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The write stuff
Authors Gray, Lochead, Mcllvanney and Kennedy
Revamped Mitchell Library to host expanding literary festival. Words: Allan Radcliffe
ye Writel. the west coast festival which
celebrates Glaswegian writing and the best of
Scottish and international literature. has cut the
red ribbon on its 2007 programme. Having gone past that ‘difficult‘ third birthday and acquired the status of permanent fixture in the Scottish
literary calendar thanks to sponsorship from the Bank of Scotland. the programme is an eye-catching mix of
fiction and non-fiction readings. meet the author events. workshops. storytelling sessions and at schools programme. with most events taking place at the landmark Mitchell Library. which has recently undergone extensive renovation.
The festival. which takes place from Friday lb—Sunday 25 February. features appearances by such literary luminaries as Alasdair (iray. who will be reading from his long-awaited new novel. Men in Love. as well as new work from Glasgow-based giants Al. Kennedy and Janice (ialloway. Tom Leonard. l.i/. Lochead and William Mcllvanney. ()ther well-known writers making the journey north of the border include Sandi 'l‘oksvig.
Howard Jacobson and John Banville.
Special events include sessions with (illunliull cartoonist Steve Bell. activist and thorn in the side of big business (ieorge Monbiot and historian Antony Beevor. Will Hutton will be talking about (‘hina and there will be a chick-lit debate featuring Jenny (‘olgan. There are also a number of family—friendly events and over 7() free weekday events for (ilasgow schools. with a programme of film screenings organised by (il’l‘.
As reported previously in The List. the festival coincides with the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade. and takes slavery as a major theme. Willi this in mind. (ilasgow libraries will be distributing more than 10.000 copies of Andrea Levy‘s ()range Prize- winning novel Small Islam]. which describes the arrival of black Jamaican immigrants in post-war Britain. Upwards of 2().()()() reading guides will be made available as part of the accompanying reading project.
Download the full programme at www.ayewrite.com
ONE BOOK - ONE EDINBURGH CAMPAIGN KIDNAPS THE LIST
I The Edinburgh City of Literature Trust's Citywide Reading Campaign launches its One Book - One Edinburgh campaign on Wed 31 Jan at Edinburgh Castle. The campaign runs for the whole of February 2007 and aims to get the whole city reading the same book, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped. Three new editions of the book — a graphic novel, a children’s adaptation, and and an annotated version of the original text with an introduction written by Louise Welsh (pictured) - will be published for the campaign, 10,000 copies of which will be distributed free across the capital throughout schools, libraries, coffee shops and bookshops and various events will take place at city libraries and art centres. The List are media partners in this bold campaign, so stay tuned to your favourite arts and events guide for our exclusive take on the project. (AR)
I www. (IllyOf/llOfUlt ire. com
ARTS INTERVENTION
Artists take academic approach to challenge teaching habits
A trio of Scottish artists is crossing into the world of academia in a bid to reinvigorate ways in which the arts are taught at higher education institutions.
Musician Peter Dowling and performance practitioner Adrian Howells have been appointed Creative and Performing Arts Fellows at the University of Glasgow, in a scheme inaugurated by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The pair. who are the only artists to have received these awards in Scotland this year. aim to break the tradition of theory-only education in the arts. integrating performance into the research process.
Meanwhile. artist and theatre designer Minty Donald is continuing her AHRC fellowship in conjunction with the Glasgow School of Art and the University of Glasgow's theatre studies department.
Donald has said of her experience: ‘These fellowships not only benefit the institutions but also help develop the work of the individual and enhance their skills and profile.‘
Dowling. whose compositions use new performance technologies. also welcomes the exciting opponunity: ‘I intend to be very visible — presenting new work in and around the university and city throughout my research project. and taking the re5ults to international audiences.’ (AR)
18 Jan ‘ltt-ll .‘l‘x‘ ' THE LIST 7