What's On Page Navigation
The Cumnock Hour: Genesis Conversations
4 October 2024
Part of The Cumnock Tryst Festival 2024
Talk
Page Navigation
In collaboration with the Genesis Foundation in London and our East Ayrshire cultural sister organisation Boswell Book Festival The Tryst presents this special panel discussion to mark its tenth anniversary. As part of the ongoing Genesis Conversations taking place around the UK, this event will address key issues relating to the cultural sector and hopes to create greater awareness of the role that the arts can play in rural regeneration. The renowned Scottish journalist Iain Macwhirter leads our prestigious panel of experts in discussion before opening up a Q&A session with our audience.
There are very specific challenges facing rural regeneration which are markedly different from what might happen in urban centres. These include our splintered communities, our scattered populations, a deep poverty concealed in rolling fields and ‘cosy’ villages, a lack of tourist accommodation, transport, self-confidence and any sense of cultural entitlement. How do we achieve pride in our communities in the wake of industrial and economic decline? How do we entice local people to attend arts events? Can schools and education leaders be co-opted into joint strategies? All these questions and more could be raised in this frank and open discussion!
7 St. Bernard's Crescent , Dumfries Arms Hotel
Runtime: 1 hour, 30 mins.
Price: £6 – £8.50
Our panel is:
Iain Macwhirter, Chair
James Knox, Chairman, Boswell Book Festival
John McAslan, Architect
Jennifer Martin, Chief Executive, The Cumnock Tryst
Alistair Moffat, writer and journalist
Andrew O’Hagan, writer
Gillian Walker, composer
“There has been a lot of talk in recent years about the regeneration of the Cumnock and Doon Valley area. A lot of that is focused on economics, politics, commerce, social work and education. But can music and the other arts bring about the spiritual regeneration which wounded communities require? I’ve always thought so. And King Charles speaks of this regeneration being led through conservation. Others point to literature and the visual arts. Some others point out that the west of Scotland sometimes gets ignored, with all the cultural drag, money, the readymade audiences with all their political and economic clout seeming to exist on the East of the country. The Cumnock Tryst and Boswell Book Festival seem to offer alternative perspectives. There is a lot to discuss here and some of it might be controversial! Let the debate begin!”
Sir James MacMillan