Archive for the ‘Ullapool Events’ Category
Changin Scotland No. 15:
A weekend of politics, culture and ideas
Friday March 19th to Sunday March 21st
The next Changin Scotland weekend includes the usual mix of politics, culture and ideas with film, discussion and blether in The Ceilidh Place. A whole weekend of interesting and intimate conversations in a beautiful, relaxing environment.
Speakers include two of the most radical and penetrating voices on the state of British politics and democracy, Peter Oborne and Anthony Barnett look at where politics are, the coming election, and what the future holds. Oborne has been hailed as ‘one of the most challenging writers and analysts of our politics’ (Guardian), while Barnett has been called ‘one of the leading voices for liberty’ (Observer). Read the rest of this entry »
Changin Scotland No. 15: March 19th-21st 2010
Into our eighth year speakers confirmed include Peter Oborne, author of ‘The Triumph of the Political Classes’ and Anthony Barnett, founder of Charter 88 and co-director of the Convention on Modern Liberty. Oborne and Barnett will be surveying the state of British democracy and what we can do about it! Plus the usual loads and loads more, live music and fun. Plus celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Ceilidh Place!
What is Changin’ Scotland?
Changin’ Scotland has been a regular event at The Ceilidh Place since 2002. Run twice a year – every March and November – each weekend is put together and hosted by Gerry Hassan and Jean Urquhart – and covers a range of discussions and happenings on politics, culture, music and film, with the intention of having a good time. Weekends cover the entire universe of political and cultural thought, artistic endeavour, community activism, philosophical investigations, international campaigning and imagining new possibilities. Sometimes we just like to have a bit of fun! The story continues into what will be in 2010 unbelievably our eighth year!
Why is it called Changin’ Scotland?
Jean and Gerry were lost for a title for their first weekend in 2002 and it became known as Changin’ Scotland. It was originally going to be called Changing Scotland, but when Jean went to the Woolworths in Inverness (in the good old days) to buy a set of letters to form a backdrop in the Bunkhouse, Woolies only had one ‘g’. No wonder they shut down! Initially a second ‘g’ was going to be purchased, but the original name stuck!
Changin’ Scotland is not a narrow or insular set of discussions, but about Scotland, the UK and the world. It deliberately encourages international discussions, reflections on campaigning, and exploring the connections and differences Scots and others make across the globe.
When is the next Changin’ Scotland?
The next weekend is March 19th-21st 2010 – our fifteenth weekend. Tickets can be booked by calling up The Ceilidh Place on 01854612103. Check this website for programme details.
A few reflections and found memories from the weekends ….
Some of the best moments ….
The nervousness of the first one. Hiring a minivan to take people up from Glasgow to Ullapool for it. The experience of seeing Croft No. 5 that first weekend – on the Saturday. An intoxicating mixture of traditional, jazz and dance music in a Ceilidh Place packed with young people enjoying themselves: a harbinger for future weekends and our country!
The Wendy Alexander/Fiona Hyslop discussion on Labour-SNP lack of understanding. This was originally going to be Wendy and Jim Sillars after their legendary exchange of admiring letters, but Jim pulled out with weeks to go. Wendy declared that if Scotland became independent ‘she would cope with it’. George Kerevan and John Curtice provided another perspective in this session, and with the two women in the middle and men as bookends it had an air of ABBA or more accurately Brotherhood of Man! Read the rest of this entry »
Changin’ Scotland No. 14 November 6-8th 2009
Action packed and diverse as ever! James Robertson on the Scots language, A. L. Kennedy and Stuart Kelly on stories and the future, Gerry Hassan, Jim and Margaret Cuthbert and Stephen Maxwell with Iain Macwhirter on the politics of the SNP post-crash. Andy Wightman on landownership from Princes Street to Rockall, Dennis Canavan on his political life, Wiliam Walker on Scots and the nuclear question, Christopher Whatley on the meaning of 1707 and why it matters today, and Antje Bednare on her research speaking to Scottish Tories.
Plus and how do we have the time for it: Greycoast Theatre Company play ‘Fields of Barley’ and live music on Saturday nite! Sleep obviously optional!
