iv’lorrissev and more
The former. Smith is gomg back into the studlo
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NEWS GOSSIP OPINION
Canongate success myth
Margaret Atwood and Jeanette Winterson kick off global publishing event. Words: Allan Radcliffe
isdainl‘ully disregard this year‘s Booker Prize
announcement and impatiently cast aside the
onward rumble ol' the latest Harry Potter juggernaut. The literary talking point ol‘ 2005 is set to be the launch ol~ a major new series ~~ 'l’hc Myths. The ambitious -— and vast — publishing project was originally dreamed up by Jamie Byng ol‘ lidinburgh-lmsed publisher (‘anongate. and is organised in conjunction with 33 publishing houses from across liurope as well as ('hina. India. Japan. the [ISA and Canada. Byng originally conceived the idea in the spring of 199‘).
'l‘rom the outset the idea was to approach top-class writers from all over the world and invite them to retell any myth in any way they chose.~ he says. ‘The fact that so many publishers are going to launch the series on the same day is. as far as we are aware. unprecedented on such a scale.‘
The initile titles. to be published on Wednesday 26 October. include provocative retellings ol' the most iconic
heroes. gods and monsters ol‘ world mythology. l‘ormer
Roman (‘atholic novice Karen Armstrong‘s A Short
History o/‘Mvth introduces the series. providing a clear- eyed insight into the evolution of myth from the Palaeolithic period to the ‘(ireat Western 'l‘ransi'ormation‘ ol' the last Slit) years and the overtaking of mythology by science. Armstrong's opener is accompanied by Margaret Atwood’s neat twist on Homer’s ()r/vssrfiv. entitled The l’t'm'lupiud.‘ The Myth rtl'l’r'rtr'lupr' (mr/ ()dvszvr'trs. Here. the telling ol’ the tale is granted to ()dysseus' wile Penelope.
who succeeds in holding the kingdom ol‘ Ithaca together
while her husband lights the 'l‘rojan wars. Meanwhile. Jeanette Winterson goes beyond the tale of Heracles temporarily relieving Atlas of his burden in ll'ct'ght: The Mth o/kltlus um/ I'lerr'trh's.
These works are merely the first of a mouthwatering batch. (‘ontemporary versions of Samson‘s saga and Theseus' battle with the Minotaur by David (irossman and Victor l’clevin will be with us in the New Year.
ArtWorks Scotland: Canongate, 8802, Sun 23 Oct, 10pm
SCOTTISH BALLET'S TRAMWAY ARCHITECT CHOSEN
I Edinburgh-based Malcolm Fraser Architects, which has previously delivered such impressive arts buildings as Newcastle’s Dance City and Dance Base in Edinburgh, is to transform unused spaces at Tramway into studio, workshop, education and office spaces for Scotland’s national ballet company. Work is due for completion by 2008. Malcolm Fraser relishes his firm's appointment: ‘Given the level of artistic excellence that Scottish Ballet has recently achieved and the Tramway’s artistic history, we look with optimism towards the creation of an extraordinary creative force here. Our proposals concentrate on understanding Scottish Ballet’s requirements for education and outreach facilities that engage with the creative artistic melee that is the main Tramway social space and then on the necessity of making a still, calm, connected
environment to allow Scottish Ballet to concentrate on their art.’ (AR)
I Filmmaker Murray Grigor has won the 2005 Lighthouse Achievement Award, an annual prize which recognises contributions to the promotion of architecture with £5000 to realise a project. Grigor plans to use his prize to re-film his documentary on St Peter’s Seminary in Cardross, shot in 1974. The film will match the original frame for frame, to demonstrate just how much Scotland’s best 20th century building has fallen into disrepair.
I The City of Edinburgh Council has announced a multi-million pound funding windfall for various capital projects. Contenders for the £22.7m of ExeCUtive loot include national sporting facilities such as the Royal Commonwealth Pool and the purchase of the Ratho Adventure Centre, funds fOr the tourist-grabbing Winter Festivals and the redevelopment of Waverley Station. including the long- anticipated $22 million rail- link to the Scottish Borders.
I The executive may have booted the proposed St Andrew’s Day holiday into the long heather, but plans are afoot to safeguard the legacy of that other Caledonian cultural icon, Robert Burns. Culture minister Patricia Ferguson has announced various measures aimed at creating interest in the lead up to the 250th anniversary of Burns’ birth in 2009, including £100,000 for the Robert Burns World Federation and £150,000 for the Scottish Arts Council to support Burns initiatives such as Burnsong.
{)K. ()Ul Ni)‘. “\an 7