The New Scriptorium a small temporary structure sited on the grounds of Arbroath Abbey is a flagship project for 2020+1 Festival. A major commission with Artist Bobby Niven that will be activated though a public programme and a series of writers in residence. The structure will be a detailed, ingenious, small timber highly crafted building, animated through its programme of residencies, workshops and events.
The writers in residence will have this little building as their location for the development of new writing. They will become the town writers for the duration of their residency with the opportunity to reflect on the history and consider the contemporary circumstances of this little coastal town and its people. The opportunity will give them, time to work and a powerful contemporary context set against an extraordinary history reflected in the ruin of the Abbey.
We are working in collaboration with partner organisations within the world of writing, community, history and archives and learning. The intention is to bring people together to share perspectives and responses to the surroundings of the Abbey and Arbroath during this 701st anniversary year. It will become the place where we can highlight this history and draw contemporary parallels and debates on attitudes on literacy, the circulation of information and the power of knowledge and voice through the ages.
The writers in residence nominating panel includes representatives from: The National Centre For Writing, Glasgow Woman’s Library, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Scottish Poetry Library and Angus Writers Circle.
