EventScotland’s National Events Programme continues to thrive with three new applicants

From obstacle courses to scenic trail runs, celebrations of crime writing to health and wellbeing, the latest round of EventScotland’s National Events funding is set to support an exciting array of events and festivals in 2020. 

Five events from across Scotland, including three first-time applicants, have been awarded a share of £72,000 in funding from EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate. 

Taking place between January and May, the five events from across four local authorities have received the funding from Round 42 of EventScotland’s National Programme Fund to enhance event delivery and to further develop Scotland’s diverse events portfolio. 

Among the recipients are two obstacle course events, MacTuff (5 January) and Beast Race (30 & 31 May), both taking place in the Kingdom of Fife. MacTuff, coined as the toughest obstacle race of its kind in Scotland, will take place at Knockhill Racing Circuit and will see participants battle 7, 15 or 30km of challenging terrain; through mud, water and obstacles, putting their strength and endurance to the test. This is the second time the event has received National Events funding, with the latest award of £6,000 going towards a dedicated social media campaign for UK and Europe. 

Already established in Loch Ness and Banchory, the Beast Race series will hold its first-ever event at Loch Ore, which will feature a series of 15km, 6km and children’s races across the weekend. The event consists of mega obstacles; giant water slides; icy loch water; thick mud & swamp crossings and is open to all ages and can be tackled as a group or a solo effort. 

Traditionally a one-day affair, the latest addition to the Beast Race series has received a first-time award of £12,000 to support the creation of a second-day offering for children; The Beast Race ‘Wildchild’ challenge, as well as for video production of the children’s and 6km events.

The other events to receive funding from the latest round include:

The National Events Programme is a strategic development programme with eligible events, which take place outside the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, able to bid for a maximum of three rounds of funding. The deadline for the next round of the National Programme is 7 February 2020 with events taking place from August 2020 onwards eligible to apply. Guidelines for entry are available on www.eventscotland.org.