Homecoming & The Arts

2009, the year of Homecoming, is now well under way with a rich and varied programme of over 300 events and festivals to suit all tastes.

In this, the year of Robert Burns’ 250th anniversary, two major exhibitions explore Burns' influence on contemporary art, with leading artists displaying their Burns-inspired works.  Creative Burns (Kilmarnock, Feb14-May 16) explores Burns’ own creative output and his legacy to the present day, with new major commissions  by leading designers including Timorous Beasties, Adam Proctor and Rab Wilson amongst others.  Whilst in Glasgow, the Inspired exhibition (April 4 – Sep 20, Mitchell Library), features work by several distinguished contemporary artists including Tracey Emin and Peter Howson.

The literary scene is also well-represented in the early part of 2009, with StAnza, (St Andrews, Mar 18-22), Scotland’s only established festival devoted to poetry and Aye Write, Glasgow’s annual literature festival (Mar 6-14), both featuring a series of Burns events and looking at his influence on modern day writing.

The arts are otherwise well-represented in the early months of the Homecoming Scotland programme, with music, theatre, photography and architecture all to the fore.

Learn about the worldwide legacy of Scots music at the Scots Music Abroad exhibition (National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, Mar 6 – May 13) or indeed take part in one of over three hundred traditional music sessions organised by the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland (throughout the country, March – November). Bring friends, instruments or just yourself and join in!

The numerous photographic exhibitions include This Is Who We Are (Jan – Nov, various venues across Scotland), demonstrating the links between Canada and Scotland through an ambitious photography project, and As Others See Us, (also touring across Scotland, Jan - Aug) an innovative exhibition of contemporary portraiture of some of today’s most noteworthy Scots and their response to a chosen Burns’ work.

If you wish to further quench your thirst for culture, pay a visit to Mackintosh 100 (Jan – Nov), a series of exhibitions, talks, tours and activities to mark the centenary of The Mackintosh Building at Glasgow School of Art, designed by one of Glasgow’s favourite sons, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, or immerse yourself in a series of cultural events, including music, comedy and contemporary visual art, all reflecting the common history of Scotland and Poland at Scottish Tides – Polish Spring (Perth, February – April).

This is just a small taste.  For a full listing, search the Events Engine on the site or take a look at the text listing of events.