THE last 12 months have been an incredible year for Scotland, featuring hundreds of events across the country, celebrating the best of Scotland's creativity and cultural heritage.
We hosted the second Edinburgh International Culture Summit, two of the world's biggest sporting events: the Commonwealth Games and The Ryder Cup; the MTV Europe Music Awards, and celebrated the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, a key event in the Homecoming Scotland Programme.
These events have highlighted Scotland as a great, welcoming and culturally rich destination to audiences and visitors from around the world. They have had a huge impact on Scotland's visitor economy in terms of income generated, but more importantly they have enabled everyone in Scotland to access, enjoy, participate in, and benefit from a wide range of cultural activities. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved together, particularly the quality of what was on offer.
In July the eyes of the world were on Scotland for the most successful Commonwealth Games ever and an unforgettable experience for many. Alongside ran Culture 2014 - the cultural programme which included over 1500 different events and exhibitions to accompany the Commonwealth Games, including Festival 2014 and Get Scotland Dancing.
The National Galleries of Scotland launched its largest exhibition to date with the opening of the Generation programme, the centrepiece to a landmark celebration of 25 years of contemporary art in Scotland with works of art by over 100 artists on display in over 60 exhibition spaces the length and breadth of the nation.
Organised by the Galleries in partnership with Creative Scotland and Glasgow Life, this truly unique and ambitious exhibitions series offers an unprecedented view of the richness, diversity and range of contemporary art in Scotland, allowing people across all of Scotland's communities to enjoy and benefit from the incredible range of art and exhibitions on offer.
Creative Scotland published Time to Shine, Scotland's first ever National Youth Arts Strategy setting out a vision and recommendations to enable Scotland's children and young people to flourish through the arts and creativity.
Historic Scotland achievements in 2014 have included the completion of the Glasgow Cathedral, a five-year conservation project, and the launch of the new Bannockburn visitor centre in partnership with the NTS, in time for the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, which has already seen half a million visitors.
Visitors to Historic Scotland sites increased to more than three million throughout the year. And of course the Bill establishing Historic Environment Scotland was passed unanimously by parliament last month.
The National Libraries of Scotland hosted a Wha's Like Us? Exhibition - an A-Z of what Scotland has given the world which won three Scottish Creative Awards, and its contribution to the commemoration of the outbreak of the First World War, Behind the Lines; Personal Stories of the First World War, told the stories of a number of men and women who lived and died, during this momentous period in history.
In August, around 20,000 people from all areas of Scotland came together in Edinburgh for a Drumhead Service, procession and memorial to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War and the start of the five-year Scottish Commemorations Programme.
The National Galleries and the National Museums of Scotland have hosted incredible exhibitions, notably American Impressionism - a New Vision at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art; and Ming: The Golden Empire, which told the extraordinary story of the Ming dynasty at the National Museum of Scotland, also host to the recently opened Game Masters, currently showcasing the work of more than 30 leading videogame designers. Our National Collections continue to demonstrate their international pedigree both in terms of visitor numbers and the quality on offer.
The National Performing Companies' reach has extended far with International Touring Fund support. The companies have performed as far afield as Russia, the US and China. Here in Scotland, seeing all five companies over four days of Commonwealth Games celebrations was a personal highlight.
This has been a vibrant year for Scotland's culture. The world was watching us - and we have demonstrated the richness of our cultural life and the depth of our talent. We can only build and grow from these astounding achievements in 2015.
* Fiona Hyslop is Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs.
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