Our Groups
Open Book’s current groups across Scotland:
Public Groups
Greenbank Community Centre, Polmont
Images & Words (online)
Off the Beaten Track (online)
Open Groups (online)
Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh
Stills Gallery, Edinburgh
Millennium Centre, Stranraer
Open Door Café, Edinburgh
Speculative Fiction, Argonaut Books, Leith
Well Versed (online)
Multicultural Groups
Aberdeen ESOL
POC (People of Colour) (online)
Maryhill Integration Network, Glasgow
International Women’s Group, Edinburgh
Shakti Women’s Aid, Edinburgh
Prisons
HMP Barlinnie
HMP Dumfries
HMP Glenochil
HMP Greenock
HMP Low Moss
HMP & YOI Polmont
Libraries
A K Bell Library, Perth
Arbroath Library
Blackness Library, Dundee
Corstorphine Library, Edinburgh
Cupar Library
Dunbar Library
Eyemouth Library
Glasgow Women’s Library
Greenock Library
Inverness Library
Inverurie Library
Largs Library
National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh
Troon Library
Greenock Library
Islands and Villages Groups
Aberfeldy
Brora Learning Zone
Coigach
Millport, Cumbrae
Kirkwall, Orkney
Portree, Isle of Skye
Shetland (online)
Ullapool
Community Groups
Bethany Christian Trust, Edinburgh
Category Is…Queer Writing, Glasgow
Chronic Illness (online)
Eric Liddell Centre, Edinburgh
Grassmarket Community Project, Edinburgh
LGBT Health and Wellbeing, Leith
Next Chapters, Dumfries & Galloway
Neurodivergent (online)
Letham Community, Perth
Social Bite, Glasgow
Spinal Injuries (online)
Writing Sense (online)
Other Languages
Scots (online)
Gaelic (online)
Arabic (online & in-person)
Literary Events
Granite Noir (February)
Granite Noir is an Aberdeen-based festival inspired by the incredible popularity of crime fiction in all its forms, by the fantastic contribution that Scottish writers make and by our love affair with Nordic Noir. In 2020, our Aberdeen group is off to enjoy An Evening with Sara Paretsky.
Paisley Book Festival (February)
A relative newcomer to the Scottish book festival scene, Paisley Book Festival began in 2020 and has fast gained a reputation for engaging with radical ideas and inspiring creativity, featuring some of Scotland’s top writing talent. Our Paisley shared reading and creative writing groups are involved in the festival annually, and have even run their own Open Mic night.
StAnza International Poetry Festival (March)
StAnza is a haven for poetry lovers everywhere, brimming with readings, exhibitions and installations from some of the most exciting poets writing today. Set in the stunning coastal Fife town of St Andrews, our Dundee groups are looking forward to a day trip full of inspirational verses.
Ullapool Book Festival (May)
Ullapool Book Festival has been going since May 2005, founded by a group of literary enthusiasts and including work written in Gaelic and Scots. Taking place over a weekend, this festival showcases the importance of literature in Highland culture and life, and this year will host a visit from our Ullapool group.
St Magnus International Festival (June)
St Magnus International Festival is Orkney’s annual celebration of the arts. Founded in 1977, the Festival has grown from small beginnings into one of Britain’s most highly regarded and adventurous arts events. Though musical events are at the heart of the artistic programme, the Festival also encompasses drama, dance, literature and the visual arts.
Edinburgh International Book Festival (August)
The largest of its kind, Edinburgh International Book Festival welcomes approximately 250,000 visitors every year during the August festival season to enjoy over 900 events with some of the best authors from across the globe. Many of our group members attend events at Edinburgh Book Festival (either in person or online) each year.
Wigtown Book Festival (September-October)
Words flourish in few places as they do in Scotland’s National Book Town. Wigtown is home to a community of booksellers and literary events, and their autumnal annual book festival is the culmination of that activity. 10 of our groups headed to Wigtown in 2019 and we’re hoping for even more in 2020.
