Jump to navigation Jump to content

Site navigation

    • A Celebration of Scotland's Treasures

    Thursday, April 11, 2019

    The Metropolitan Club, NYC

     

    Join us for an evening of Scottish music, dining, dancing, and presentation of the Great Scot Award.

    2019 Great Scot Award

    Andy Scott

    Award-Winning Sculptor of The Kelpies

    Sculptor Andy Scott works in steel and bronze, combining figurative and equine themes with contemporary techniques to create stunning landmark artworks. He is a graduate of Glasgow School of Art and now works in the United States from his studio in Philadelphia. He creates prominent public artworks for private, corporate, and civic clients, and his prodigious output now numbers in excess of eighty projects across the UK and internationally.

    His most prominent project to date is The Kelpies, which have become the best known public artworks in Scotland welcoming millions of visitors to the small town of Falkirk since their inauguration. The two 100-foot high steel horse heads are the largest equine sculptures in the world and straddle the Forth & Clyde Canal. They are inspired by Scottish mythology and by the heritage of the Clydesdale horses, the original source of locomotion for the canal barges and the power behind the industries and agriculture of central Scotland.

    Andy Scott’s current and recent projects include a bronze sculpture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, unveiled in Glasgow by Scotland’s First Minister in October of 2018 to coincide with Mackintosh’s 150th anniversary celebration, and a 18 foot tall grizzly bear to be installed this spring in the Scottish town of Dunbar. The grizzly bear theme relates to John Muir, advocate of the wilderness, founder of The Sierra Club, native of Dunbar and regarded as the father of the US National Park Service.

    Honorary Chair

    Naoma Tate

    Co-Chairs

    Alan Cumming and Grant Shaffer | Christopher Forbes | Joan Kahn | Susi and Alasdair Nichol

    Reservations

    Dance Practices

    If you are new to Scottish Country Dancing we recommend attending one (or both!) of the practices held before the gala. All ticket buyers are welcome. Please RSVP to Christopher Gow at cgow@aol.com.

    Thursday, April 4 and Tuesday, April 9 | 7-9pm

    Pearl Studios NYC

    519 Eighth Avenue, 12th Floor between 35th and 36th Streets, west side of the avenue

    Featuring

    Katie McNally & Friends

    Hailed as “…the new face of Scottish fiddling in the USA” (The Living Tradition), Katie McNally has already made her mark on Celtic music in North America. Her 2016 release “The Boston States” pays homage to the living Scottish and Cape Breton tradition in her hometown of Boston. In addition to fronting her own trio, Katie performs with Fàrsan, transatlantic collective Apiary, and has toured with such Celtic music luminaries as Carlos Nuñez, Karan Casey, and John Whelan. Recent cover-girl for Fiddler Magazine, Katie has performed in the US and abroad at the Newport Folk Festival, Celtic Connections, the Barns at Wolf Trap, and The Festival of American Fiddle Tunes.

    Alasdair Nichol

    Alasdair Nichol, our auctioneer for the evening, is an international authority on paintings, a frequent appraiser on PBS’ Antiques Roadshow since 1998 and is Chairman and co-owner of Freeman’s, America’s oldest auction house. Mr. Nichol has lectured extensively in both the United States and in the United Kingdom at universities, art schools, societies and private clubs on a variety of subjects, ranging from the Art Market to the Pennsylvania Impressionists and Scottish Art. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Alasdair originally trained as a painter in Aberdeen and then Belfast, where he graduated with a Master’s Degree in 1984.

    The Macallan

    The Macallan is one of the world’s most awarded and admired single malts. This peerless reputation has been built by the commitment of The Masters of Spirit and Wood, the craftsmen at the heart of The Macallan since it was legally licensed in 1824. Their unfaltering obsession with selecting exceptional oak casks and distilling sublime spirits brings an unsurpassed, timeless quality to The Macallan.

    Benefiting

    The Fountain Court at Culzean Castle

    Culzean Castle is one of Scotland’s treasures: a Robert Adam-designed masterpiece perched on the cliffs of Ayrshire. Its story is one of adventure, ambition, and incredible beauty. Passing through the Ruined Arch at the entrance to the Castle, visitors are greeted with a panoramic view of the idyllic Fountain Court gardens. The formal landscape is centered on a Baroque fountain and is adorned with an extraordinary collection of subtropical plants, thanks to the nourishment of the passing Gulf Stream.

    While the Fountain Court was recently restored, the fountain itself—which dates to 1876 and features Triton surrounded by dolphins—no longer works. Proceeds from A Celebration of Scotland’s Treasures will help bring this magnificent water feature back to life so that it can once again delight visitors.

    A Celebration of Scotland’s Treasures Image Gallery

    Piper Patrick Duffy welcomed guests as they entered the Metropolitan Club. Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Mark and Nicci Beaumont. Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Event Co-Chairs Victoria Cummock and Naoma Tate with dance caller, Christopher Gow. Photo by Annie Watt.
    Photo by Annie Watt
    We surprised Mark Beaumont by flying in his mother, Una Beaumont for the event! Photo by Matt Gillis.
    We surprised Mark Beaumont by flying in his mother, Una Beaumont for the event! Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Great Scot, Mark beaumont with his wife Nicci Beaumont and mother Una Beaumont. Photo by Annie Watt
    NTS USA Executive Director Kirstin Bridier (left) and NTS USA chairman of the board Helen Sayles (right) joined gala co-chairs Victoria Cummock and Naoma Tate.Photo by Annie Watt.
    Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Sculptor Andy Scott (right) with his wife Hanneke Scott-van Wel and auctioneer for the evening Alasdair Nichol. Scott's bronze maquette of his magnificent Kelpies raised a staggering $22,000 in the live auction. Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Rusty Rokita, Grant Shaffer, 2009 Great Scot Alan Cumming, and DuWayne Sayles enjoying cocktail hour. Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Photo by Annie Watt.
    Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Photo by Annie Watt.
    Photo by Annie Watt
    Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Simon Skinner, CEO of the National Trust for Scotland with Great Scot Honoree, Mark Beaumont. Photo by Annie Watt.
    The Macallan Brand Ambassador Charlie Whitfield. Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Leila and Vincent Rovito. Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Lachlan Stewart and Annie Stewart of ANTA Scotland. Photo by Annie Watt.
    Patrick Duffy piped in the Haggis. Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Photo by Annie Watt.
    Alasdair Nichol delivered Robert Burns' 'Ode to a Haggis'. Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Whisky toast with The Macallan. Photo by Annie Watt.
    After dining on Scottish fare, Board Chair Helen Sayles thanks the gala co-chairs Naoma Tate (left) and Victoria Cummock (right). Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Great Scot Honoree, Mark Beaumont received a standing ovation after receiving his award. Photo by Matt Gillis.
    In honor of Mackintosh’s 150th birthday, executive director Kirstin Bridier launched the Foundation’s “150 for 150” appeal in support of Hill House. NTS USA’s goal is to secure 150 donations of (at least) $150 which will be matched dollar for dollar. The room delivered and donations reached over $30,000. Photo by Matt Gillis.
    A highlight of the live auction was artist Andy Scott who donated bronze maquettes of his internationally recognized public work of art The Kelpies. Mr. Scott addressed the audience and shared that as a Glasgow School of Art alumni, he donated his sculpture to help benefit the fundraising to conserve Mackintosh’s architectural masterpiece the Hill House. The spirited bidding opened at $2,000 and escalated to $22,000 before the hammer fell. Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Scottish Country Dancing
    Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Gala Event in New York City, April 11th, 2019
    Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Photo by Matt Gillis.
    The Foundation was honored to have the leadership team from NTS headquarters with us in New York. Ali MacLeod, NTS Head of Fundraising with Mark Bishop, NTS Head of Customer and Cause. Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Mitchell Owens, Benefit Committee, David Foxley, Junior Committee and Ethan Leidinger. Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Photo by Annie Watt.
    Photo by Annie Watt
    Photo by Annie Watt
    NTSUSA Executive Director, Kirstin Bridier and Mitch Owens. Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Photo by Matt Gillis.
    Photo by Matt Gillis.
    An enormous thank you to our auction sponsors. With their support we had a record-breaking auction year, raising over $123,000!

    Auction and Gift Bag Sponsors

    The Balmoral
    Brora
    Crombie
    Edinburgh Tea & Coffee
    Eye of God Photography
    Glen Appin of Scotland
    Glencairn Crystal
    Bonnie Kilts
    Hamilton & Inches
    Kit Heath Jewelry
    Highland Safaris
    The Macallan
    Mackays
    Kitty Mackenzie
    Mackintosh
    MYB Textiles
    National Trust for Scotland
    Royal Dornoch
    Scottish Textiles Experience
    Slanj
    Stockan's
    Blues & Browns (parent company)
    Thistle Products
    Walker Slater

    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. 

    Great Scot Award Honorees

    2018

    Mark Beaumont

    World record-breaking long distance cyclist.

    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.

    • Honorees 2008-2015

      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