Latest news with #JackieKay
Edinburgh Reporter
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Writers urged to apply for Story Shop places
Writers are encouraged to apply for places on the writer development programme Story Shop run by Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature and the National Library of Scotland before the 20 July deadline. Story Shop began in 2007 and offers authors the opportunity to perform in live storytelling events at the Edinburgh International Festival Bookshop. In 2009 it moved to the Spiegeltent and it has been a launch pad for several writers. It is now coming back in a new format with Story Sessions which will take place during August and emerging writers are urged to apply for a slot. This will link selected authors to the National Library of Scotland's (NLS) Dear Library exhibition sharing their stories about becoming a writer. These will be performed in the National Library's exhibition space where NLS is celebrating the power of books and libraries. The exhibition is named 'Dear Library', after the poem by former Makar Jackie Kay, whose literary archive was acquired by the Library last year. The National Library of Scotland continues its centenary celebrations with a major exhibition celebrating all kinds of libraries, and the books that shaped us. Pic caption: Wester Hailes Librarians & exhibition contributors Jessi Dimmock & Susannah Leake on the library steps Pic Neil Hanna Dr Harriet MacMillan, Director of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature said:'Story Shop holds a very special place in the heart of many of the city's writers. We thought that our 20th anniversary as the world's first City of Literature was the perfect opportunity to engage with a new cohort of literary talent. Our city has an unparalleled literary heritage, held by the National Library of Scotland; we are so excited to find diverse new voices who will become part of this tradition.' Martha Burns Findlay, Head of Public Programmes at the National Library of Scotland said:'The National Library of Scotland is a home of writers' archives and a treasure trove of stories, so we're delighted to be collaborating with Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature on the upcoming Story Sessions. Our exhibition 'Dear Library' will provide a unique backdrop for this event series. Guest writers will be nestled amongst the books in our pop-up reading room – it's sure to be a memorable experience for all.' Dear Library Story Sessions is a development opportunity and showcase for writers based in Edinburgh that are comfortable performing and sharing the books that have inspired their writing. Produced by Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature, it takes place 12 – 14, and 19 – 21 August, Tues – Thursday, at midday – free and ticketed – in the National Library's exhibition space. Dear Library Story Sessions is ticketed on the Fringe programme online. Submissions for writers to apply close on Sunday 20 July 2025. You can find out more information about the Story Sessions callout and how to submit via the website: The National Library of Scotland continues its centenary celebrations with a major exhibition celebrating all kinds of libraries, and the books that shaped us. Pic caption: Wester Hailes Librarians and exhibition contributors Susannah Leake & Jessi Dimmock read to Jo Stevenson with her son Sonny (aged5) Pic Neil Hanna Like this: Like Related
The Guardian
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Lowestoft to see in Midsummer Day's first light with arts festival
What better way could there be to mark midsummer than staying up all night dancing in the sand dunes and greeting the sun at dawn in Britain's most easterly town? This is how locals and visitors to Lowestoft in Suffolk will be spending the solstice at First Light, a free arts festival now in its fifth year, which runs for just over 24 hours, with a few brief breaks in the programming for sleep. About 40,000 people are expected at the event, which will feature an eclectic array of attractions, from the musical headliners Nubiyan Twist and spoken-word events with the poet Jackie Kay to silent discos and sound baths dotted around the sands. As night falls, the action will transfer indoors with a hedonistic club night from Horse Meat Disco and more ambient musical offerings in a church. The solstice festival came out of a regeneration project aiming to revive the fortunes of the seaside town, led by the designer and Red or Dead co-founder Wayne Hemingway. Hemingway recalls a meeting in which 'someone said their favourite thing was to go down to the beach on Midsummer Day and be there at around 3.50am for the first light in the morning'. 'We said: 'That sounds lovely but why does it mean so much here?' The person responded: 'It's Britain's most easterly town. So that means I'm getting the first light to hit Britain on Midsummer Day, and it feels mystical and like something special is happening to me,'' Hemingway said. Throwing a big party on the town's vast, sandy beaches seemed the ideal way to celebrate this, and for Hemingway one of the most important elements has been engaging the community, with local musicians, schools and choirs all performing. Sign up to Headlines UK Get the day's headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion The town's teenagers were initially dubious of the festival's Balearic vibe. 'They were a bit disruptive,' says Hemingway, 'because they'd not heard this kind of music – they were more into house [music]. The next year, the same lot came back and said: 'Actually, we like this music, we've got into it … can we help you clear up after?' Every year they come back and help. They're about 18 now and one of them is DJing.'
Cambrian News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Cambrian News
Aberystwyth rum bar revamps spoken word night with decorated special guest poet
Eric is named as one of Jackie Kay's best British BAME writers, having published an autobiography in 2019, an anthology in 2020 and a poetry collection, Homelands, in 2022.
