Museum artefacts include a Bonnie Prince Charlie death mask

The Inverness Museum and Art Gallery was re-designed in time for Highland 2007 - a year which celebrates the culture of the north of Scotland.

Thousands lined the streets for Friday's programme launch in Inverness, which was also attended by First Minister Jack McConnell.

The museum upgrade will allow easier visitor access and improved displays.

Artefacts on show include a bronze death mask of Bonnie Prince Charlie and a lock of the Young Pretender's hair.

Curator Catherine Niven said: "Our visitors can now have an experience to remember, with the museum's magnificent collections displayed in a bright new environment which is both comfortable and welcoming."

We've got a fantastic mixture of major events like the mountain bike world championships in Lochaber and the first performance of The Sundowe Fiona Hampton Highland 2007 director Quick guide to events BBC tunes into events

Events at Friday's launch of the �40m event, included a fireworks display and an "aerial ballet" performed on a high wire.

However a shinty match between Glen Urquhart and Strathglass, which was due to be held at the Bught Park in Inverness on Saturday, was cancelled because the pitch was waterlogged.

Hundreds of events, including opera, live music, storytelling, traditional crafts, a marathon, a mountain biking festival and a science festival, will be held in the next year.

Fiona Hampton, director of Highland 2007, said the festival would celebrate the region's music, drama, language, science and sport.

Jack McConnell said Highland 2007 would be a "tremendous showcase".

"We've got a fantastic mixture of major events, like the mountain bike world championships in Lochaber and the first performance of The Sundowe, which won the Highland Quest.

"But at the same time we have got community events like Glenfinnan 2007, where the whole of Glenfinnan has decided they are going to celebrate 2007 all year and got their own complete programme."

First Minister Jack McConnell said he hoped the festival, which he proposed after Inverness lost out in a bid to be the 2008 European city of culture, would help boost growth and confidence in the Highlands.

"The renaissance in Highland culture has been dramatic," he added. "There are galleries, authors, sports teams, poets and musicians in the Highlands that the whole of Scotland can be proud of.

"The next 12 months will be a tremendous showcase for all that makes the culture of this area so inspiring, from the ancient traditions and heritage that are so well known and loved - to the new and vibrant modern culture that has emerged."