Fringe stars encouraged to join celebrations in 2009

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe today revealed that it is encouraging performers who have who have appeared at the world’s biggest arts festival to ‘come home’ and join in Scotland’s first ever-nationwide Homecoming celebrations in 2009. This could include the likes of Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, the Foo Fighters, Razorlight, Jude Law, Christian Slater, Emma Thompson, Ricky Gervais, Craig Ferguson, David Schwimmer, Rachel Weisz, Hugh Grant and Gerard Butler – who have all appeared in the Fringe line-up over the years.

This news was revealed as part of a wider announcement from Homecoming Scotland 2009 to showcase how the world-famous Edinburgh festivals plan to join the groundbreaking 2009 celebrations.

Jon Morgan, Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe said: "The Fringe is the largest arts festival on the planet and we are delighted to be involved with Homecoming in 2009 which will mean the Fringe will be even better for artists and audiences. The Fringe is all about opportunities for new performers and that’s why over 18,000 artists come to Edinburgh every year to entertain Fringe-goers form all over the world.

"Many famous faces have also performed at the Fringe over the years and some return year on year to perform at one of the most fantastic festivals in the world. In 2009 Scotland's inspiring capital will be buzzing with thousands of performances providing the perfect opportunity for everyone to come home and join the best party Scotland has ever seen."

The Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Science Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh Christmas Festival and Edinburgh Military Tattoo also plan to mark Homecoming Scotland 2009 with some significant and exciting activity including:

-Screening of films by Scottish filmmakers and discussions about the Scottish influence on filmmakers at home and abroad at The Edinburgh International Film Festival (June 17 - 28).
-The Edinburgh Military Tattoo's (Aug 7 – 29) international programme embracing some of the world-renowned works by the poet Robert Burns in an emotive performance of pride and passion.
-Extending the reach of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo beyond the spectacular setting of Edinburgh Castle in a series of four free satellite events across central Scotland.
-A focus on Scotland’s influence on some of the world’s great artists and artistic endeavours, and a reflection on that extraordinary moment in Scottish history that was the Enlightenment at The Edinburgh International Festival (August 14 – Sept 6).
-A series of special events at The Edinburgh International Book Festival (August 15 – 31 2009) that provide a unique opportunity to celebrate and debate Scotland’s rich literary and cultural heritage, in particular the importance of Burns and the Scottish Enlightenment.
-An electrifying, illuminated art car parade as part of the Edinburgh Christmas Festivals on November 28 featuring such sights as a Robert Burns Poetry van, a Burke and Hare barrow, a golf car, a whisky truck and a bagpipe truck!

Homecoming Scotland 2009 will be a year long celebration of Scottish culture, heritage and some of the many great contributions Scotland has given the world. It marks the 250th anniversary of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns.

This is the first time the country has ever held a nation-wide Homecoming celebration, which will welcome anyone who has a love of Scotland – whether they are from Scotland, have ancestral connections with Scotland, used to live in Scotland or simply enjoy visiting the country.

The programme features over 100 events taking place across the length and breadth of Scotland, between Burns’ Night 25 January and St Andrews’ Day 30 November.

At a special event revealing the festival’s plans today, The Rt Hon Alex Salmond, MSP, First Minister of Scotland also took the opportunity to announce that the Scottish Arts Council has pledged an additional £250,000 to further enhance the Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme and extend legacy of this exciting national celebration. Exact details of the events this funding will support will be announced around St Andrew’s Day, 30 November 2008.