An Ayrshire festival paying tribute to Robert Burns has gone global – thanks to it being driven online.
This year's Tamfest pulled in viewers from as far afield as Russia, New Zealand and China as performances were streamed on the internet.
And organiser Meredith McCrindle admits the Covid pandemic has provided a unique opportunity for her festival to be accessed in all corners of the world.
This year's festival remained largely online this year but McCrindle, the driving force behind the event, insists it has actually been a positive.
She said: "Ironically, going online has helped us to grow faster than we might have otherwise.
"We have already passed 200,000 online visitors during 2021, with “Tam Beyond Reality”, a virtual storytelling event in October, attracting visitors from Russia, Canada, New Zealand, USA and China.
"This allowed us to combine contemporary technology with atmospheric language and folklore, told by a “virtual” Tam himself.
"We were also able to host almost 20 virtual performances this year by Burns’ aficionados from the Robert Burns World Federation and the Robert Burns Association of North America."
She added: "While Robert Burns is an enduring source of inspiration and pride for Ayrshire, when the pandemic struck, we would not have been able to transform Tamfest so quickly and effectively into an online format without the fabulous support we have received.
"I’d particularly like to thank South Ayrshire Council and EventScotland.
“With imagination, hard work and their investment, we have been able to make Tamfest reach further than ever through lockdown.
"We are also now able to run an extended portfolio of events all year long and are looking forward to attracting a record number of visitors to live events in 2022."
The event team also created a 'Tam O’Shanter Trail of Terror' in Bellisle Park, with installations and imagery to spook and thrill families and walkers.
VisitScotland regional director Gordon Smith said: “Events like Tamfest are an important part of the visitor economy in Ayrshire and Arran.
"It is estimated that events brought a direct spend of £6 billion to Scotland in 2019.
“Tourism and events are a force for good – creating economic and social value in every corner of Scotland and enhancing the well-being of everyone who experiences it."
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