‘Clearances and Land Reform in Scotland’
Published On Thu 26 Nov 2015 by Roddy Isles
The ways in which the Highland clearances and other historical land disputes over the past 200 years continue to shape legislation and public opinion will be examined at the latest Dundee Arts Café event.
Dr Annie Tindley, Senior Lecturer in History and Director of the Centre for Scotland’s Land Futures at the University of Dundee, will discuss the contemporary relevance of Scotland’s contentious history of land ownership at The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum on Tuesday, 1st December.
“Scottish politicians are currently grappling with a new Land Reform bill, one that is inextricably linked to the events of the past such as the Highland clearances and the Land War of the 1880s,” said Dr Tindley.
“Perception of these events is imprinted on to the national psyche. The new bill raises important questions about what kind of nation Scotland wants to be – how is its landscape to be managed, and for whose benefit? What does this mean for the nature of power and conflict in rural Scotland? How has its history and traditions affected Scottish culture and continues to set the political agenda today?”
Dr Tindley’s primary research focus is on landed estates and their aristocratic owners and management, especially when faced with the challenges of land reform from the 1870s. She has also worked on a number of collaborative projects with scientists, water engineers, doctors and design specialists, looking at areas as diverse as the impact of river morphology on social history and the history of healthcare provision in the Highlands.
Dundee Arts Café is a programme of talks showcasing arts research and developments taking place locally. The series is organised by the Universities of Dundee and Abertay, and Dundee City Council’s Leisure & Culture department.
These events enable members of the public to relax and discuss the arts, from English to History, Philosophy to Architecture, and Fine Art to Product Design, with some of the leading names carrying out work in these areas in Dundee. The events last one hour, and speakers talk passionately about their work for 30 minutes before the floor is opened up to an informal discussion with the audience.
`Clearances and Land Reform in Scotland’ takes place at The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum at 6pm on Tuesday, 1st December. The event is free and open to all but limited seating means visitors are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.
For more information about the event and Dundee Arts Cafe please visit www.DundeeArtsCafe.co.uk.
For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head of Corporate Communications
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 384910
Mobile: 07800 581902
Email: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk