Edinburgh’s New Town to celebrate literary history
Robert Fergusson's words will be used. Picture: Julie Bull
FAMOUS quotations from Enlightenment figures will be beamed on to buildings throughout Edinburgh’s New Town as part of a new campaign to raise the profile of the capital’s world city of literature status.
Rose Street, George Street, Charlotte Square and St Andrew Square will all feature in the £100,000 Enlighten project, which will see specially-commissioned pieces of animation inspired by the quotes brighten up the city’s streets.
The projections – which will feature the words of David Hume, James Hutton, Allan Ramsay, Robert Fergusson, Adam Smith and Lady Cockburn – will illuminate entire buildings.
And six modern-day writers have also been commissioned to record pieces of new fiction and poetry which will be available to download during the two-week initiative, along with details of the architectural and literary history of each area.
The Edinburgh Unesco City of Literature Trust, which has instigated the project, said the six writers – Gavin Inglis, William Letford, Kirsty Logan, Ken MacLeod, James Robertson and JL Williams – would be “responding to the wisdom” of the Enlightenment figures.
The project, which is backed by Edinburgh World Heritage and business group Essential Edinburgh, has been specially timed for a two-week period next month in a bid to help boost tourism at a quieter time of year. It is believed to be the first time that sophisticated “projection mapping” has been used for a major cultural project in Scotland.
Its unveiling on 1 March will coincide with the launch of a new campaign aimed at persuading tourism businesses to make more of the city’s literary legacy.
Ali Bowden, director of the city of literature trust, said: “Enlighten will match the architectural brilliance of this historic city with our world renowned literature, and provide an arresting experience for passers-by, both locals and visitors – as well as a focal point for those planning a trip to Edinburgh.”
Iain Munro, director of creative development at Creative Scotland, which has awarded the project £50,000, said: “Enlighten will create a dynamic celebration of our world-renowned literature, set against the architecture of the historical centre of Scotland’s Enlightenment.
“Seeing the city centre lit up and featuring our contemporary writers is sure to be one of the highlights of the Year of Creative Scotland in 2012.”
The separate campaign to encourage hotels, bars and restaurants to generate more business by using the city’s literary legacy will include the publication of a new guide for businesses.
Ms Bowden said: “The guide provides ideas and tips on how to innovate around literary based tourism, helps businesses discover how they can gain competitive advantage by using Edinburgh’s city of literature status, and how they can work with us to enhance the quality of the visitor experience and grow their business.”
Robin Worsnop, chairman of the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group said: “As the world’s first Unesco City of Literature, Edinburgh truly is the heart of storytelling. We have been home to some of the greatest authors from Robert Louis Stevenson to Muriel Spark, and remain so to internationally renowned writers including JK Rowling, Alexander McCall Smith and Ian Rankin.
“We play host to the world’s largest book festival of its kind, the Scottish International Storytelling Centre sits on our historic Royal Mile, and we have the world’s largest monument to an author among many other literary based attractions.
“Together these assets give us a great platform to attract the ‘literary tourist’, from the very young to the more mature.”
Two years ago, the Carry A Poem initiative in Edinburgh saw lines from famous poems inspired by Edinburgh beamed on to landmark buildings.
• EDINBURGH was widely seen as having scored a major coup when it was designated the world’s first city of literature in 2004.
The successful bid, approved in Paris after then culture minister Patricia Ferguson led a 20-strong delegation from the city, led to the creation of a network of global cities which celebrate, share and develop their literary culture.
The main aims of the Edinburgh City of Literature Trust, which was set up to promote the city’s status, include developing literary tourism, promoting Scottish literature and developing new talent.
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Comments
There are 13 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
brianwci
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 01:13 PMExcellent idea. All for Scotland making modern technology work for us, in this case highlighting the magnificence of the New Town as well as some of our most important literary figures. Let's hope the equally magnificent Forth Bridge gets a similar treatment with searchlights highlighting its amazing structure after darkness falls. I love the Cameron interviews with the Forth Bridge in the back ground. I trust this panoramic view will be a regular backdrop for major interviews. A tremendous advertising platform for Scottish tourism, not to mention for Edinburgh and Fife. VOTE YES.
Tartancult
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 07:44 PMWhy would you want to see a quote from an American general peter58?
peter58
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 10:46 AMThe only response I would like to see is this: "if nominated I'll decline. If drafted I'll defer. And if elected I'll resign,"
Niebiosa tam sa naprawde nieskrzydlowe ludzie tam
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 10:00 AMThis lot don't know the old town from the new town, literary figures from painters, or their chorus from their verse ! D'yknow that one the famous Scotsman journalist in the 50 & 60's used to supply his copy in Greek, and the head typesetter could translate it, this lot are simply journaistic toilet paper.
Niebiosa tam sa naprawde nieskrzydlowe ludzie tam
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 09:57 AMAs long as the Hootsmon does NOT mention, Ian McCall Smith, Ian Rankin or JKR, it gets soooooo tiresome.
searchanddestroy
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 09:55 AMregardless of who is in the picture the statue is good and shows you the sort of sculpture that should be installed around Edinburgh (the one of Adam Smith on the High St, the one of Treasure Isalnd in Corstorphine etc). All top quality. Compare anmd contrast these with the laughable "Paper Mache Pete" outside the CEC offices another 300 large worth of politically correct non sense.
edinburgh.reporter
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 09:25 AMMaybe the City of Edinburgh Council's enlightening quote can be beamed around the city. "On Time and On Budget"
alan99
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 09:20 AMThe statue is poet Robert Fergusson and the painting is of James Hutton by Raeburn
B K
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 09:09 AMIt is nieither RLS nor Fergusson, it the statue of an Edinburgh Caddie outside the Canongate Kirk and has no connection with any literary figure or with the New Town.
B K
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 09:05 AMNew Town? Even the Hootsmon should know that that statue is in the Canongate in the Old Town, barely a stone's throw from their own offices!
The Holy Poet
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 07:54 AMIt looks nothing like RLS so maybe it is Robert Fergusson.
Drum Major
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 07:16 AMIt certainly does not look like the pictures I have of RL Stevenson. I have read about Ferguson but do not have any pictures.
dixon hawke
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 02:07 AMSurely the photo caption is wrong. that's not RL Stevenson's in the pic.It looks like the Robert Fergusson statue outside Canongate Kirk.
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