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Plans are underway to drag Robert Burns into the 21st century with a major new summer festival. The brainchild of tourism chief Janet Ruben, the celebration will be aimed at exploiting the full potential of Ayr's most famous son to attract tourists to Ayrshire. It will also recognise Rabbie as the area's most bankable asset.
After attending the World Burns Federation Conference in Atlanta, Mrs Ruben, Chief Executive of Ayrshire & Arran Tourist Board revealed she hoped to set the wheels in motion for a new full-scale celebration which will catapult Burns into the new millennium.
She said, " Plans are at a very early stage, but I am hoping to fulfil my ambition of organising a festival, possibly held during the summer months which will modernise Burns. For too long, everybody involved has sat back and not really put burns into the 21st Century, something which we are keen to see happen"
The whole festival hinges on winning government cash backing.
Article appeared in "Your Business" - Magazine of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry - October 2001
COMMENT: - Any new initiative is always welcome
although it is unfair to imply that "everybody has sat back……"
The Robert Burns World Federation has been striving for some time, to secure
financial support for such initiatives at a national level. A serious cash
injection on the part of Government is absolutely necessary to develop a serious
strategy!
Mac