22 October 2013
Nation and culture debate to launch Dundee Literary Festival 2013
Photo opportunity: 7pm on Wednesday, 23rd October at Bonar Hall, Park Place. A prestigious panel of academics,
writers and other creative professionals will explore the role of culture in the independence debate.
Academics, writers, journalists, artists and other representatives of the creative industries will launch this year's
Dundee Literary Festival with a debate over Scotland's identity, culture and sense of nationhood.
Held in collaboration with the University of Dundee's Five Million Questions initiative, the event will present a diverse
range of opinions on this topic and demonstrate the role of the arts in stimulating debate ahead of next year's independence
referendum. 'Five Million Questions: Nation and Culture' takes place at the Bonar Hall, Park Place, at 7pm on Wednesday,
23rd October.
The panel comprises Saltire Society director Jim Tough, Scotsman book editor David Robinson, artist Calum Colvin,
esteemed historian Professor Christopher Whatley, author Scott Hames and writer Denise Mina. This diverse range of speakers,
writers and thinkers will present views often ignored by the mainstream media, and members of the audience will have their
chance to have their say as well.
The debate will launch a programme of some 48 events over five days that celebrate the written word in all its forms.
Sports, crime, comics, translation, poetry, theatre, music, business, knitting and children's books will all be covered
between Wednesday and Sunday as some of the biggest names in literature descend on Dundee for the annual festival.
Workshops and other participation events will aim to help people connect with literature and enable aspiring poets,
playwrights and novelists to make their mark on the literary world.
Festival Director Anna Day said, 'As Dundee bids to become the UK City of Culture in 2017, we are proud of the calibre
of author who has chosen to come here and share their work and their words with us all.
'The arts have a major role to play in Scotland's most important decision for 300 years and we are delighted to kick
off the programme with a discussion about next year's independence referendum. I am sure that a lively and passionate
discussion will take place and stimulate further debate and encourage the audience to look at the issue with
a fresh perspective.'
The Dundee Literary Festival 2013 features leading figures from the world of fiction, poetry, journalism, comics and
the publishing industry taking part in a series of workshops, talks, book signings, and readings.
For more information about any Literary Festival events, or to buy tickets, please visit www.literarydundee.co.uk.
Tickets are also available from Literary Dundee, 6th floor, Tower Building, University of Dundee, tel 01382 384413.
NOTES TO EDITORS
5 Million Questions
The University of Dundee has launched a major project - '5 Million Questions' - to examine the issues surrounding the biggest
event in Scotland for over 300 years.
Every aspect of Scottish life stands to be impacted upon by the result of the 2014 referendum, and everyone has a question
about how the decision will affect them and the future of the country.
The public debate to this stage has been both highly technical and overtly party political. '5 Million Questions' aims to
stimulate wider debate, apply academic rigour to examination of the issues, and engage with the public on all aspects of the
major questions they are facing.
More information is available at http://fivemillionquestions.org.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
