A selection of Scotland’s leading arts groups and organisations are heading to the Netherlands this month as part of a cultural exchange to promote Scottish arts. The exchange, which is being organised by the Scottish Arts Council, will see four initiatives in the Netherlands promoting Scottish arts while also allowing Scottish organisations to share areas of expertise and experience with Dutch arts organisations. East Glasgow Youth Theatre, renowned for its work with disabled youth, is the first Scottish group to visit Amsterdam this week and a group of five young actors from the company will take part in a series of collaborative workshops with ISH, a Dutch youth theatre group that works with culturally diverse young people, including some who have lived on the streets. The National Arts Education Network (NAEN), will also be in the Netherlands this weekend as part of the programme, and will host a joint conference with their Dutch counterparts, Cultureel Jongeren Passpoort (CJP), to learn more about the benefits of including cultural awareness in school curriculums. Mr Frank McAveety, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport will attend the conference alongside the Netherlands Minister for Culture, Mr Medy van der Laan. Scottish dance company SDT is to develop a relationship with Galili Dance in Groningen and children’s theatre company Wee Stories will visit the Netherlands to perform. The company will also host a storyteller from the Netherlands who will perform Dutch stories to Scottish audiences. The arts exchange is part of the wider ‘Scotland in the Netherlands’ initiative organised by the Scottish Executive to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Scottish troops’ role in the liberation of Dutch towns during the Second World War. ‘We are delighted that we have been able to put together a great programme of arts activities in the Netherlands over the next two months,’ said Graham Berry, Director of the Scottish Arts Council. ‘This provides an ideal opportunity for us to showcase some of the excellent work being done by theatre and dance companies in Scotland while also allowing these groups to benefit from the experience of their Dutch counterparts and exchange creative ideas and examine possibilities for collaborative works in the future.’ For further information, CLICK HERE