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Scotland Week 2016 ran from April 2 to 9 April, during which time Ms Margaret Burgess, the then Minister for Housing and Welfare, undertook ministerial engagements in New York City between 6 and 9 April 2016.

The overall purpose of Scotland Week 2016 was to showcase Scotland’s cultural contribution to the world, and especially the United States, as well as strengthening the relationships we have created with key US contacts.

Over the course of the week, the minister participated in a number of engagements to show government support of the relationships the Scottish Affairs Office, Scottish Development International and VisitScotland have fostered.

The minister addressed the VisitScotland Diaspora breakfast which was attended by representatives from the key ancestral and diaspora societies and associations based in the New York area. This provided an opportunity to update this key audience on the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design and to introduce the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.

The minister hosted a lunch for Scottish Development International in New York with key members of the GlobalScots network. The event presented an opportunity to recognise the valuable contribution made by this influential group to the Scottish business economy and hear at first-hand about future plans for engagement.

The minister’s visit included several cultural engagements: a visit to the ‘Scots Who Built New York’ exhibition which celebrates the iconic and historic buildings of New York built by Scottish architects; the promotion of the Scottish creative sector at a Scottish Music Festival in Bryant Park and attendance at the opening ceremony of the John Muir Exhibit on Ellis Island. The exhibit celebrates the life and legacy of Scots-born naturalist, John Muir, who founded the US National Park Service, which marks its 100^th anniversary in 2016.

The minister was the guest of honour at the St Andrew’s Society of New York’s Tartan Day celebration where she made a speech to congratulate and thank the Society for their tremendous philanthropic efforts both in the USA and in Scotland.

On behalf of the Scottish Government the minister hosted an event with the National Theatre of Scotland, which included a performance of “The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart”. This provided a great opportunity to promote Scottish arts and showcase Scotland’s international cultural impact.

The Minister also hosted a reception for Scottish University alumni in the US and spoke on the importance of building a strong Scottish Alumni network across North America. Alumni are advocates, not just for the Scottish higher education sector, but for Scotland as a whole and can help develop key networks.

The minister met with the Executive Director of New York Centre for Economic Opportunity, Matt Klein, and discussed respective efforts to combat poverty and foster new opportunities for economic prosperity, as well as further areas of mutually beneficial collaboration. She also met with Paul Heckler from the High Line to discuss urban regeneration projects and the fostering public-private partnerships for community restoration in New York and Scotland.

During the week the minister also laid a wreath in memory of all those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attack, which of course included a number of Scots. She then toured the 9/11 Museum and Memorial.

The week ended with the St Andrew’s Society of New York’s Kirkin’ ‘O the Tartan, followed by the Tartan Day Parade down 6^th Avenue, one of the longest running Scotland Week events.