Culture
The Scot who was off the strait and narrow
The temptingly wide strip of water was a terrible place to bring a ship in a gale, despite the arrival of a mystery Scot as protector. Only discovered by the British explorer George Bass a few decades before the Cataraqui went down in 1845 – still considered Australia’s worst peacetime disaster – the fact that…
Read MoreScots silver that was kept secret from the Vikings
Concealed underground for over a thousand years, this fascinating haul of elaborately decorated Scottish silverware came to light in the middle of the 20th century during an excavation on St Ninian’s Isle, Shetland. Dated back to 700-800AD, the coveted collection, known as the St Ninian’s Treasure, is the only Scottish hoard of fine metalwork of…
Read MoreUsing ancient skills to create a crafty coracle
Jane Wilkinson is a willow weaver with a passion for traditional craft and a love for the ancient art of coracle making. Despite studying science at Edinburgh University, Jane’s love of woodlands led to her branching out in a different direction. Now based in Alyth, near Blairgowrie, the willow weaver and artisan basket maker is…
Read MoreSchedule revealed for HMY Iolaire remembrance
There’s just over a month to go until the commemorative events to mark the centenary of the loss of HMY Iolaire. The Iolaire was carrying sailors who had fought in the First World War back to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides on Hogmany, 1918. She departed Kyle of Lochalsh, but at 2.30am…
Read MoreSunset Song writer honoured with plaque
A plaque honouring the Scots writer of Sunset Song is to be installed in Stonehaven. Lewis Grassic Gibbon, one of the foremost Scottish writers of the 20th century, is to be honoured as part of Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) Commemorative Plaque scheme, it was announced today. Perhaps best known as the author of Sunset Song,…
Read MoreEdinburgh Castle is set to be rebuilt – in Australia
A full-size replica of Edinburgh Castle is to be constructed in Australia. The backdrop of a full-size replica of the castle will be built at the iconic ANZ Stadium in Sydney, when the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo plays a four-night showcase in Australia next year, marking a new international deal as part of the company’s…
Read MoreRobots and videogames to feature at the V&A
V&A Dundee’s 2019 international exhibition programme will feature videogames, robots and the future of design. Scotland’s first design museum will celebrate the design and culture of contemporary videogames with the V&A’s spectacular show Videogames: Design/Play/Disrupt, which will run from 20 April to 8 September 2019. This is the first exhibition to fully consider the complexity…
Read MoreJoanna Lumley to attend absolutely fabulous show
Joanna Lumley is to be the special guest at an event being run by a school drama club. Staged, which takes place at Dumfries Academy on 24 November, where the teenage JM Barrie studied from 1873-78 is a highlight of the Dreams for the Future Festival in Dumfries. The festival is part of Scotland’s Year…
Read MoreInternational tapesty weaving prize now open
Entries are now open for the 2019 Cordis Award, the biggest international award for tapestry weaving. The prize fund has been increased to £8000 to reward ambitious and skilled use of tapestry weaving techniques and the organisers hope that the prize will attract both domestic and international entries from established artists working in the field of contemporary tapestry.…
Read MoreSWG3 sheds some light with its new artful installation
One of Scotland’s leading multi-discipline arts venues has today unveiled a stunning exterior light installation – part of the venue’s festive programme. Running from now until mid-January, the installation, called New Glasgow, is the creation of Glasgow-based artist Patrick Jameson and takes centre stage on the gable-end façade of SWG3. The installation can be observed…
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