Poetry and music at CatStrand this Wednesday - The Wood and the Water

Make the most of a summer evening of poetry and music as artists find creative ways to respond to aspects of rivers, seas and forests.

Come along to The CatStrand to hear hugely talented D&G based poets Vivien Jones and Jackie Galley alongside musicians Michael Hendry, Richard Jones and Rebecca Hendry. Music is woven around the spoken word to create a really special performance. Not to be missed.

Wednesday 20 July, at 7.30pm, tickets £8/£6 from CatStrand 01644 420374, or on the door.

The Shard Box selected by Scottish Libraries Summer Reads

More good news to chalk up on Dumfries and Galloway's literary record! Liz Niven's latest poetry collection, 'The Shard Box', has been selected as one of the books in the 2011 Scottish Libraries Summer Reads promotion, so the book should be available from all Scottish libraries. The promotion will be launched on Reading Agency's National Readers' Day on 25th June, and will finish in September, so take this opportunity to discover a most rewarding book.

Our warmest congratulations Liz!

Heads up for 15 June - save the day for laughter

'A Penny Spitfire' will be presented at Gracefield Arts Centre Cafe on Wednesday 15 June at 7pm by well known and much awarded writer Brindley Hallam Dennis, aka Mike Smith. I think we can safely say this will be a most entertaining author event: Brindley Hallam Dennis has a well-deserved reputation as a raconteur, whose dry wit and laconic delivery already has a following in D&G.

'A Penny Spitfire' is set in October 1947, in a town inspired by his childhood memories of Burton Upon Trent. To a background of industrial steam engines, hauling their trains between the dark brick walls of brewery buildings, the characters struggle with the changes that war and history have forced upon them and their town.

Brindley Hallam Dennis writes poetry, prose and drama. His work has appeared in numerous magazines and his comic monologues, That’s What Ya Get! Kowalski’s Assertions, were published recently by Unbound Press. Mike teaches Creative Writing at Cumbria University, runs fiction writing workshops, and blogs regularly at http://bhdandme.wordpress.com/

JoAnne McKay runner up in Callum Macdonald

Our heartiest congrats to Penpont poet JoAnne McKay, who was announced runner up in the Callum Macdonald Memorial Awards for pamphlet poetry last Thursday, at a rather glam ceremony in the NLS in Edinburgh. JoAnne's beautiful pamphlet 'Venti' was pipped at the post only by the winner Anna Crowe, with 'Figure in a Landscape' from Mariscat Press. Well done JoAnne, and all our warmest!

A Visual Poetry Workshop at the Crichton

Sign up for a free Visual Poetry Workshop with Lisa Otty on Friday 3 June, 2pm to 4pm at the Rutherford McCowan Building, Crichton Campus, Dumfries.

Poetry Beyond Text is a hands-on workshop explores Visual Poetry, an experimental genre that uses not just words, but also properties such as space, colour, line, and typography. Championed by two of Scotland’s most celebrated poets, Ian Hamilton Finlay and Edwin Morgan, Visual Poetry challenges us to ask what poetry is and how different styles of textual presentation change our readings.

Exploring the aims and ambitions of poets and investigate how individual works are constructed and read, you will experiment with creating your own visual poems. The workshop draws on the new Archive of Reading, housed at the Scottish Poetry Library. This holds eye-tracking recordings and other documents showing how people engage with different layouts and visual strategies, so we can judge how these affect interpretation.

Lisa Otty is a research fellow at Dundee University working on the Poetry beyond Text: Vision, Text and Cognition project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Her interests focus on experimental literature, print history and modern art, and she regularly publishes and teaches in these areas. She is based in Edinburgh, and is working on the Archive of Reading at the Scottish Poetry Library.

If you're interested, please email Carolyn Yates, Literature Development Officer at dgArts on carolyn@dgarts.co.uk

This is Like Attracts Like, by Emmett Williams. Just to get you going.

Jules Horne's new radio play - this Thursday 2.15pm

The life and crimes of Dumfriesshire bicycle inventor Kirkpatrick Macmillan will be revealed in a new BBC radio play by former dgArts writer in residence Jules Horne on Thursday 19^th May.

Many of us in D&G remember Jules with affection and gratitude (she certainly helped my writing along) - so will be listening out on Thursday when her new radio play is broadcast, 2.15 on Radio 4, with all the usual helpful options for catching it later...

MACMILLAN’S MARVELLOUS MOTION MACHINE is based on the story of Kirkpatrick ‘Daft Pate’ Macmillan, the Dumfriesshire blacksmith who invented the pedal bicycle, rode from Penpont to Glasgow and committed the world’s first cycle crime in 1842. It includes a cast of thousands played by six Scottish actors, including John Kazek (Spooks, Batman Begins), Isabella Jarrett (Faust, Barry) and Gabriel Quigley (Festival, Rab C Nesbitt), and is directed by Rosie Kellagher of Newcastle’s Theatre Live.

Macmillan worked in the smiddy at Drumlanrig Castle, and Jules was inspired by seeing a velocipede at the Vintage Cycle Museum there. To find out what it was like to build and ride the first bicycle, she worked closely with the museum’s velocipede expert Tony Dymott, and carried out research at Dumfries Museum and the Ewart Library. She also visited Cousland Smiddy and spoke to resident blacksmith James Fleming to find out about the life of a Scottish blacksmith in the 1800s.

She says: ‘Macmillan’s design was way ahead of its time, but he didn’t get proper recognition. It was a fascinating period in history, with so much social and industrial change, and it’s wonderful to think a rural blacksmith was in on the start of such an important invention. It’s been great fun to bring his story to life. ’

Betty Tindal launches new work

We're delighted to show you Betty Tindal launching her poetry pamphlet Journey at Solstice at A’ the Airts in Sanqhuar last night. The pamphlet is a Norse narrative illustrated beautifully by Hugh Bryden. Doug Curran and Betty then read a few poem snapshots from her collection in progress, ‘Family Album’.

PEN pic - Liu Xiaobo in Castle Douglas

Here is a picture from the South West Scotland PEN reading in the King's Arms in Castle Douglas, for Liu Xiaobo. The King's Arms kindly donated the room free of charge.

Excellent recordings can be found on America Pen of Liu Xiaobo's poetry read by writers including Edward Albee and Paul Auster. As well as the postcard poem 'A Small Rat in Prison', poems for his wife were read, including 'Longing to Escape' and the powerful, 'You Wait for Me With Dust'.

A Bakehouse Welcome on Sat 30 April

We absolutely recommend an evening at The Bakehouse in the company of Liz Niven and John Burns on Saturday 30 April. The theme is Exploring China, be there 7pm for 7.30pm.

Chrys, Richard and John tell us they're delighted to be opening their new season with Liz and John who will be bringing their perspectives on China.

Liz Niven reads from her latest poetry collection ‘The Shard Box’ which takes its title from Chinese boxes constructed from wood and inset with smashed porcelain. In English, and in Scots, Liz recounts experiences of travelling in Asia as well as closer, domestic concerns. Other poetry collections include Burning Whins, Stravaigin and Cree Lines. Liz’s writing and editing in support of Scots Language in education has been twice awarded the TESS/Saltire Awards and her poetry, the McCash/Herald prize.

'Alternately tinkling and refracting like fragments of fine porcelain and clattering percussively like Olympics construction works, The Shard Box is a vivid portrait of modern China', The Skinny (Feb 2011)

Poet and fiction writer John Burns reads from his Scots version of "Monkey", the Chinese classic that was a huge cult hit on television in the early 1980s. John writes in both English and in Scots. Books include "Celebration of the Light, Neil Gunn and Zen Buddhism", "Series of Dreams: the Vision Songs of Bob Dylan", and "Open Sky" - a collection of poems.

‘Monkey is a story for our times, and the vigour of the Scots language brings it vividly to life…it’s a Buddhist parable wisdom text but above all celebrates the irresistible nature of the central character Monkey, the wee ned who wins through to wisdom’



Tickets £8.00 (£7.00 concessions) includes a glass of wine

Ring 01557 814175 or email chrys@chryssalt.com

or bookings@thebakehouse.info

A few places left on free workshops at Homage to Wordsworth TODAY

There are a few spaces left on this FREE workshop, talk and reading, today at Gracefield Arts Centre! Ring up now! 01387 262084

2.30-4pm Poetry Workshop – ‘At home: living in the poem.’

With Helen Mort

What makes a landscape ‘home’? And how best to write about places we know well? Helen Mort, Poet in Residence with the Wordsworth Trust at Dove Cottage (Wordsworth’s home when he wrote much of his greatest work) will look at how to make familiar landscapes strange and how writers from Wordsworth to Philip Larkin and Ian McMillan have explored and reinvented the idea of ‘home’ in poetry.

6.30-7pm William Wordsworth: Selected Poems

Helen Mort and Andrew Forster, Poet in Residence and Literature Officer with the Wordsworth Trust, will read and talk about some of their favourite poems by Wordsworth along with new poems inspired by living and working in Wordsworth’s home.

7.15-8.15pm An illustrated artist talk by Charlie Poulsen

Charlie introduces the work in his exhibition and further afield. Find out how plants and landscapes have inspired some of his recent living installations.

Strong D&G Showing in National Poetry Award

We have to tell you or we'll burst. Shortlisted for the Callum Macdonald Memorial Award 2011 for an outstanding example of pamphlet poetry are:

JoAnne McKay for 'Venti', published by the skill and hard labour of her talented hands, and
Jean Atkin for 'Lost At Sea' published by Roncadora Press, meaning Hugh Bryden, of course.

"I am just delighted to see the considerable talents of our poets and publishers rise to the top for this prestigious prize" says Carolyn Yates, Literature Development Officer for D&G. "It's a real indicator of our strengths in the literature sector."

The shortlisted publishers and poets are invited to attend an awards ceremony at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh on 19 May, when the winner will be announced.

Established in 2001 in memory of Callum Macdonald MBE, Scottish literary publisher and founder of Macdonald Publishers and Printers, this award was created to encourage, recognise and reward the publication of poetry in pamphlet form.

The Callum Macdonald Memorial Award is supported by the Michael Marks Charitable Trust. The award is administered by the National Library of Scotland.

Call for Creative Business Advocates in D&G deadline 20 April

A message here from Lesley Rogers, newly appointed Creative Arts Business Development Officer at Gracefield Arts Centre

Call for Creative Business Advocates in Dumfries and Galloway - deadline 20 April 2011

Advocates will be recruited in the following specialist sectors:

Visual Arts • Crafts • Music • Performing Arts (Dance, Drama) • Literature • Film

Bids are invited from creative individuals to undertake the role of Creative Business Advocates, as part of the Creative Arts Business Network (CABN). The main aim of CABN, as part of the South of Scotland Creative Enterprise Initiative is to stimulate, strengthen and support the creative industries sector across the region. 7 advocates will be recruited for the following sectors : visual arts, crafts, film, music, performing arts and literature. Advocates will directly inform and support the work of the project.

For more information and to apply follow link to the Creative Business Advocates on the Arts and Crafts South West Scotland website or contact Lesley Rogers on Tel: 01387 262084

Free lit events at Gracefield Arts Centre Wed 13 April

Have you been to see HOST yet? Hop over to Gracefield to see this beautiful and very transient sight. And sign up for an excellent afternoon of free arts and lit events.

To book places for any (or all) of the events telephone 01387 262084.

2.30-4pm Poetry Workshop – ‘At home: living in the poem.’

With Helen Mort

What makes a landscape ‘home’? And how best to write about places we know well? Helen Mort, Poet in Residence with the Wordsworth Trust at Dove Cottage (Wordsworth’s home when he wrote much of his greatest work) will look at how to make familiar landscapes strange and how writers from Wordsworth to Philip Larkin and Ian McMillan have explored and reinvented the idea of ‘home’ in poetry.

6.30-7pm William Wordsworth: Selected Poems

Helen Mort and Andrew Forster, Poet in Residence and Literature Officer with the Wordsworth Trust, will read and talk about some of their favourite poems by Wordsworth along with new poems inspired by living and working in Wordsworth’s home.

7.15-8.15pm An illustrated artist talk by Charlie Poulsen

Charlie introduces the work in his exhibition and further afield. Find out how plants and landscapes have inspired some of his recent living installations.

Future of The Fankle

Sally Hinchcliffe's been blogging at The Commonty about the future of The Fankle, that cunningly folded poetry publication which always, to me, has a cheering whiff of subversion about it...

Follow the link to The Commonty (everyone needs to know about The Commonty) to comment on The Fankle http://thecommonty.blogspot.com/2011/03/fankle.html

'Finding the Seam' showing at A' The Airts 6 April

Come to the gorgeous new arts venue for Upper Nithsdale at A' The Airts on Wednesday 6 April to see Rab Wilson and Tony Grace’s film: Finding the Seam

'...a filmic elegy tae the industry Rab aince tyauved in, an whit aince dominated the laundscapes o Sooth West Scotland.'

7pm at A’ the Airts, High Street, Sanquhar DG4 6BL

£4 including refreshments.

And if you can’t make this screening, never fear as it will also be showing at Robert Burns Film Centre on 18th May. Contact Carolyn for more information on carolyn@dgarts.co.uk.

A Literary Girls' Day Out in Moffat

Cast off the greys of winter! On Saturday 16 April Moffat Book Events offer a day of treats titled - 'Love and Marriage in Moffat'. Check it out at http://www.moffatbookevents.co.uk

Go with a couple of girl friends and raise a glass of champagne at the launch of the reissue of 1936 light romantic classic 'Miss Buncle, Married' by long-time Moffat resident, D E Stevenson. It's suggested by the publishers, Persephone Books, that the continuing attraction of D E Stevenson's books is (as Oscar Wilde put it) that “The good ended happily and the bad unhappily. " Or, as D E Stevenson's granddaughter Wendy, who still lives in Moffat, puts it: the novels are ‘a soothing balm’ at times of stress and exhaustion. Sounds good to me.

The afternoon offers a highly tempting presentation by Edinburgh-based style guru Lynne McCrossan, www.lynne-mccrossan.blogspot.com, author of the illustrated shopper’s handbook ‘A Girl’s Guide to Vintage’ featuring tips for event goers of all ages on how and where to find that special outfit on a shoestring.

Food has not been forgotten - at this point you and your pals repair to indulge in a slap-up retro traditional afternoon tea with musical accompaniment.

And as an added extra, in the evening there will be the opportunity to attend an exclusive sneak preview of Edinburgh Fringe weddings-themed cheeky musical entertainment ‘Abi Roberts Takes You Up the Aisle.’ www.abiroberts.com

Venue: Moffat House Hotel, High Street Moffat www.moffathouse.co.uk
Tickets are available from dgArts at the Midsteeple between 10.00am and 4.00pm, by telephone 01387 253383 or online www.dgarts.co.uk. Also on sale in Moffat at the Book Exchange in Well Street.

Tickets £6.00 per session, £9.50 for thirties style tea or £24 for all day ‘book lovers’ ticket including tea. For a quirky insight follow event organiser, Liz Roberts, on her blog http://wwwlizmoffatbookevents.blogspot.com/

Launch of Southlight 8 tomorrow night

You are warmly invited to the convivial Gracefield Café Bar to meet the editors of South West Scotland’s literary magazines, Southlight from Dumfries and Galloway and The Eildon Tree from the Borders. 7pm, free entry.

It'll be a friendly crowd with a warm welcome for newcomers. Hear writers reading from their published work and find out how you could increase the chances of success for getting your work accepted by literary magazines.

This is also an opportunity to view Peter Scott Tudhope’s Landscapes of Southwest Scotland, which will be on display at Gracefield.

Rab and his new book go to StAnza!

Rab Wilson will star at StAnza this week, with me as his trusty bagcarrier and blogger...
On Friday our Dumfries & Galloway Burns Writing Fellow is billed as one of the highlights of this year's StAnza when he'll introduce the screening of his poetry documentary. Rab's produced a film charting his personal response to the rise and fall of coal mining and the impact it has had on local communities and their landscapes.
And on Saturday he'll be launching his new collection 'A Map for the Blind', from Luath, and he'll read with George Nakhutsrishvili. Here's the smallest ever photo of 'A Map for the Blind', which is recommended to you by SPL's Reading Room http://www.readingroom.spl.org.uk/poetry_issues/issue_18.htm

Charlie Poulsen exhibition at Gracefield explores art, land - and daffodils

Growing is a new exhibition by Scottish Borders based sculptor Charlie Poulsen. It opens to the public for the first time at Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries on Saturday 19 March before going on tour across southern Scotland.

Charlie Poulsen is known for his ambitious landscape projects such as the 2005 ‘Point of Resolution’ on the Southern Upland Way above Innerleithen in The Scottish Borders - but here at Gracefield you'll find the scale a little smaller - but just as surprising and insightful.
The Gracefield grounds have been planted with a living sculpture 'Host', which has inspired a link with The Wordsworth Trust on 13 April. As a fresh interpretation of a lovely but hackneyed poem, it made me smile. Come and have a look.

In Gallery 2 you'll find Charlie’s striking monochrome drawings. They're not drawing for sculpture but a separate though connected activity. His current abstract drawings have been inspired by the structure of hedges, trees and ploughed fields in winter.

The latest series of Charlie’s sculptures all use part of a tree as a starting point. Combining the materials of wood and lead takes the object away from the familiar. In Charlie’s words; “I am aiming at a point where the response to seeing the piece is not tree but something other - a suggestion of a machine perhaps."

The exhibition, supported by dgArts, runs until 14 May and is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. On Wednesday 13 April Charlie will give an illustrated talk about his work as part of a day long series of activities entitled Homage to Wordsworth, also includes free poetry events run by The Wordsworth Trust – see www.dgarts.co.uk or www.dumgal.gov.uk/gracefield for full details. This is a free event but booking is essential – telephone 01387 262084.

Scottish South West PEN - hear the work of Lui Xiaobo

PEN Event

King's Arms, Castle Douglas 7.30pm Sunday 20 March - free admission

Scottish Pen South West is joining Worldwide readings being held on behalf of Chinese writer Liu Xiaobo. Come and hear the work of this remarkable writer in the convivial surrounds of the Kings Arms, hosted by Liz Niven and PEN friends. Music makers welcome too – bring a song or a tune along.

Liu Xiaobo is currently the world’s only winner of the Nobel Peace Prize still held in detention. In 2009, after co-authoring ‘Charter 08’, a manifesto calling for greater freedoms and democracy in China, Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to eleven years in prison on a spurious charge of “inciting subversion of state power”.

To find out more contact Carolyn

carolyn@dgarts.co.uk

07773 797 495

Singing Over The Bones 2 in Dumfries next Wed

If you missed this event on International Women's Day then do come along to Midsteeple in Dumfries on Wednesday 16 March at 7pm to join poet Liz Niven, who will be speaking at the Dumfries launch of the Wigtown Women's Walk anthology, 'Singing Over The Bones 2'.

'Singing Over The Bones 2' draws on historical sources to celebrate and explore creatively the achievements and contributions of women in the Machars. Enjoy a glass of wine with us, and take in real places and real women along with the wit and wisdom of Liz Niven and the members of Wigtown Women's Walk.

And we need to say that of course this event welcomes the men among you too!

Galloway author Alan Temperley shortlisted for UKLA National Book Awards

Alan Temperley’s 'Scar Hill', a novel for teens, has been short-listed for the UKLA National Book Awards. Congratulations Alan!

Here's Alan talking mud, tree-climbing, dens, trouble and ant attack tales with his audience during a recent reading in The Midsteeple, Dumfries.

World Book Night attracts 200 readers to the Ewart

World Book Night at the Ewart Library, Dumfries attracted around 200 people! Books were given away, and the joys of reading celebrated. Vivien Jones says:
"What a joy it was to see the Ewart humming on Saturday night, and how privileged I felt to have been invited to read and be a book-giver. Quite by chance the choice of readings was a diverse as could be - no surprise that so many books were given away. A special thanks to Ann and Ruth for organising the evening so seamlessly - and for the wine. Three cheers for the Ewart - don't forget to support your excellent local libraries!"

Liz Niven at Wigtown Women's Walk Anthology Launch

Come to the Supper Room at the County Buildings at Wigtown on International Women's Day on Tuesday 8 March to join poet Liz Niven who will be speaking at the launch of the Wigtown Women's Walk anthology, 'Singing Over The Bones 2'.

Wigtown Women's Walk raises awareness of the achievements and contributions of women in the Machars.

Tickets £3 (includes a glass of wine) from 01988 403329

Rab Wilson and John Burns reading at Gracefield Arts Centre this Wednesday

We're looking forward to 7.30pm Wednesday night (that's the 2nd) when Rab Wilson and John Burns will read from their new collections from glorious Roncadora Press. John Burns will introduce 'Open Sky', richly illustrated by Roncadora, and Rab Wilson, Dumfries & Galloway's Burns Writing Fellow, will read from 'Ye're there Horace! Horace's first buik o satires owerset and adaptit into Scots'.

Gracefield Arts Centre Gallery 2 is hosting an exhibition of Roncadora's new work until 12 March. Hugh Bryden, artist, poet and publisher, has created an extraordinarily various range of work for his publications since the imprint began in 2005. Roncadora Press pamphlets have swept away the Callum Macdonald Memorial Awards and were shortlisted in the even more prestigious Michael Marks Award.

The Cafe makes a great place for a reading and a glass of wine, and these poets will take you all the way from blackly humorous satire through aching beauty via the meaning of humanity... Free, as well. Hope to see you there!

Booklovers alert! World Book Night Party on 5th March!

Don’t forget World Book Night Party at The Ewart Library, Dumfries, Saturday 5th March 5pm to 7pm.

Rab Wilson, Vivien Jones, Gwen Kirkwood, Giancarlo Rinaldi will read short excerpts from their favourite World Book Night Titles.

There will also be the Balliol Consort performing “Scotland at Night”.

Anne Rinaldi says 'Free books, free wine, supporting your library and friendly neighbourhood Librarian - then off to the pub!! Should be a grand night out.'

Can't argue with that. Hope to see you there!

Meet Alan Temperley TONIGHT

Do come along to the Midsteeple at 7pm this evening to meet famous children's author Alan Temperley, who just happens to live in Galloway.

His books have been translated into 18 languages, and have won many awards, including a shortlist for Whitbread Children's Book of the Year for 'Harry and the Wrinklies', which also won the Prix Chronos.

His most recent book is 'Scar Hill', about which The Telegraph enthused: 'This is real edge-of-the-seat stuff'.

Free admission, bring the kids!

Andrew Forster and Jean Atkin read at Roncadora Launch on 16th

Come along to Gracefield Arts Centre Café Bar on Wednesday 16 February at 7pm as Roncadora Press launches new pamphlets in the form of Hugh Bryden’s increasingly admired artists’ books. Poets Andrew Forster and Jean Atkin will read from 'Digging' and 'Lost at Sea'. Admission free.

‘Digging’ has been written by Andrew Forster, Literature Officer for The Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere. Gorgeously illustrated and designed by Roncadora, the collection focuses on Andrew’s experience of living and working in the Lake District. Andrew’s first collection, Fear of Thunder, published by Flambard, was shortlisted for the Forward First Collection Prize in 2007. His second book, Territory (2010) is about his time in the former mining village of Leadhills in South West Scotland. ‘His descriptions of country life through the seasons offer an evocative perspective on living amidst the forces of nature…’ Poetry Book Society

Jean Atkin’s new pamphlet ‘Lost At Sea’ revolves around her exploration of the lives and experience of her Shetland forebears, and her own first visit to the islands. Jean has been a winner in several poetry competitions, including the Ravenglass Poetry Press Competition, which resulted in her short collection ‘The Treeless Region’, being published in 2010. ‘The Treeless Region is a small book but a fine one. Northwords Now

Alongside the readings, well known Dumfries artist Hugh Bryden will be exhibiting illustrations, covers and designs for his Roncadora Press books at a new exhibition at Gracefield Arts Centre until 12 March. Hugh's also running a series of workshops, including an evening workshop on 9 March from which you will emerge with your own design for a poetry pamphlet - tremendous opportunity to extend your practice and have a great time. To book a place contact Gracefield Arts Centre on 01387 262084.

Andrew McNeillie at Rutherford McCowan

On Thursday 24 February, The University of Glasgow in Dumfries will play host to Andrew McNeillie, poet, Professor of Literature at the University of Essex, and editor of one of Britain’s most renowned literary magazines, Archipelago.

Andrew will give a talk on the birth and development of Archipelago magazine, founded in 2007 ‘to provide a home for the new archipelagic art, and to inspire and embody a return to the land - and seascapes - of these islands’ (Robert Macfarlane). Featuring contributors from Seamus Heaney to Les Murray, Roger Deakin to Robin Robertson, Archipelago represents an invigorating re-engagement with the environment and culture of the British Isles. A new edition of Archipelago is due to be published in February 2011. Andrew hopes to bring a haul north with him.

The event will take place in Room 127 of the Rutherford-McCowan Building on the Crichton Campus at 3pm on Thursday 24 February. Entry is free and open to all of the region’s writers and celebrants of archipelagic culture. Q and A will follow Andrew’s talk.

Further information from Dr David Borthwick, Lecturer in Literature, University of Glasgow, Dumfries Campus, david.borthwick@glasgow.ac.uk; 01387 702024

Sheila Mullen talks poetry

Sheila Mullen completes her series of artist's talks at the Rutherford McCowan building, Crichton Campus, University of Glasgow on Saturday 12 February by sharing how her love of modern Scottish poets inspires her paintings.
Hugh MacDiarmid, Alasdair Maclean, Hamish Henderson, Will Neill and our very own Rab Wilson are all represented in the accompanying exhibition.

Time: 11-12.30, £5/£3 including refreshments.

Roncadora Poets Tonight!

Get down to Gracefield this evening for the first in a series of three Roncadora Press Poetry Readings. 7pm and free admission.

To coincide with a very beautiful exhibition in Gracefield Gallery Cafe/Bar, featuring Hugh Bryden's work with his Roncadora imprint, tonight Paisley poet Graham Fulton will read his new pamphlet Black Motel alongside Hugh McMillan, who will be introducing us to Cairn. (At least I think it's called Cairn, it's so new its stones are probably still subject to glaciation).

What's in no doubt is that this will be an evening where exacting craft meets sardonic charm. Or vice versa. And what's on the walls will brighten your week.

Take a look at this link - a great cartoon strip by M. Contraband Esq -
http://www.artdesigncafe.com/Writers-copyright-lawyer-ADP-2-3-2010

It just so happens that M. Contraband resides in Dumfries and Galloway. Are any of you interested in Carolyn setting up some workshops for writers on intellectual copyright?
Let her know on carolyn@dgarts.co.uk.

Make your way to the Midsteeple this Wednesday 26th at 7pm for new insights into the mind of The Bard on his journeys to the Other Place (well, England).
Chris Rollie’s new book ‘Robert Burns in England’ is based on the poet’s original travel journal, owned by the great publishing firm of John Murray for nearly two hundred years. Outside of the Murray family, Rollie is only the third writer to examine and use the journal itself as a source.

This promises to be a fascinating and unusual approach to Robert Burns and his times.
Free admission.

Liz Lochhead becomes Scotland's New Makar

Our congratulations to poet and playwright Liz Lochhead, Scotland's new Makar. Liz's first official duty will be opening the new Burns Museum in Alloway this Friday. She succeeds Edwin Morgan who died in August last year.

Here's Liz blowing up poetry balloons in the company of Hugh Bryden during Poetry Doubles a few years ago.

Ron McKechnie

We are very sorry to hear that Ron McKechnie has died suddenly, early in the morning of Wednesday 5 January. Ron will be well-known to many in writing circles locally - he was a member of the Dumfries Writers' Group, and also of Lockerbie Writers, and a regular presence at literary and poetry events.

His funeral will be on Thursday 13 January - the funeral service will be at 12.15, at Jardine's Chapel of Rest, 23 Terregles St, Dumfries.

Whitman, Burns and Jazz at The CatStrand

There’ll be a truly fresh start to the New Year at The CatStrand next Tuesday 11 January when Dumfries and Galloway Arts brings together renowned American poet George Wallace and increasingly famed Scots poet Rab Wilson. They will take us on a lively poetic voyage inspired by the work of two great poets of the past: Walt Whitman and Robert Burns. Jazz saxophonist Jim Holland will be accompanying the readings, making this a night to remember. Don't miss.

And if you don't want to drive (who does, at the moment?) then bear in mind there will be a community minibus from Dumfries for this event – call Carolyn Yates on 01387 253383 if you want more information.
Tickets: £10/£7 from dgArts 01387 253383 or at the Midsteeple