Writing tomorrow yesterday: how fiction became reality – Scottish Arts Council Edinburgh Lecture

Alan Grant, writer of several bestselling graphic novels featuring Batman, Robocop, Terminator and Judge Dredd, will be delivering the Scottish Arts Council’s Edinburgh Lecture entitled Writing tomorrow yesterday: how fiction became reality on Tuesday 29 January at the Surgeon’s Hall, Edinburgh

The lecture is presented by the Scottish Arts Council and is part of the 2007/08 Edinburgh Lectures series which is entitled Changing Landscapes.

Alan will be ‘in conversation’ with crime novelist Denise Mina, exploring how the Changing Landscapes theme relates to his work in science fiction and how fiction can unwittingly become reality.

In the 1980s Alan co-wrote a series of stories featuring Judge Dredd set in the USA around the year 2100. Reality has swiftly overtaken fiction and many of his invented problems have already become part of everyday life: the ever-increasing role of security and state police forces; society’s fascination with celebrity, Alan’s depiction of the crushing of the ordinary person as an agent in the world. Can things only get worse?

Speaking ahead of the lecture Scottish Arts Council Acting Chief Executive, Jim Tough said: ‘This year’s theme of Changing Landscapes offers an opportunity to examine how society and the planet are changing and Alan’s lecture is a great example of how the arts can contribute to futurism debates.

‘It is the creative minds of writers and artists who have built many commonly held ideas about what the future might be like and this lecture will be a fascinating examination of where these ideas have taken us.’

The lecture will take place at 7pm on Tuesday 29 January 2008 at the Quincentenary Hall, Surgeon’s hall, Nicholson Street, Edinburgh.

To obtain tickets:
Online: www.hubtickets.co.uk
In person: The Hub, Castlehill, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2NE
Monday to Friday 10am-5pm
By telephone: 0131 473 2000
Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm

Tickets must be pre-booked, the only charge is a £3 per ticket non-refundable administration fee.

Notes to editors

1. The Scottish Arts Council serves the people of Scotland by fostering arts of excellence through investment, development, research and advocacy. Our corporate aims are: to support artists to fulfil their creative and business potential; to increase participation in the arts; and to place the arts, culture and creativity at the heart of learning. We invest £60m each year, including £15 million of National Lottery funding. For more information visit: www.scottisharts.org.uk
   
2. The Edinburgh Lectures were launched in 1992 as part of a programme of events celebrating the UK’s Presidency of the European Union which culminated in the European Summit held in Edinburgh in December that year. The Edinburgh Lectures were such a success they have continued every year since. http://www.edinburghlectures.org/

Contact email(s)

media.office@scottisharts.org.uk

Issued by: Scottish Arts Council