The British Council Bookcase at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

The British Council Bookcase 2010 programme was developed and delivered in partnership with the Edinburgh International Book Festival and supported by Creative Scotland with a view to bringing the best of contemporary British literature to the widest possible international audience. This edition saw 50 invited experts from literary communities in over 30 countries taking part. This specially designed showcase allowed delegates to hear from a wide range of speakers: writers from all four UK countries, first-time and established novelists and poets, writers of non-fiction, and key figures in politics and culture. A literary lunch series hosted by leading organizations working in literature in Edinburgh, including the National Library, Scottish Poetry Library, Storytelling Centre and Scottish Book Trust, provided delegates with fantastic networking opportunities.

The Canadian delegates included:

Linda Leith, Founder & Artistic Director, Blue Metropolis Foundation from Montreal

Geoffrey Taylor, Director, Authors at Harbourfront Centre & International Festival of Authors from Toronto

Helen Walsh, President, Diaspora Dialogues from Toronto

Welsh Contemporary Circus Group Debuted at Montréal Complètement Cirque

British Council Canada and Wales Arts International, in cooperation with La Tohu, supported Welsh contemporary circus group NoFit State's North American debut at Montreal's first circus arts festival, Montréal Complètement Cirque.  Based in Cardiff and founded in 1986, NoFit State performed their show tabù to many glowing reviews. A review in Montreal’s Le Devoir described tabù as a show that “notably stunned and seduced the crowd”. NoFit State’s website advises that audiences should “leave circus preconceptions behind” and indeed, tabù is a unique creation of circus arts blended with dance, song, mime, theatre and wonderful live music, unfolding above, around and amongst spectators, with appeal for all ages.  

British Jazz Musicians Featured at Montreal Jazz Fest

Montreal’s International Jazz Festival featured leading British horn player John Surman and organist Howard Moody. The performance, sponsored by British Council Canada, was a unique pairing of instruments that was both powerful and strikingly beautiful. The performance took place at the stunning St. James United Church that featured a massive church organ and its two bellows and roughly 4,000 pipes – some of which were heard for the first time in 10 years. The evening was filled with a diverse range of pieces showcasing the duo’s musical talents and ability to brilliantly match and balance each other’s sound. The end result was a performance that brought the audience to their feet in a standing ovation.

John Surman is a master of baritone and soprano saxophones and bass clarinet. He emerged as a leader of the new British jazz in the 1960s. He joined Howard Moody, an organ scholar at King’s College at Oxford, in the mid-1990s. The pair released their debut album Proverbs and Songs in 1996 on ECM, a Munich-based label.