Festival showcase for Scotland’s Future Series project
A University of St Andrews project exploring ‘sense of place’ and the impact it has on thinking, creativity, and human relationships is to take centre stage at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Sponsored by the University’s Scotland’s Future Series, ‘Growing Roots: A Sense of Place’ has been developed by Dr Roxani Krystalli, lecturer in the School of International Relations at St Andrews.
Originally from Greece, educated in the US, and having worked in conflict-affected areas around the world, Roxani’s project was inspired by her desire to understand how relations – including with land and place – shape what sustains life in the wake of violence and loss.
Roxani will host ‘Creating (with) a sense of place’, a conversation between Scottish singer-songwriter Karine Polwart and Orcadian author Amy Liptrot, featuring musical accompaniment by Dave Milligan, at the festival’s Ballie Gifford Sculpture Court on Friday 18 August.
Commenting on the event, Roxani said: “I’m so excited that there has been such interest in this project and that I can work with others – musicians, authors, and those involved in Scotland’s vibrant creative sector – to explore how important sense of place is and the impact it has on our identity, how we think, our relationships, and our work.”
The Edinburgh International Book Festival event will weave together stories, poems, and songs to explore which places have shaped our identities, and how our geographical biographies emerge in the art we make.
In addition to this event, Roxani will also host ‘Growing Roots: Collecting with a sense of place’ at the Glasgow Women’s Library on Thursday 13 July. The event will feature Dr Sarah Laurenson, Principal Curator of Modern and Contemporary History at National Museums Scotland, and Dr Adele Patrick, Co-Founder and Director of Creative Development, Leadership, and Engagement at Glasgow Women’s Library.
Roxani said: “The discussion will explore how sense of place shapes museums and collections, and what it means to be a local or national museum and library. We will also examine how ethics of land, place, belonging, and community shape the collection of objects and curation of exhibits.”
Launched in January 2022, Scotland’s Future Series is a Principal’s Office project demonstrating the University of St Andrews’ commitment to playing an active role in developing Scotland’s future by enabling staff and students to contribute to and facilitate wider discussions. It will also enable the University to take a position of ideas leadership on how to meet the challenges of the future.
The University has created a £35,000 fund to showcase the work of staff and students to support projects to enhance discussion and debate on issues pertinent to Scotland’s future. Projects can be wide-ranging, from think-pieces that could be developed into research papers at a later date, to hosting events and other public engagement projects highlighting the work of staff and students to outside audiences.
Issued by the University of St Andrews Communications Office.