Associate Members

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Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire - 1
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Ayrshire & Arran - 1
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7 Associate Members

Aurora Spirit Distillery

Situated in Arctic Norway is Aurora Spirit Distillery, the Worlds Northernmost Distillery. Founded in 2016 the distillery produces award winning spirits and has recently launched a range of exclusive whiskies. Not only a distillery but an attraction too. The distillery has 11 cabins, conference facilities, and can organise snowmobile safaris, dog sledding, snowshoeing, northern lights photography adventures and much more. Already they have won The International Drinks Tourism Challenge 2019 Best Visitor Centre and The Drinks Business Award for Best Customer Experience. Being in such a remote location the distillery is aiming to be self sufficient but also very environmentally conscious.

Many ASVA members will know Colin Houston, one of the co-founders of the distillery, who worked for VisitScotland, for 25 years, as Quality and Development Manager. He has recently been involved in new quality schemes for the Norwegian government and Tourism NI, concentrating on ‘experience quality’ which includes greater emphasis on guiding, communication of risk, storytelling, nature, environment and emotional tourism.

https://www.bivrost.com/auroraspirit/

Destination Tweed

Destination Tweed is an ambitious five-year project built around the idea of the River Tweed Trail, a new long-distance source to sea path which roughly follows the River Tweed from its source high on the hills above Moffat, to where it flows into the North Sea at Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The project comprises a collection of thirteen projects that will deliver benefit for the environment, community and economy. Whether walked or cycled in short segments or as a long distance challenge, the River Tweed Trail will offer a 115 mile spectacular, memorable and meaningful journey, connecting communities, wildlife, attractions and stories. Our natural heritage conservation projects include woodland and pollinator habitat creation, river restoration, the control of invasive non-native species and the restoration of designed landscapes. We will also construct bunkhouse accommodation and deliver an ambitious education, community and archaeology project, as well as a varied cultural programme.

Destination Tweed will make the River Tweed and surrounding area a tourist destination of choice attracting a year-round and growing audience. It will connect the Scottish Borders, Northumberland and Dumfries and Galloway in creating a strong brand and identity. It will reinvigorate local economies, help satisfy the increased demand for outdoor recreation and be an exemplar for responsible, low carbon tourism.

07377 267890

luke.fisher@tweedforum.org

https://tweedforum.org/our-work/projects/destination-tweed/

Inverness Castle – Spirit of the Highlands Project

Spirit of the Highlands is a project that will create a must-see visitor attraction in Inverness, celebrating the Spirit of the Highlands, past, present and future. The creativity, well-being, culture, heritage, natural environment and language of this unique part of Scotland will all form part of the story told. The attraction will bring new and returning visitors to the area and inspire people to visit all part of the Highlands.

Spirit of the Highlands will see transformation of Inverness Castle buildings to become a gateway for Highland tourism, supporting economic growth throughout the Highland area and extending the benefits beyond the castle walls. It aims to raise awareness of the Highlands internationally, extend visitor stay and increase visitor spend in the area, whilst also providing opportunity to link historic, cultural and natural attractions across the Highland's to everyone's benefit.

01349 781713

info@highlifehighland.com

https://www.spiritofthehighlands.com/

Macduff Marine Aquarium

Macduff Marine Aquarium is set to undergo a significant renovation and extension, following a successful bid last year to the UK Government’s Levelling Up fund by owners Aberdeenshire Council. The project for Macduff Marine Aquarium aims to build on its success so far as a popular and award-winning attraction that offers a one-of-a-kind visitor experience in the UK, showcasing local Moray Firth marine life and environment.

The upgrade will include a second storey café with magnificent coastal views and internal view into the central aquarium display. A multifunctional learning space will be added, allowing more opportunity for exploring marine and environmental themes. There will be a new lobster hatchery and exciting interactive and vibrant exhibits. The area surrounding the aquarium will be landscaped and planted with natural coastal grasses and wildflowers, increasing the natural biodiversity and providing space for picnicking, playing and watching the marine wildlife in the Moray Firth.

With works starting in late Autumn 2024, the aquarium will be closed to the public for about one year. The fish and other marine animals will remain onsite, with the aquarium team looking after their wellbeing meantime and offering outreach programming for schools and pop-up activity.

01261 455775

macduff.aquarium@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

http://www.macduff-aquarium.org.uk

National Centre for Music

The Royal High School on Calton Hill became part of Edinburgh’s landscape in 1829. Designed by Thomas Hamilton, it stood proudly as a physical link between the city’s Old Town and New Town. Today it is both an exceptional example of the neo-classical architecture for which Edinburgh is famous and a testament to the importance that Scotland has long placed on access to excellence in education. Sustaining its historic significance as a symbol of Scotland’s commitment to recognising and supporting the talents of its people, regardless of wealth or privilege is as important as respecting the building’s architectural quality.

The Royal High School Preservation Trust was established to protect and preserve the building and to deliver a public use for it. Our overall architectural objective is to allow Hamilton’s building and its setting against Calton Hill to be seen as originally intended. At the same time, with the desire to leave a new cultural legacy equal to and as long-lasting as the city’s fathers’ original purpose 250 years ago, we plan to repurpose this magnificent building as a National Centre for Music.

info@rhspt.org

https://www.rhspt.org/national-centre-music

Paisley Museum

Paisley Museum Re-Imagined. We are currently working on a major refurbishment of Paisley Museum and Coats Observatory as part of a 4 year long £42m transformation of the venue. The refurbishment of Paisley Museum is the flagship project in a £100 million investment in Paisley Town centre over the next few years. You can read more about the project on the new Paisley Museum Reimagined website.

The museum is being redesigned by award-winning architects AL_A, who are behind some of the world's most striking buildings.

The firm’s founder Amanda Levete – a former winner of UK architecture’s top honour, the RIBA Stirling Prize – says the Paisley Museum project is ‘one of the most radical briefs she has read’.

It will be the first Scottish commission for the London-based practice, who have designed landmark projects including the Victoria & Albert Museum Exhibition Road Quarter – for which they won the prestigious RIBA London Building of the Year 2018.

The new-look museum will showcase its outstanding art, science and natural history collections, along with telling the story of the Paisley pattern, the town’s famous weavers and being at the centre of the global thread-making industry.

The revamped museum is expected to attract 125,000 visits a year – almost four times current numbers. And it’s estimated that it will create huge amounts of visitors to Paisley town centre, as well as a £72m economic boost over 30 years.

The redevelopment will include a contemporary addition to the existing Victorian-era building, major revamps to all four museum buildings including Coats Observatory, and a complete internal redesign reimagining the visitor experience and doubling the number of objects on display.

0141 618 4200

information@paisleymuseumreimagined.co.uk

https://reimagined.paisleymuseum.org/