Jump to navigation Jump to content

Site navigation

    • A (Virtual) Celebration of Scotland's Treasures

    A (Virtual) Celebration of Scotland’s Treasures took place on September 29, 2020 and we are grateful to all the individuals from across the United States (and beyond!) who came together to affirm the Trust’s work and to celebrate our American foundation’s 20th anniversary. Thanks to this generous support, our first-ever virtual event raised more than $83,000. NTSUSA has committed $500,000 to the Save Our Scotland emergency campaign, of which nearly $300,000 already has been donated by generous American supporters and from our own reserves. Gala proceeds will help us to complete our pledge to the Trust so that properties can reopen to the public and staff can continue their important work conserving Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage.

    Read on to learn more about A (Virtual) Celebration of Scotland’s Treasures and our 2020 Great Scot Award Honoree, Denise Mina.

    Special Appearances by

    Mark Beaumont | The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry | Alan Cumming | Curt DiCamillo | Christopher Forbes | Clan Forbes Society, Inc. | Clan Irwin Association| Billy Kay | Phyllis Logan | Fiona MacKenzie | Clan MacRae Society of North America | Alexander McCall Smith | Alastair McCulloch | Maureen McMullan | Alasdair Nichol | James C. Richardson | Andy Scott | Joni Smith | Kate Taylor
    and many others

    7:00PM EDT Virtual Celebration
    7:30PM EDT Live Auction conducted by Alasdair Nichol

    Silent Auction will open at noon on 22 September and will run through 9PM EDT on 29 September.

    A (Virtual) Celebration of Scotland’s Treasures

    Each April, The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA’s A Celebration of Scotland’s Treasures gala raises thousands of dollars to support the conservation of Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage. Because we were unable to gather in New York this spring – our milestone 20th anniversary year – due to the coronavirus pandemic, we missed the opportunity to raise vital funds on behalf of the National Trust for Scotland.

    Committed to helping the Trust weather this time, we are delighted to host our first-ever virtual event and invite you to join us here on Tuesday, September 29, for an evening of special performances, updates from Scotland, and a live and silent auction. Moving our celebration online will allow us to highlight more of the Trust’s work on the ground in Scotland – especially at sites like Glencoe and Culloden that hold special meaning for Americans.

    The highlight of the program will be the virtual presentation of the Great Scot Award by New York Times best-selling author Laura Lippman to Scottish crime novelist Denise Mina, author of Conviction and The Long Drop.

    Proceeds from A (Virtual) Celebration of Scotland’s Treasures will support the international campaign to Save Our Scotland. This year, the Trust is expected to lose over $35 million in earned income from the closure of our historic sites due to the coronavirus pandemic. Together, we can ensure the future of the Trust and its irreplaceable natural and cultural treasures.

    Denise Mina

    2020 Great Scot Award Honoree

    Denise Mina is a Scottish crime writer and playwright. Born in East Kilbride in 1966, due to her father’s profession as an engineer, the family moved 21 times in 18 years: from Paris to The Hague, London, Scotland and Bergen. Mina left school at sixteen and worked in a variety of low-skilled jobs. In her twenties, however, she returned to education, earning an undergraduate degree from Glasgow University Law School and a PhD from Strathclyde. It was while researching a PhD thesis and teaching criminology and criminal law at Strathclyde University in the 1990s, that she decided to write her first novel Garnethill, published in 1998, which won the Crime Writers Association John Creasy Dagger for Best First Crime Novel. In 2014 she was inducted into the Crime Writers’ Association Hall of Fame.

    Mina has now published 13 novels and also writes short stories, plays, and graphic novels. Her 2019 novel Conviction was selected as a Reese Witherspoon book club pick and New York Times Best Crime Novel of the Year. She presents TV and radio programs as well as regularly appearing in the media, and at literary festivals. In addition, she leads masterclasses on writing, and was a judge for the Bailey’s Prize for Women’s Fiction 2014. Mina lives in Glasgow, the frequent setting of her novels.

    “We are thrilled to honor one of the leading voices in contemporary crime fiction at such an exciting moment in her career,” said Charlotte Lyeth Burton, chair of The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA. “Denise Mina’s novels brings the gritty city of Glasgow to life for readers from far beyond Scotland. In many ways, the city itself is a character as much as it is the setting for her work.”

    The National Trust for Scotland cares for nearly 100 natural and cultural heritage properties across Scotland, including several important sites in Glasgow that have literary connections to Ms. Mina’s work: Alexander “Greek” Thomson’s Holmwood House and the Tenement House, located in the Garnethill neighborhood.

    Live and Silent Auction

    Silent Auction

    12:00PM EDT September 22 – 9PM EDT September 29

    Live Auction

    7:30PM EDT September 29 conducted by Alasdair Nichol

    A Celebration of Scotland’s Treasures is our most important fundraising event of the year and the auction plays a significant role in our success. Featuring both a live and silent auction, there are opportunities for guests to bid on items at every price point.

    Alasdair Nichol, chairman and co-owner of Freeman’s and a popular appraiser on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow will preside over the virtual live auction featuring favorite Scottish brands and experiences that can be enjoyed from the comfort of home.

    Live and silent auction preview now available here.

    NTSUSA would like to thank the following individuals for their invaluable support of the auction: Derek Alexander, Cherie Burton, Mrs. I.W. Colburn, David Hopes, Alistair McCulloch, Robert Rapson, Paul Roberts, David Ross, Andy Scott and Hanneke Scott-van Wel, Naoma Tate, and Alicia Volk. Special thanks to Bob Titley and Luxury Scotland who support our travel lots every year, but we had to put on hold for now – we can’t wait to see you in Scotland again soon!

    Auction Sponsors

    Capucine De Wulf Jewelry
    Castle Stuart Golf Links
    Eye of God Photography
    Hamilton & Inches
    Hayward & Stott
    INSTRMNT
    Juliska
    The Macallan
    The Mysterious Bookshop
    The Nantucket Hotel
    National Trust for Scotland
    Royal Dornoch Golf Club
    The Scottish Textiles Showcase
    Selbrae House
    Troy London
    Walker Slater

    2019 A Celebration of Scotland’s Treasures Image Gallery

    Andy Scott makes remarks as he accepts the Great Scot Award. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Paul Roberts introduced Andy Scott and presented him with the Great Scot Award. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Matt Gillis Photography.
    The Great Scot Award was presented to Andy Scott by Paul Roberts Vice Chairman of Lyon & Turnbull, President of Freeman's. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Andy Scott delivers remarks after receiving the Great Scot Award. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Auctioneer, Alasdair Nichol. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Patrick Duffy. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Jonathan Treat and Trustee Leslie Aitken. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Honorary Chair, Naoma Tate with Co-Chair Christopher Forbes. Annie Watt Photography.
    Ron Butler, Alasdair Nichol, Gavin Maxwell, Lindsay Maxwell. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Executive Director Kirstin Bridier with her husband Andrew Bridier. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Event Co-Chairs Joan Kahn and Christopher Forbes with 2016 Event Chair Jill Joyce. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Scottish Couturier Sandra Murray with Marcy Scott Morton. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Trustee Helen Sayles with her family and auctioneer Alasdair Nichol. Annie Watt Photography.
    Mitch Owens. Annie Watt Photography.
    Benefit Committee member Nina Christine Yacavino with Advisory Committee member Sondra Rapoport. Matt Gillis Photography.
    "We do what we do for the love of Scotland!" Annie Watt Photography.
    Peter McWhinnie, Christopher Gow, Christine Scott Morton, Keith Scott Morton. Annie Watt Phhotography.
    The dining room at The Metropolitan Club. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Matt Gillis Photography.
    Alasdair Nichol began the dinner with Robert Burns' 'Ode to a Haggis'. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Nicholas Villalon raised a toast with The Macallan 18. Matt Gillis Photography.
    bag pipes haggis
    The presentation of the haggis. Annie Watt Photography.
    Junior's Circle sponsor Kerry Joyce with her guests. Annie Watt Photography.
    Gala guests in the Metropolitan Club's magnificent dining room. Annie Watt Photography.
    Annie Watt Photography.
    Katie McNally & Friends. Matt Gillis Photography
    Scottish Country Dancing is always a highlight of the evening. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Scottish country dancing. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Scottish country dancing. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Matt Gillis Photography
    Scottish country dancing
    Scottish country dancing is always a highlight of the evening. Matt Gillis Photography.
    Silent Auction. Annie Watt Photography.
    The silent auction. Annie Watt Photography.

    About the Great Scot Award

    The Great Scot Award is presented annually to a Scot or American who has contributed to the countries’ shared heritage. The recipient is selected by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and the award presentation is the highlight of the annual gala, A Celebration of Scotland’s Treasures. Honorees include Billy Connolly (pictured here with presenter Alan Cumming, also a Great Scot Award honoree), Phyllis Logan, Ken Burns, and Alexander McCall Smith. Most recently, the Great Scot Award was presented to Denise Mina, Scottish crime writer and playwright. Below you will find a full list of past Honorees.

    Great Scot Award Honorees

    2020

    Denise Mina

    Scottish crime writer and playwright.

    2019

    Andy Scott

    Internationally recognized artist and sculptor of The Kelpies, the worlds largest equine sculptures.

    2018

    Mark Beaumont

    World record-breaking long distance cyclist.

    • Honorees 2008-2017

      2017

      Ken Burns

      Documentary filmmaker and kinsman of Scottish poet Robert Burns.

      2016

      Phyllis Logan

      Actor, best known for her roles as Mrs. Hughes on Downton Abbey and Lady Jane Felsham on Lovejoy.

      2015

       Sir Billy Connolly

      Stand up comedian, actor, musician, TV presenter, and artist

      2014

      Richard Scott

      10th Duke of Buccleuch and the 12th Duke of Queensbury

      2013

      Ian Gow

      Chief Curator, National Trust for Scotland

      2012

      The International Alliance for the Advancement of Scottish Roots Music

      2011

      Mrs. Thomas J. Hubbard

      Philanthropist

      2010

      Christopher Forbes

      Vice chairman of Forbes Inc., noted collector and connoisseur

      2009

      Alan Cumming

      Award-Winning Actor, Singer, Writer, Producer, Director, and Author

      2008

      Alexander McCall Smith

      Internationally Acclaimed Author

    Sign up to receive occasional updates from The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA

    Your Cart
    0