Christmas and Hogmanay events will benefit from a record £390,000 of funding this winter, the Culture Secretary has announced.
Fiona Hyslop said the cash will help 22 cultural celebrations throughout Scotland, with an extra £75,000 approved this year to expand the line-up to more areas including Dundee, Aberdeen, East Ayrshire and Falkirk.
The programme of events, aimed at promoting Scottish music, arts, food and drink, will run from St Andrew’s Day through Christmas and Hogmanay to Burns Night.
Ms Hyslop said: “We want to build on Scotland’s Winter Festivals programme year on year.
“By increasing the funding package available, I hope these dynamic events will engage, inspire and mobilise communities across Scotland, the UK and internationally.
“The programme offers Scotland a chance to promote and showcase itself as a modern and creative nation while highlighting our contribution to the world.
“The number of tourists visiting Scotland rose by 5% during 2014 to more than 15 million.”
The funding includes £100,000 for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, organised by Unique Events, and £58,000 for the Virgin Money Street of Light and St Andrew’s Day events in the capital, run by Underbelly Limited.
Four other Hogmanay celebrations will be supported in the Western Isles, East Lothian, Falkirk and Stirling.
Dumfries and Galloway’s Big Burns Supper Festival, organised by the Big Burns Supper Festival Trust, has been awarded £33,000 while Alloway 1759, a commemoration of Robert Burns run by South Ayrshire Council, has been granted £30,000.
Funding of £46,050 has also been awarded to Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland (BEMIS) for multi-cultural celebrations as part of the Winter Festivals and 2015 Year of Food and Drink.