TOMORROW, the Royal Society of Edinburgh will host a day long event to mark A Year of Conversation.
The Scottish and international initiative, led by its creative director, the poet Tom Pow, is a bid to "celebrate the positive power of conversation to open our minds and to counter growing social polarisation."
The Art of Conversation is free but ticketed.
It takes place at the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), George Street, Edinburgh on 16 February.
Pow said: "A Year Of Conversation is about celebrating, initiating and exploring conversation in our lives.
"At a time when mutual understanding appears threatened, when communities are becoming closed off, this project will show that our culture is an open one – or show the role of conversation in helping it to become one.
“The vision is for something national and international, serious but playful, both necessary and important. It will demonstrate the truth of Montaigne's words, ‘We belong to all countries’.
“True conversation makes life richer and gives us the chance to build up empathy and build connections and gain fresh perspectives across borders, cultures and generations."
Professor Dame Anne Glover, president of the RSE, added: “Conversation opens our minds to a whole universe of knowledge and ideas. It’s fundamental to who we are as human beings and how we understand our world – so we are delighted to be hosting the national launch event for A Year Of Conversation."
A Year of Conversation will involve events and activities all across Scotland.
A Year of Conversation is working with the National Library of Scotland, Scottish Book Trust, The Stove, Voluntary Arts Scotland, Highlight Arts, The Lyceum Theatre, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, The Scottish Poetry Library, The Playwrights’ Studio, Literary Alliance Scotland, Edinburgh International Books Festival, Wigtown Festival Company, StAnza, DG Unlimited and the University of Glasgow.
www.rse.org.uk
SCREEN Scotland, the new film agency, has launched its search for a director of screen.
The new director will work with Isabel Davis, the executive director of the body, which launched last year.
Ms Davis said: "The newly enhanced investment for Scotland’s screen industry doubles our overall spend on screen to £20million and our plans for increased world class film and TV studio facilities make this a very exciting time for Scotland.
"I’m seeking to build our capabilities and the Director of Screen is a critical leadership role to support on matters relating to film and television work across development, production, distribution, exhibition, audience development, skills and talent development and screen commission activities."
She said that the successful candidate will be "instrumental in furthering the development and successful growth of the sector nationally and internationally...have extensive experience in policy and external affairs and as a natural relationship builder."
Applications close on 3 March.
www.creativescotlandrecruitment.co.uk
DRONE, a spoken word performance by poet Harry Josephine Giles is to tour Scotland.
The piece "telling the story of a military drone's life and fears"is written by Forward-shortlisted poet Harry Josephine Giles, and performed by Giles, with international sound artist Neil Simpson and digital artist Jamie Wardrop.
It is directed by Rob Jones and produced by Stephanie Katie Hunter.
It will be performed from 11-13 April at the Tron in Glasgow, 2 May at the Camden's People Theatre in London, then to Sound Archive on Orkney on 9 May, 10 May at the Gable End Theatre, Hoy and then on 4 and 5 June at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh.
www.flintandpitch.com
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