On 28 May Celeste-Marie Bernier, Professor of United States and Atlantic Studies at Edinburgh University, and Nick Batho, who is studying for a PhD at the University, braved the rain to give Open Book members a walking tour of some of the places associated with the notable former slave Frederick Douglass during his 3 visits

Escape   Strike me Something is coming Out of me My soul has escaped Butterfly wings flutter Feelings smash on the floor The air is full of colour And smells of freedom Rise Feathery weight There is finally hope   – facilitated by Beth Godfrey  

We are delighted to report that our Further Afield project, new pilot groups in Stranraer, Ullapool, Kirkwall, Aberdeen, Eyemouth, Lochgelly and (two groups in) Dundee have been granted funding by Creative Scotland and will begin later this month. We’ve had a busy month training new Lead Readers in the Open Book shared reading+creative writing model,

This year for Book Week Scotland, Open Book is running a series of shared read+creative writing in our PUBLIC groups, on the theme of Rebel! Join us at any one of these sessions: Tuesday 20th November from 10:15-11:45 at the National Library of Scotland, led by poet Jonathan Bay:  https://bookweekscotlandevents.com/events/rebel-yell-writing-a-rebellion Wednesday 21st November from 10:30-12:30

We had an overwhelming response to our call out for new Lead Readers for the Open Book Community Project. After some difficult decisions, we are thrilled to have a super team of talented new Lead Readers on board for the Project: Esa Aldegheri – The Welcoming and Welcoming Women Sian Bevan – Rowan Alba Beth Godfrey –

Open Book is looking for new Lead Readers for 3 groups as a part of our newly funded Community Project. Each post includes developing and delivering 10 shared reading and creative writing sessions with a community group in Edinburgh over the next 12 months (roughly one monthly, apart from December and July), attending two half-day

This year, Open Book brought around 300 of our readers to the Book Festival over two days.   On Monday 13th August, 120 women and children from Maryhill Integration Network, The Welcoming and a Kurdish-speaking Syrian group attended several events in the Book Festival programme, were treated to two poetry readings (with Arabic translation) accompanied

We are delighted to announce that Creative Scotland has approved our Large Project Community Project funding.  This funding will allow us to work in ten different community groups (including Grassmarket Community Project, The Stove, WHALE Arts, Rowan Alba, The Welcoming, Maryhill Integration Network, Shakti Women’s Aid and others) across 12 months.  We’ll also be able

At the end of a long and energetic day at the Book Festival, Open Book brought over 100 of our women and children readers from Maryhill Integration Network (Glasgow), The Welcoming (Edinburgh), and an Edinburgh-based group of Syrian Kurdish speakers to the Botanic Gardens to explore the gardens, blow off steam and meet the artist