Launching ‘History at the Heart’, an occasional series of informal discussions, conversations, talks and workshops. The aim is for historians to give a platform to creative artists working outside the university, to provide them with a chance, over a cup of tea or coffee, to reflect on their engagement (or lack of) with history and historical writers. 

Back in 2019, I had the privilege of chairing an evening of conversation at the National Museum of Scotland with Donnie Munro, former lead singer of hugely influential Highland rock group, Runrig, about how history, and even specific historians, had informed the band. I enjoyed the experience so much that it made me want to follow it up. What I wish to do is to foreground the work of numerous other inspiring, creative people with whom I, or my colleagues at the UHI Centre for History, have collaborated with or learned from over recent years, or with whom we would be keen to connect with further due to our fascination with, and appreciation of, the way they interpret historical events. 

This series is not being set up to compete with the Centre for History’s ongoing, wonderful #HistoryTalksLive series. Instead, it seeks to engage with and hear from creative minds beyond the university, to find out how they are informed by the past? What are the benefits of, and barriers for them to, working with academics on this? How do they blend facts and interpretation when considering history and what does that involve for them? Is accuracy and historical training vital, or are they focused much more on evoking an atmosphere? For us, as university-based historians too, there will be questions. Memory and emotions have long been subjects we have tackled, myths too, while our need or otherwise to have empathy with the people we study is a contested theme that comes up again and again.  

Furthermore, in a manner that is unique within Scotland, the Centre for History, where I work, has a strategic commitment to public and community history, in other words, to collaborating with others beyond the university in researching and presenting the past. 

I believe that university-based historians and creative artists could enrich each other’s work further and support our collaborations more effectively. These informal conversations aim to assist with that. 

Led by me, Professor David Worthington of the Centre for History, our starting point will be the Scottish Highlands and Islands, but we will look well beyond too. The events will be held online, although with an option, for speakers, if they wish, of taking part alongside myself in Dornoch, where the Centre has its home and where I work. We can offer an historical tour of the building and a hot drink for creative visitors in our Dennis MacLeod Research Space at Burghfield House, Dornoch! 

We start with a session from 1-2pm on Thursday 16 November, entitled ‘History and the Imagination – The Blending of Both’ when writer Donald S. Murray will provide his own perspective on these themes, this followed by a Q&A chaired by me.

There are more details on the event, and on attending by Cisco Webex, on our EventBrite page here:

I will hope to see you there!