We’ve been working hard over the past few months to spread the word about our grand project to recreate the Renaissance splendour of James V’s royal court - and of course, to publicise this weekend’s wonderful opening celebrations for our stunning palace.
Our aim has been to generate as much media interest and coverage as we can so that as many people as possible get to hear about the palace and will be encouraged to come along to experience and enjoy it.
It’s great to see that our efforts have really been paying off. We’ve been attracting a huge amount of attention from newspapers, magazines, and broadcast and online media at a local, regional, Scottish and UK level.
At the end of last week you may have seen the amazing stories about the latest research into the Stirling Skeletons discovered at the castle, and how we have created 3D facial reconstructions of two of them – a knight and a lady. They are at the heart of a new exhibition about the castle’s history and the public will be able to see these for the first time this coming weekend.
The press releases and photos we’ve issued on all sorts of other interesting news angles on the palace itself, and our plans for its launch – not least about the sumptuous beauty of its recreated 16th century interiors. Together they have resulted in front-page stories and lots of column inches in the daily and weekly press throughout the country.
Web coverage has included a gallery of wonderful images of the palace on BBC News Online. Feature coverage has included a fantastic seven-page spread in Homes & Interiors Scotland, and a four-page spread in Heritage magazine. And in the past couple of weeks, STV’s ‘The Hour’, Radio 4’s ‘Making History’ and Radio 4’s ‘Woman’s Hour’ have all broadcast superb features on the palace. BBC Scotland will also be with us this Friday to broadcast part of its ‘Good Morning Scotland’ show from the palace on the eve of its opening.
It’s not only the UK’s media which is focusing its attention on Stirling palace though; we’re also attracting interest from international media, so the eyes of the world really are on us now. Three Russian journalists came to the castle the other week for a preview tour of the palace, and for our grand opening itself, we’ll be welcoming a group of journalists from leading publications throughout Europe.
They’ll be joining us from France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Germany and Poland to enjoy a tour of the palace and take part in our unmissable celebrations on 4 and 5 June. We hope you too will be able to make the (hopefully shorter!) journey to the castle for Stirling Castle Presents – A Palace Fit For A Queen; but do
book now while there’s still time to get your tickets.
Matthew Shelley, Stirling Castle Communications