30 years on: ‘a DAY FOR SCOTLAND’

6 Jul

LOOKING BACK: VIRTUAL EVENT TO COMMEMORATE ‘A DAY FOR SCOTLAND’

On 14 July 1990, over 30,000 people gathered in Stirling to celebrate A Day for Scotland. Held in Fallen Inch Field, in the shadow of Stirling Castle, this huge outdoor family friendly festival combined music, politics, theatre and comedy under the theme of national pride.

Organised by the Scottish Trades Union Congress and Stirling District Council, headliners included Runrig, Hue & Cry, Deacon Blue and The Shamen; as well as folk luminaries such as Dick Gaughan and Hamish Henderson.

30 years on, Stirling University’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the Scottish Political Archive are hosting an online event on Tuesday 14 July to commemorate A Day for Scotland’s important role in Scottish political history. Speakers include Festival Organiser Lisa Whytock, musician Pat Kane from Hue and Cry, cultural critic and journalist Stewart Smith and Dr Peter Lynch from the Scottish Political Archive.

Dr Peter Lynch said: “Billed as ‘a Festival for Our Future’, A Day for Scotland was a key event not only for Stirling, but in linking popular culture and politics in the campaign for a Scottish parliament. Organised by the STUC and Stirling District Council, flyers promised ‘a positive celebration of Scottish life — which says we must decide our future — no-one else!’ The political overtones were unmissable and raised a stir. Not least with the local MP, Michael Forsyth, a Scottish Office minister in the Thatcher government. Controversy and all, the event was widely viewed as a major success.”

Dr Scott Hames of the University’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities added: “Cultural activism played a key role in the campaign for devolution, and A Day for Scotland is a fascinating example. It gave the STUC and pro-devolution campaigners a chance to connect with a much greater audience outside of party politics and a means to connect with young people and communities through the voices of musicians. It also paved the way for large pop concerts at Stirling Castle from the mid-1990s.”

The event organisers hope the commemorative event will inspire people across Scotland to share their own memories and photos of the day with them.

Archivist Sarah Bromage said: “Our A Day for Scotland collection includes photographs, leaflets, backstage passes and even a Festival hoodie! We are really looking forward to sharing these and to hearing people’s memories of the day; as well as hopefully collecting more photographs and other artefacts for the archive. You can send us your memories at scottishpoliticalarchive@stir.ac.uk”

To book a free place at the event visit Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-day-for-scotland-30-years-on-tickets-108861541802

stirlingartsculturecreativecreativitycityscotlandscottish arts

Kevin Harrison

Kevin Harrison is the Director of Artlink Central, a charity and social enterprise designing creative experiences in conjunction with artists, public bodies and led by disadvantaged or marginalised people particularly in health, social care or criminal justice contexts. . Kevin joined the organisation five years ago and was previously Arts and Wellbeing Manager with Sense Scotland since 2006, supporting a Scotland-wide participation in the arts for disabled people with communication needs. Kevin managed the development of a range of arts projects including Threads and Found in Translation, projects exploring cultural diversity and disability, and Leaving New Craigs, a life history project in Inverness for people leaving the last long stay hospital in Scotland. He managed a national arts and wellbeing team and supported the establishment of a strong creative programme in the TouchBase, a new inclusive base for people and communities supported by Sense Scotland in the south side of Glasgow. Kevin who has a degree in theatre and film from Roehampton University and who undertook postgraduate studies in Arts Management and Policy at Birkbeck University of London is also a trustee for Scottish Prison Arts Network, chair of Dementia Friendly Forth Valley as part of a Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) programme. Previous posts include freelance editor and administration roles with key national disability arts organisation, Shape Arts and public sector roles in Arts Development and as Business Manager, Creative Academy, Slough Borough Council, supporting a multi-million pound EQUAL creative industries inclusion programme . He also has experience of managing Music 4 Slough, a Youth Music Action Zone.

30 years on: ‘a DAY FOR SCOTLAND’

uncharted territory

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