In commemoration of the centenary of the birth of Sorley MacLean (1911 – 1996) Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and the Scottish Centre for Island Studies, Faculty of Business and Creative Industries, University of the West of Scotland invite you to join in a celebration of his life, work and legacy. (Thursday 16 – Saturday 18 June 2011 at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye). It is anticipated that this event will offer a range of academic and creative responses to Sorley’s cultural and political legacy with particular attention to his deep roots and referencing of island culture, history and experience. Furthermore, this proposed event will explore, with both established and more recently introduced scholars and artists, the significance and importance of Sorley MacLean within the wider context of the national culture of Scotland, the cultural terrain of the Highlands and Islands, and the cultural engagement of the 20th century Scottish left.

The academic focus will be a two day event structured around a selection of papers and discussion panels, as well as performance and creative practice activity detailing both Sorley’s own work and his inspiration to others. In keeping with the internationalist perspectives that permeate Sorley’s own work, the event will be framed as an opportunity to offer an appreciation of what experiences and understanding of island life and culture, and of an island sense of place and dwelling, specifically but not exclusively in reference to Scotland, informed Sorley in his creative work and commentary.

CFP: Papers are invited, in Gaelic or English, on any aspect of Sorley’s life and work. Contributors may wish to consider themes such as:

> Poetic and Political Legacy
> Islands: Places and Representations
> History, Scholarship, Collections
> Creative Identity, Practice and Performance

Please send a 300 word abstract to either Rody Gorman sm00rg@groupwise.uhi.ac.uk or Kathryn A Burnett kathryn.burnett@uws.ac.uk by the deadline of March 18th 2011.

This event is co-hosted by the Scottish Centre for Island Studies, Faculty of Business and Creative Industries, University of the West of Scotland and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture. Further details, including information relating to registration, draft programme and confirmed speakers, will be made available at www.uws.ac.uk/sorley2011