Plans for a National Tartan Centre

[figheadair]

Many people, both at home and abroad, are surprised to learn that there is no National Museum for Tartan and Highland Dress, surely Scotland's unique cultural gift to the world. Having been involved with a number of private projects over the past 40 years I'm delighted to report that we may at last be on the cusp of achieving what has been a lifelong dream for many. This article in the Times headlines plans form the establishment of a National Tartan Centre in Stirling.

The STA is leading on this project and the selection of Stirling as the home of the Centre follows a detailed appraisal which examined a number of sites. We had no control over the article and the reference to Braveheart was probably inevitable, however,
Stirling is ideally suited as the location of choice for a number of reasons; it is geographically well placed with easy road and rail access and a gateway to the Highlands, contains a number of other important visitor sites (Bannockburn, Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle) and importantly, is close by to Wilsons of Bannockburn's George IV mill.

STA Blog. We are at the early stages of this exciting project which for the first time offers the opportunity to establish a world class Museum and Information Centre dedicaed to tartan and Highland Dress. If you're not a member the STA please consider joining and supporting our work to Preserve, Protect and Promote Tartan and Highland Dress.

[tripleblessed]

Thanks, Peter, for this post. I will admit that when I saw Stirling as the location I had a moment of slight confusion much like I do
looking at your user name and pondering its correct pronunciation - why Stirling? Why not north of the Highland Line? So, thanks especially for the following paragraph explaining the thinking.

[figheadair]

Here's the full article from today's Times.

[figheadair]

Thanks, Peter, for this post. I will admit that when I saw Stirling as the location I had a moment of slight confusion much like I do
looking at your user name and pondering its correct pronunciation - why Stirling? Why not north of the Highland Line? So, thanks especially for the following paragraph explaining the thinking.

In pure practical trrms, there is nowhere in the Highlands that has the footfall to support sucn a Centre and Stirling, with it's connection to Bannockburn, is a logical and pragmatic choice.

[Jock Scot]

I understand the reasoning, particularly when investing that sort of money. Somehow though, I regret that somewhere further North could not have fitted the bill.

[figheadair]

I understand the reasoning, particularly when investing that sort of money. Somehow though, I regret that somewhere further North could not have fitted the bill.

Absolutely Jock but unfortunately that option was unrealistic for a number of reasons.

[fflex]

I look forward to visiting this one day. I was born and raised in the Falkirk area, can see the Wallace Monument from my mums house with a pair of binoculars.

[ThistleDown]

I would really like to understand the reasoning for Stirling as the choice. Can you help, Peter? Tartan being 'tartan' it seems that Inverness, Fort William or even Perth would have been much more reasonable. Your father had the old museum at Comrie and that was good, too. Moving tartan south of the Highland line seems political, on the surface, and I wonder that the Highland chiefs and clan associations haven't yet raised a stink.

[Jock Scot]

It seems , yet again, Rex that investment in the Highlands with the attached employment bonus of direct and indirect employment opportunities is going to be lost . I do understand the commercial "footfall" considerations and why Stirling meets that particular criteria, but yet again the geographical and historical "curse" of the Highlands of being in the wrong place appears to be striking again.

Its probably too late now but as a suggestion, Fort George appears to heading towards redundancy as a barracks and there are going to be hopefully excellent development opportunities there, was that investigated by the powers that be, as a suitable place for the museum? Interesting and inevitable questions are bound to be asked over the reasons of choosing Stirling-------the easy option?----- as the right place, following the excellent initial decision of identifying the need for the museum.

[figheadair]

I would really like to understand the reasoning for Stirling as the choice. Can you help, Peter? Tartan being 'tartan' it seems that Inverness, Fort William or even Perth would have been much more reasonable. Your father had the old museum at Comrie and that was good, too. Moving tartan south of the Highland line seems political, on the surface, and I wonder that the Highland chiefs and clan associations haven't yet raised a stink.

In what other first world country would such a National cultural assest like tartan not be worthy of a state funded museum and interpretation centre? Unfortunately that is not the case here in Scotland and we that are interested have to try and preserve the nation's cultural heritage through a differennt funding model if we want to do it at all.

The Comrie museum was indeed good, I cut my teeth there but it always struggled and ultimately it was unsustainable because it was was Independent and had no Government or National Museum support. Yes, tartan was of course a Highland textile but since 1822 it has been Scotland's cloth and most of the designs we see today were design by or for Scots and others outside of the Highlands.

Both Inverness and Perth have been looked at in the past and neither met the requirement, Fort William was always going to be a none starter (sorry Jock) because of the seasonal footfall. In simple economic terms this project needs to be sustainable in the long term and unforunately there is nowhere in the Highlands. Why the Piping Centre in Glasgow? Stirling may not be in ther Highlands but it has a strong tartan connection and it's not Edinburgh which is were some would like to see a Centre.