The Foundation was a major sponsor of the ‘For Auld Lang Syne’ exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.
The exhibition explored and celebrated the cultural and political impact of the Scots on the development of the Australian Nation. It:
- brought together works of art, historical portraits , memorabilia and original documents drawn from collections in Australia an overseas
- included an extensive schedule of public programs
- provided different opportunities for public engagement including art workshops, lectures and talks, poetry events, a ceilidh and celebrations with traditional Scottish cuisine
- featured indoor and outdoor Scottish musical events
- ran from 11 April to 27 July 2014
- opened as a component of the National Pipe Band competitions.
All the public programs were well-subscribed. The exhibition attracted over 18,000 visitors of which nearly 2,000 were students.
The exhibition proved popular with schools and was well-placed within the school year. It included a comprehensive education program at both primary and secondary levels.
A catalogue was produced, called ‘For Auld Lang Syne’, which:
- includes a foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales
- includes essays by eight leading scholars on aspects of the Scottish presence in Australia
- is an important document in its own right
- reinforces the contribution and influence Scots have had on the settlement and development of Australia
- was prepared under the supervision of the Gallery’s Director, Gordon Morrison
- provides a permanent record of the project
The project also designed a special tartan. It is called the Ballarat Tartan and has been registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans.