Welcome to Beyond Borders

Beyond Borders is an international organisation dedicated to facilitating dialogue & cultural exchange between small nations. Beyond Borders seeks to celebrate those cultures & help overcome conflict through dialogue & artistic exchange by using Scotland’s own unique cultural & political heritage. Alongside these cultural events Beyond Borders will seek to roll out a number of dialogue events & small nation leadership exchanges with leaders of other nations by harnessing the expertise & unique experiences of our Board of Patrons, all of whom have held high public office either in Parliament, Government, International bodies & the Arts.

Tribute to Marie Colvin

Marie Colvin

Beyond Borders is shocked and saddened by the news of Marie Colvin's death in Homs today, along with French photographer Remi Ochlik. Marie was a brilliant and courageous journalist who insisted on getting to the heart of the situation and staying with those worst affected, rather than leaving them stranded.

Download the Beyond Borders Wider Programme for 2011 here (5MB in PDF format)

Download our Special Edition Journal (5MB in PDF format)

This year's festival examines some of the most crucial political and cultural themes of our times both at home and abroad

Each film will be followed by a discussion featuring filmmakers and writers taking questions from the audience

Featuring storytelling in the form of walks, cycle rides and seated sessions under a cedar tree for children and families

Our dialogue programme for 2011 includes topics on the Arab Spring, Zimbabwe, and gender equality and the GREAT Initiative

Including a Caroline McNairn retrospective, revolutionary images from the Arab Spring, and Zimbabwean sculpture

The 2011 Traquair Fair features a red hot programme of entertainment for all ages and a strong crafts in action section

Featured events in 2011

For a full list of events visit the full events page.

Traquair Fair
A packed programme of outdoor spectacles, street theatre, music, dance, children's entertainment & workshops, books & storytelling, crafts...
I Shall Not Hate
Mark Muller Stuart QC talks to Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish about why he refuses to hate following the tragic death of his three daughters during the...
To the River
Join Olivia Laing, writer and former Observer deputy books editor, as she talks to James Runcie about her mesmerising new book To The River and the...
Woodland Walk
Roam the meadows, streams and ancient woods of Traquair with family storyteller Mary Kenny, as she makes 900 years of history come alive.This walk...
Desert Journey, Jordan - Joseph Maxwell Stuart
Following in the footsteps of Orientalist painter David Roberts, Joseph Maxwell Stuart exhibits oil paintings from a Roberts-inspired journey across...
21 Years of Revolution
After the Revolution documents the street protests that took place in Bucharest in early 1990, capturing a moment of post-revolution anarchy in...
Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish
Join Gazan surgeon Dr. Izzeldin Abuslaish, and Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu from the Centre for Policy Alternatives (Sri Lanka’s foremost civil...
Crown and Country
Penny Smith welcomes David Starkey back to Traquair to talk about his latest book and the future of the Royal Family in British life. British...

Reviews

Published: 9 Sep 2011

Traquair House, home to human rights lawyer Mark Muller Stuart QC, is the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. It’s a sunny day in the Scottish Borders and the turreted house, speckled with tiny... more

by Clare Hammond
Published: 5 Sep 2011

Filmmaker Anna Thoma and Clare Hammond managed to corner the trio of men - Magnus Linklater, William Dalrymple and Des Browne -... more

Published: 11 Aug 2011

FRESH from his latest controversial statement, this time on the England riots, Doctor David Starkey will make his next public appearance at Traquair House’s second Borders, Books and Bikes event... more

Press Releases

Released: Monday, 1 August 2011

A memorial exhibition of the works of Border artist Caroline McNairn (1955-2010), showcasing a selection of her smaller more intimate paintings, giving a moving insight into the poetic lyricism... more

Released: Wednesday, 20 July 2011

This year’s film programme focuses on four small nations emerging from confl ict: Palestine, Kurdish Iraq, Libya and Sri Lanka. In celebrating these cultures, we aim to create a vibrant... more

Released: Monday, 1 August 2011

Following in the footsteps of Orientalist painter David Roberts, Joseph Maxwell Stuart exhibits a selection of oil paintings from a Roberts-inspired journey across Egypt, Jordan, Israel,... more

News

Beyond Borders is shocked and saddened by the news of Marie Colvin's death in Homs today, along with French photographer Remi Ochlik. Marie was a brilliant and courageous journalist who insisted... more

Our full programme of events for 2011 is now complete.The programme can be downloaded from the link provided, or viewed online. This year, there will be a particular focus on the Arab Spring,... more

The 2011 festival launches with Books Borders and Bikes, held at Traquair House on the 20th and 21st August 2011. This year’s festival examines some of the most crucial political and cultural... more