The first ever Book Week Scotland, a celebration of books and reading, runs from 26 November – 2 December 2012 and Dundee Contemporary Arts will be presenting a jam-packed schedule of events including:
- Two specially programmed week-long exhibitions
- Live music from Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat, this years recipients of Scottish Album of the Year, supported by readings from Scottish author Gordon Legge
- A literary themed edition of Discovery Family Film Club
- A chance to join thousands of people across Scotland for The Reading Hour
Throughout Book Week Scotland, two specially programmed exhibitions will run in DCA Galleries. Artists’ Books will offer visitors the unusual opportunity to see a huge range of books, published ephemera and ‘zines made by artists, including work by Torsten Lauschman and Ruth Ewan.
Book Week Scotland at DCA will continue beyond the Galleries with an exciting range of events, activities and screenings across the building. On Wed 28 November there’s an opportunity to hear live music by Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat, the recipients of the inaugural Scottish Album of the Year award in 2012 for Everything’s Getting Older. They will be supported by RM Hubbert alongside readings by the acclaimed Scottish author Gordon Legge.
In the Cinema there will be a literary focused edition of Discovery Family Film Club on Sat 1 December. Private Peaceful, based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, follows the adventures of two young brothers whose ruralDevonshire lives are shattered by the outbreak of war in 1914. This screening will be preceded by a free family workshop where visitors can make a beautiful handmade book.
At 11am on St Andrew’s Day, Fri 30 November 2012, visitors to DCA will be invited join thousands of people across Scotlandas part of The Reading Hour to stop what they’re doing and read. As part of this event DCA will be giving away copies of My Favourite Place, a special collection of writing to be gifted to the people ofScotland during the country’s first ever national celebration of reading.
Other activities will include the creation of Book of 100hrs inspired by the beautiful medieval model of bookmaking. Members of the public will be invited to create their own page to be added to this limited edition handmade publication. In addition on 27 November, Smallpetitklein Dance Company will present a special performance of Embers, a solo for a female dancer and 4000 pieces of paper. The performance will be followed by a short discussion on representations of 9/11 by writers and artists.
Clive Gillman, Director of DundeeContemporary Arts said: “Books of all shapes and forms are rich in meaning and inspiration and have provided artists from all disciplines with a common platform for ideas, images and stories. We’re really proud and excited to be exploring what books mean to us as part of the inaugural Book Week Scotland.”.
More info on DCA’s website: www.dca.org.uk