BBC SCOTLAND has commissioned a new literature series.

The Big Scottish Book Club is to be hosted by author Damian Barr.

The new four part series will air later this year on the BBC Scotland channel.

In the show, Barr will meet a trio of acclaimed writers from the worlds of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

Some may be from the place where the show is filmed, or their work reflects it.

Each episode will be filmed as live and performed in front of an audience.

The format of the show is inspired by Damian Barr’s Literary Salon, currently resident at London’s Savoy Hotel.

As host of the salon, Newarthill-born Barr has interviewed writers including Bret Easton Ellis, Armistead Maupin, Susan Calman, Ian Rankin, Kirsty Wark, Aminatta Forna, Yaa Gasi, Juno Dawson, Caitlin Moran, Alan Cumming and Sathnam Sanghera.

Mr Barr said: “Book sales are higher than ever and book groups continue to flourish.

"From Wigtown to Aye Write and Edinburgh International, Scotland has some of the best and busiest book festivals in the world.

"And we’ve given the world some of its finest writers. I’m delighted to host the Big Scottish Book Club and invite everyone to join our conversation, readers and writers across the country and the world. Books are for everyone and so is this show.”

Commissioning executive at BBC Scotland Gareth Hydes said: “In conjunction with Damian and IWC, we have worked to give his renowned salon sessions a Scottish twist for the new channel. There are a lot of great Scottish books and authors to discuss and invite onto the show, but it will also feature the international best sellers, which have got everyone talking."

www.bbc.co.uk

THE National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain has announced a new collaboration with Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, who will become an NYO Ambassador.

The partnership begins later this month when Benedetti joins NYO’s 164 teenage musicians on their summer rehearsal residency.

She will be performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto as part of NYO’s summer concert tour, touring Stoke-on-Trent, Saffron Walden, and culminating in a highlight of NYO’s year, the BBC Proms 2019.

Ms Benedetti said: "I am thrilled to join forces with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

"The future of classical music in the UK rests on us all, collectively – to inspire a new generation of instrumentalists, educationalists and advocates.

"I am delighted to play a part in supporting these 164 musicians, and will take a keen interest in also supporting the huge network of teenagers they inspire with their playing."

Sarah Alexander, NYO’s Chief Executive and Artistic Director said: ‘We are so excited to be working with Nicola, an incredibly passionate and brilliant musician who devotes her time not only to performance, but also to sharing her love for music and expertise with young musicians coming up behind her."

www.nyo.org.uk

THE youth homelessness charity Rock Trust is exhibiting and auctioning artworks from artists from across Scotland and further afield to raise funds for their work with young people in Scotland.

This is the charity’s fifth Postcard Art Exhibition and Auction, and this year 48 artists have donated 78 postcard-sized artworks.

This year, among the artworks, prospective bidders will find tow pieces by Norman Ackroyd, CBE, RA, known for his etchings of Scottish landscapes.

The two pieces up for auction are black and white etchings of St Kilda and Shetland.

The works will form part of a two-week long exhibition, ‘Home is where the Art is’, at St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh.

The exhibition runs until 14 June, during which time the public can bid on the artworks online, or in person at the venue.

The charity’s postcard auctions have previously raised in excess of £10,000.

Kate Polson, Rock Trust’s chief executive, said: “This biennial event to raise funds for our work is always an exciting time for us.

"The generosity of the artists is overwhelming.

"Some of them have donated three artworks when we only expected one, some have been donating to every auction we have held since 2011. The funds raised make such a difference to what we can achieve for the young people who need us."

www.rocktrust.org/postcard-art

www.rocktrust.org/postcard-art