Beyond Borders – 2011

Beyond Borders is a Scottish-based creative initiative dedicated to showcasing the work of writers, intellectuals and filmmakers who come from small nations around the world. Our patrons include Lord Brown, Lord Steel, Sir Menzies Campbell, Helena Kennedy QC, Baroness Smith and Sir Kieran Prendergast.

2011 PROGRAMME

Beyond Borders works across several different mediums including literature, political debate, art, film and dialogue, and will be running events in relation to each medium during the 2011 Edinburgh Festival. Each event aims to explore common themes such as homelands, landscape, memory, dialogue and cultural reconciliation, and will take place from the 20th August 2011 at Traquair House in the Scottish Borders as well as sites across Edinburgh, including the Scottish parliament.

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 themes of our times both at home and abroad through literature, comedy, observation, testimony, dialogue and debate. We bring together a remarkable collection of international writers and cultural leaders of iconic small nations from around the world including Dr. Abuelaish from Palestine, diplomats such as Jonathan Powell and Sir Kieran Prendergast, campaigners such as Gareth Pierce and Mark Thomas, novelists such as Aminatta Forna, and writers such as William Dalrymple, David Starkey and Fatima Bhutto. Other presenters include Mariella Frostrup, Magnus Linklater, James Runcie and Ruth Wishart.

This year, there will be a particular focus on the Arab Spring, including writers from Libya, Palestine and Afghanistan as well as Pakistan, India, Zimbabwe and beyond.

More information on Beyond Borders events will be posted on this site soon so please check back for more details.