Scotland international footballer Ryan Christie and award winning fashion designer Siobhan Mackenzie have become the latest Highland names to throw their support behind the Beò! 2029 bid for UK City of Culture.
The Inverness and Highland bid is Scotland’s only entry in the competition, with Christie and Mackenzie joining Julie Fowlis and Katie Gregson MacLeod as ambassadors ahead of the shortlist announcement in October.
Christie was born and raised in Inverness and began his professional football career with Inverness Caledonian Thistle before moving to Celtic and later Bournemouth.
The Scotland international has earned 71 caps for his country and says his Highland identity remains an important part of who he is.
Christie said:
“I grew up in Inverness and developed my career as a young footballer at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
“I’m immensely proud to be from Inverness and to call myself a Highlander.
“Football is about much more than what happens on the pitch.
“It’s part of the culture and identity of communities across the Highlands.
“It brings people together, creates a sense of belonging and connects generations through shared experiences.
“Sport has a unique ability to reach and inspire people from all backgrounds.
“Securing UK City of Culture status would be a fantastic opportunity for Inverness and the Highlands, and I’m delighted to play a small part in supporting the bid.”
Mackenzie, who comes from the Black Isle, has built an international reputation by bringing contemporary design to traditional tartan and Highland craftsmanship.
Her clients have included Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games, Justin Bieber, Allan Cumming, Shania Twain and Sam Heughan.
She said:
“I am immensely proud of my Highland roots and the influence they have had on my career.
“My designs are inspired by Scotland’s landscapes, heritage, craftsmanship and culture, and I’ve been fortunate to be able to share that with audiences around the world.
“The Highlands are home to some incredible creative talent and cultural traditions.
“Culture is woven into our communities and continues to inspire new generations of artists, designers and makers.
“I’m delighted to become a Beò! 2029 ambassador and to help raise the profile of a bid that has the potential to celebrate everything that makes the Highlands such a special place.”
The ambassador programme was launched in June to build support for Beò! 2029 both within the Highlands and further afield.
Highland Council Convener Councillor Bill Lobban said:
“Ryan and Siobhan are outstanding ambassadors for the Highlands, each having achieved success on a national and international stage while remaining deeply connected to their Highland roots.
“Together, they reflect the breadth of culture in the Highlands, from sport and fashion, to music, language, heritage and creativity, demonstrating the many ways culture enriches our lives and communities.
“I am delighted to welcome them as ambassadors and grateful for their support as we continue our journey towards UK City of Culture 2029.”
The detailed Beò! 2029 submission was lodged in August and is now competing against Blackpool, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham.
Judges are expected to reduce those nine contenders to a shortlist of up to four in October.
Beò! means “alive” or “living” in Gaelic, with the campaign seeking to present Highland culture as something rooted in centuries of tradition while remaining creative, contemporary and very much alive today.
It is also the first UK City of Culture bid to represent both a city and its wider region, putting Inverness and communities across the Highlands together on the national stage.
