ONE of Scotland’s leading cultural organisations has announced a nationwide Roadshow celebrating creative talent and encouraging engagement.
The Saltire Society has announced its first Saltire Roadshow, which will consist of a series of events throughout Scotland giving a platform to Scottish creatives to share their inspiring work with the general public.
Broadcaster Alistair Healther, singer Robyn Stapleton, poet Shehzar Doja and playwright Alan Bissett are to join the shows in numerous locations.
In June this year, The Saltire Society launched its inaugural 40 Under 40 List, celebrating the richness of Scotland’s culture and recognising outstanding creative talent under the age of 40.
The list included a range of actors, writers, poets, musicians and campaigners, as well as those doing innovative work in the sciences.
Now the Society plans to take some of that 40 Under 40 List on tour across Scotland.
The Saltire Roadshow will visit Dundee, Falkirk and Dumfries over August and September, with a fourth in Inverness planned for late October this year.
Sarah Mason, executive director of The Saltire Society said: “The Saltire Roadshow is an opportunity for us to engage with the people of Scotland and celebrate some of the outstanding talent within our country. We hope this will be the start of an annual roadshow to support creatives, build networks and develop our membership. At its heart, the Saltire Society is a membership organisation here to advocate for, support, and celebrate Scottish culture.”
The Saltire Roadshow will visit a number of culturally significant sites, from Dundee Contemporary Arts, to Falkirk Trinity Church, and Ellisland Farm near Dumfries, built by Robert Burns for his family.
Details are as follows:
Dundee, Wednesday, August 16
Venue: Dundee Contemporary Arts, 7-9pm
Performers: Alistair Heather (writer & broadcaster), Rhona Jack (multi-disciplinary artist), Yasmin Sulaiman (journalist & advocate for creative industries)
Host: Calum Colvin (artist)
Falkirk, Tuesday, August 22
Venue: Falkirk Trinity Church, 7-9pm
Performers: Shehzar Doja (poet), Alycia Pirmohamed (writer & winner of the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award), and a third act still to be confirmed.
Host: Alan Bissett (Falkirk writer & playwright)
Dumfries, Tuesday, September 12
Venue: Ellisland Farm, 6-8pm
Performers: Robyn Stapleton (singer & recording artist), Alasdair C Whyte (musician, performer and writer), Pauline Mackay (Senior Lecturer in Robert Burns Studies)
Host: Hugh McMillan (Dumfries poet)
By hosting the roadshow, The Saltire Society said it hopes to "build its network of members allowing it to increase both its reach and support of culture".
Tickets for the Dundee, Falkirk and Dumfries legs of the Roadshow are now available here. (£10 for general admission, £5 for Saltire Society members)
