James Robertson talks at the Stirling Smith

In the fifth talk in the Democracy for Scotland seminar series James Robertson (pictured here with SPA Director Peter Lynch) spoke at the Stirling Smith today.

In his talk Political Fictions he discussed his novel And the Land Lay Still and asked why there has been so little political fiction written.  James’s talk will be available on the SPA website soon.

Next week in the last talk of the series former Information Commissioner Kevin Dunion will be speaking on Radical Scotland: the making of a magazine

The Horse in the room…..

 

In the fourth of the Democracy for Scotland Seminar Series Stan Bell, John McIntyre and Willie Thom spoke at the Stirling Smith today.

The talk was part of the celebrations of the 160th birthday of Cunninghame Graham, who first proposed the establishment of a Scottish Parliament in 1888. They discussed the life of this famous author, traveller, horseman, patriotic Scot and Citizen of the world who died in Argentina and is buried at Inchmaholm. Prominently featured was one of the Smith’s permanent exhibits Cunninghame Graham’s horse Pampa.

A sound recording will be available on the SPA website soon.

Dennis Canavan with SPA Directors Peter Lynch and Jim Smyth

Dennis Canavan with SPA Directors Peter Lynch and Jim Smyth, originally uploaded by Scottish Political Archive.

In the second seminar in the Democracy for Scotland seminar series Dennis Canavan gave some personal recollections of the 1979 and 1997 Referendum campaigns, the intervening period and asked what lessons could be learned from the past to help shape Scotland’s future.

The next seminar will be held at the Smith on Thursday 17th May where SPA’s own Peter Lynch will be speaking on ‘From 1979 to 2014:  Referendum Campaigning and the Future of Scotland’

Tickets available at the Stirling Smith (01786 471917)

Dennis Canavan Talk: Let the People Decide

In conjunction with the exhibition Democracy for Scotland: the referendum experience the Scottish Political Archive are hosting a series of lectures at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum throughout May 2012. 

The next seminar is to be held on Thursday 10^th  May at 12pm 

 Dennis Canavan.  Let the People Decide

Dennis will give some personal recollections of the Referendum campaigns, the intervening period of 1979-1997 and ask what lessons can be learned from the past to help shape Scotland’s future.

Dennis Canavan was MP for West Stirlingshire at the time of the 1979 Referendum. He played a leading role in the campaign for a Scottish Parliament, both in the House of Commons and throughout Scotland. Despite the set-back of the 1979 Referendum result, he continued campaigning for another twenty years until the Scottish Parliament eventually became a reality in 1999. By that time, he was MP for Falkirk West and was then elected MSP for the same constituency, becoming the first Independent to be elected to the Scottish Parliament.

Tickets available from the Stirling Smith (01786 471917)