Imagination: Scotland’s Festival of Ideas at the Glad Café, Glasgow

By Simon Barrow

October 3, 2014

The Glad Cafe in Shawlands, Glasgow, is hosting two important post-referendum sessions on Sunday 5th October 2014, under the banner of 'Imagination: Scotland’s Festival of Ideas'.

From 5.00-6.30pm there is 'Scotland after the Indy Vote', introduced by commentator and academic Gerry Hassan, co-organiser of the Festival of Ideas.

Scotland’s independence referendum has changed many of the conventions and assumptions about politics and public life. Where has it changed? What are the consequences and implications of this? And what is the possible landscape of the future of Scotland not just in relation to the constitutional debate, but wider politics?

Alex Massie, journalist and contributor to the Spectator, Times and Scotsman; Joanna Cherry, QC with extensive experience in civil and criminal law and a particular interest in Human Rights, EU and constitutional law;
Andrew Tickell, blogger (Lallands Peat Worrier) and constitutional lawyer;
Susan Stewart, founder member of Women for Independence, communications consultant and former director of communications at Yes Scotland.
Chaired by Alex Bell, former Head of Policy for the First Minister and author, ‘The People We Could Be’.

Then from 7.00-8.30pm, 'There’s a New Sensation, a Fabulous Creation... The New Voices and Politics of Scotland'

A plethora of new voices and groups emerged which have shaken and energised Scottish politics. How have these forces rubbed along with the official voices of Scotland in the referendum? In what ways will they evolve and develop in the near-future, and what other voices and resources need to be nurtured into public conversation to ensure a dynamic, vibrant ecology of politics and ideas?

Laura Eaton Lewis, activist, part of the New Leadership Assembly, Director of The Work Room, artist and writer;
Cat Boyd, Radical Independence Campaign and co-author, ‘Scottish Independence: A Feminist Response’;
Andy Summers, National Collective, architect, photographer and lecturer;
Jeane Freeman, founder member of Women for Independence, public affairs and government adviser.

Chaired by Kathy Galloway, activist and writer; currently heads up Christian Aid in Scotland and is a member - and former leader - of the Iona Community.

* Tickets for each session are £5 each. http://www.musicglue.com/the-glad-cafe/

* More on the independence referendum from Ekklesia: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/scottishindependence