“The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.” (Neil DeGrasse Tyson) However, as humans we cannot help but marvel at the great infinite sky and the sheer number of stars and constellations. We can trace first cave drawings of stars as far back as the stone age and we owe much of … Continued

This week we take a break from Scotland’s Brexit travails in favour of assassination attempts and a manhunt in Annandale. Though more than thirty years have passed, the Lockerbie bombing remains unresolved. More people were killed on Scottish soil in this murderous event than any other, excepting war. The only person ever tried was ‘Unsafely Convicted’ … Continued

Welcome back to another satirical story as part of our Scotland the When series. This week’s tale features Scotland’s Culture Minister in an Edinburgh Festival Fringe mishap. This year’s Fringe is unfortunately not going to go ahead as planned – may it soon be back! Gussie McCraig evokes our worst Brexit nightmares, and they are … Continued

To mark the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, we are launching Scotland the When, a series of satiric or surreal stories about Scotland’s politics and culture. The first story Destiny Stane recounts the rediscovery of the real – again – Stone of Destiny, in the midst of the Brexit stramash, hidden beneath the … Continued

We love to share stories and to connect with our visitors and audiences across the traditional arts, so we thought we would ask TRACS and SSC staff to give you a sneak peek behind the scenes of their lockdown life and office spaces. From attention-seeking pets, coded poetry, creative things like knitting and drawing, to … Continued

Dear Friends, It is with heavy heart that as of today (Wed 18 Mar) we have decided to close the Scottish Storytelling Centre and John Knox House to the public and suspend our events programme until further notice. The safety and wellbeing of our staff, visitors and performers is at the forefront of our thoughts. … Continued

The Scottish Storytelling Centre, supported by Scotland’s Winter Festivals event fund, honours the legacy of Robert Burns through a series of cross-generational celebrations, bringing people together home and away. Whether it’s ringing in the New Year with “Auld Lang Syne”, book titles, pop music, or featuring on banknotes – the ploughman’s poet as he’s often … Continued

Every year, St Andrew’s Day garners feasts and celebrations across the nation. It’s a time of compassion, reflection and good fun. This year at the Centre, we’re celebrating our national holiday with two Ceilidhs – a family Ceilidh for all the family and a Ceilidh House to close the day – as well as a multi-sensory … Continued

With The Children’s Forest, a beautiful book – co-authored by Dawn Casey, Anna Richardson and Helen Ascoli – Hawthorn Press have scaled fresh heights in its vocation to put inspiring storytelling resources into our hands. There is a practical aim at work in providing ‘stories and songs, wild food, crafts and celebrations all year round’, … Continued

In recent years, seventeen new collections of folktales from Scotland’s diverse regions have been produced by ‘The History Press’ and the latest Anthology of Scottish Folk Tales brings together tales from across Scotland in one special volume. That is a creative roll call of places and people. Scotland has proved fertile folk tale territory, as … Continued