained international status and popularity. They all coexist in harmony in Scotland, a happy phenomenon seen in all other art forms as well.

It does not matter how often you may have visited this mystic land, Scotland always has a new aesthetic experience to offer. Novices and aficionados delight alike in the sensual pleasures of Scotland. Plan your next visit this year, and add to your treasure of the most sublime cultural experiences!