Sponsorship

These pages tell you a little bit more about the people who help make the magic happen. If you would like more information on the ways that you or your company can become involved, please contact Laura Tulloch, Sponsorship Officer on 0141 353 8041.

Principal Sponsor

After an extremely successful first year working with new principal sponsor ScottishPower, Celtic Connections enters into the second year of a three-year partnership with the international energy company in 2008. ScottishPower is strongly committed to the UK cultural scene, and proud of its Scottish roots, so the sponsorship of Celtic Connections is an ideal fit. In the words of Donald Shaw, Artistic Director for Celtic Connections 2008, and founder of Celtic supergroup Capercaillie:

Funders

Celtic Connections would not exist in its current form without the major support it has received over the years from both Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Arts Council. In addition to the significant level of funding that both organisations contribute to the festival itself, they also strongly support the work of Glasgow's Concert Halls, the company which runs the festival, the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, City Halls and the Old Fruitmarket.

We're also delighted to welcome two new funders this year – Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and Scottish Enterprise – who are supporting the festival in recognition of its contribution to Scottish culture and economy, and to Glasgow's international reputation as a centre of excellence for live music of all genres. Culture Ireland is once again supporting the appearance of many of the Irish acts at the festival.

Celtic Friends

Not just some of our best customers, these people really are our Friends. We like to keep in touch with them throughout the year, listen to what they have to say, and invite them to the odd party or two! For for a small fee you can be our Friend too, and we'll give you free tickets, discounted tickets, your very own area to relax in during the festival, and a whole host of other nice things. View our Celtic Friends package details.

Media Partners

Over the past few years we have built up a strong partnership with the Sunday Herald and Evening Times. The Evening Times sponsors the Danny Kyle Open Stage, which has been a launch point for many of today's successful young acts, including Karine Polwart, who performed with Malinky in the very first Open Stage competition.

The Sunday Herald supports the New Voices commissioning series, which offers a major national platform to promising composers in the early stages of their composing careers. Previous composers have included artists such as Anna Massie and Aidan O'Rourke, and many of the commissions have gone on to feature at other festivals and events around the world.

Trusts and Foundations

Celtic Connections has one of the most respected education programmes of its kind in the country, with 60 schools workshops, 40 public workshops and 10 schools concerts held during the 2007 festival. The scale of the programme would not be possible without the support of various partners and trusts, and we would like to thank all of them for their help in ensuring that so many children (and adults) are given the opportunity to experience their cultural heritage in such a fun and memorable way.

In 2008 we hope to replicate the success of last year's programme, and have already secured funding for the workshops and concerts from the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the P F Charitable Trust, the Cruden Foundation, and the W M Mann Foundation.

Official Blended Whisky

You can't have a celebration of Scottish culture without mentioning whisky, and Celtic Connections is very happy to welcome on board the award-winning Black Bottle as the Official Blend of the festival. As sponsors of the Royal National Mod, and title sponsors of the Black Bottle Islay Jazz Festival, the company supports and celebrates a wide range of music, making them a perfect partner to Celtic Connections.

Partners

There are many other organisations that help out along the way in various forms. Eskmills, Tourism Ireland, TMSA, First ScotRail and Hire-A-Phone have all been great supporters of the festival over the past few years. The Quality Hotel are pretty much turning over their whole hotel to us for the duration of the festival! Expect lots of late nights at the Festival Club and more than a few spontaneous sessions...And for all those people who can't make it to the festival in person, the BBC takes it to them, in the form of live broadcasts and recorded programmes.

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