The Scottish Arts Council, in partnership with BAA Edinburgh and publisher Faber & Faber, is today (Friday) sending 1000 international passengers home with a work of art from Scotland.

The aim of the airport giveaway is to send travellers home with a lasting reminder that Scotland is an exciting, creative country and to emphasise that Scotland is proud of the artists and writers who choose to live and work here.

Passengers whose final destination is outside the UK will be given a copy of Kirsty Gunn’s novella The Boy and the Sea, which was awarded the £25,000 Sundial Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year Award 2007 at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. A short DVD celebrating Scotland’s artistic excellence, professionalism and enthusiasm for innovation, created by the Scottish Arts Council especially for an international audience, will also be available.

Richard Holloway, Chair of the Joint Board of Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen said: ‘’We love it when people visit Scotland to join us when we are making festival but we are sad when they leave us to return to their own homes. Now they will take a bit of us with them in the form of this wonderful book. Scotland, in a thousand little pieces, will soon be scattered all over the world’

Edinburgh Airport Managing Director, David Johnston, said: "With more and more international passengers flying in and out of our airport, it's important to us that their experiences, both at the airport and at their destination, are positive. This gift to our passengers from the Scottish Arts Council serves as a lasting reminder of their trip to Scotland and we're proud to be associated with that."

Will Atkinson, Sales and Marketing Director, Faber and Faber added: ‘Faber is delighted that this wonderful initiative will put so many of Kirsty Gunn’s books in people’s hands. She is a writer of exceptional talent who deserves the widest possible readership.’