MAKE 2012 YOUR
Spotlighting, celebrating and promoting Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths on a world stage.
Stories, books, words and tales – these are the threads that weave together Scotland’s rich literary heritage. Find out all about the Year of Creative Scotland at visitscotland.com/creative
Leakey’s, Inverness
FOR THE LOVE OF LITERATURE Scotland boasts a bounty of places to visit where you can discover the country’s literary scene, from monuments dedicated to our great authors and poets to the seeds of inspiration being sowed today.
You could spend a whole
day in Edinburgh and not even scratch the surface of its literary connections, but a good d place to start is the Writers’ Museum. As the world’s fi rst UNESCO City of Literature, there re are events on almost every day y of the year (cityofl iterature.com). An afternoon spent perusing the shelves s in charming second-hand bookshops is one well spent. Edinburgh’s West Port area a will keep you entertained for hours while there’s a certain magic to the bookshops of Glasgow’s West End; and a jaunt to Inverness will reward you with Scotland’s largest second-hand bookshop, Leakey’s. For live literature, there are a phenomenal al number of book-based events and festivals s in Scotland standing testament to a current, nt, vibrant and ground-breaking literary scene e - see opposite for a mere taster to take you u through autumn.
Find out more at visitscotland.com/ creative.
SPOTLIGHT ON . . . WIGTOWN BOOK FESTIVAL L 28 September – 7 October Not only is Wigtown Scotland’s National Book Town, it was also awarded a Creative Places Award for most creative small town as part of the Year of Creative Scotland and 2012 - and Wigtown Book Festival takes its place as the takes its place as the jewel in the crown. Inspired by the stars above us, this year’s festival, as Director Adrian Turpin explains, ‘celebrates the power of those unspoilt heavens and the countryside below: from stargazing suppers and fairy-tale walks, to the baroque fantasies of the Arabian Nights and the improbable dreams of the new breed of space explorers.’ Attracting some of the biggest names in literature and coupled with an eclectic atmosphere while maintaining the intimate vibe so well loved by literary audiences, the festival certainly possesses a unique character. Look out for the mysterious paper sculptures too! wigtownbookfestival.com; @WigtownBookFest
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S E P & O C T EVENTS
There are fantastic events There are fantastic events and exhibitions happening all over the and exhibitions happening all over the country during the Year of Creative country during the Year of Creative Scotland. Scotland. ARCHES LIVE 17-29 Sep, Glasgow A vibrant programme of new and experimental dance, visual art and theatre events within iconic venue, The Arches.
TAKE ONE ACTION FILM FESTIVAL 21 Sep - 6 Oct, Edinburgh and Glasgow A politically charged i lm festival founded on the belief that ‘cinematic experiences can inspire lasting change’. JURA MUSIC FESTIVAL 21-23 Sep, Craighouse, Isle of Jura Celebrating the best in Scottish music from local island acts to worldwide touring acts – spontaneous sessions can pop up anytime, s anywhere! a
THE NOIZY INDIE SOCIAL CLUB T F SIC 2012 FESTIVAL OF MUSIC 2012 22 Sep, Cumbernauld 2 Theatre T AA A twelve hour music festival featuring over fe 20 bands and artists 2 from the Scottish music fr scene, as well as DJ s sets. s Cowal Open Studios (Hedgerow by Jaqueline Orr RSW)
COWAL OPEN STUDIOS 23-26 Sep, venues across Argyll e Forty talented artists invite you into their studios amid d the breathtaking scenery of the west coast to watch ch them work.