BEMIS CELEBRATES BURNS

That this House supports the BEMIS Celebrates Burns finale celebration at the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket on Robert Burns Day; champions this diverse community celebration as a unique partnership between BEMIS and the world-renowned Celtic Connections Music Festival; considers that this event marks the culmination of the BEMIS-led programme to celebrate Scotland's living traditions, encompassing the more than 65 local, diverse, multicultural community events included in the Scottish Government-funded 2015 Year of Food and Drink and Winter Festivals period; congratulates the 65 participating organisations from across 16 self-identified ethnic minority communities who, assisted by a Scottish Government small grants fund of £37,000 administered by BEMIS, facilitated events to champion Scotland's past, present and future incorporating their unique global cultural characteristics; acknowledges that BEMIS Scotland and partners are committed to celebrating cultural diversity and promoting active citizenship; and recognises that programmes which acknowledge and value the intangible cultural heritage of our diverse citizens show an appreciation of the UK’s diverse society.