The Irvine Burns Club of Scotland celebrates its First-Time Exhibit “Dear Mr. Burns…” to celebrate Homecoming 2009
This fall the Irvine Burns Club will stage the first-time exhibition “Dear Mister Burns ..,” a fascinating exhibition of handwritten letters to the Irvine Burns Club from leading men and women whose ranks include political icons, literary giants, sporting legends and many other prominent Scotsman from both here and abroad. Americans will be familiar with such members as presidents; Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower and Woodrow Wilson, authors; Charles Dickens and George Bernard Shaw, and other leading men and women including Andrew Carnegie, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.
After the Irvine Burns Club was founded in 1826, it decided to recognise prominent individuals, national and international, by inviting them to become Honorary Members of the Irvine Burns Club. Their only request was simply that each writes their own letters of acceptance. This tradition has continued to the present day and the “Dear Mister Burns …” exhibition displays part of this unique collection of acceptance letters by historical figures of the past few centuries.
Working with Homecoming Scotland, North Ayrshire Council and Irvine Bay Regeneration Company, “Dear Mister Burns…” will be staged in the Irvine Burns Club’s Wellwood Museum and in the local Harbour Arts Centre from Thursday 26th to Monday 30th November. They will include letters of acceptance dating from 1828, shortly after the Club was formed, until the present day, all of which demonstrate the global legacy of Burns as an international Scottish icon.
The Irvine Burns Club has launched this interesting initiative to spotlight the small town Irvine, Scotland and its role in the life of Burns as he transformed from, “Robert Burns – Ayrshire Farmer” into “Robert Burns – Scottish Icon.”
Said Billy Dickson, President of Irvine Burns Club:
“When potential visitors with an interest in Robert Burns think of The Burns Country, few include Irvine on their itinerary. Yet in a letter written in December 1787, Burns himself identifies his stay in Irvine as being the time “… that gave me an idea of my own pieces which encouraged me to endeavour at the character of A Poet. …” .
Surrounding this fascination display of history will also be various other forms of homecoming celebrations including ceilidhs, concerts, poetry readings in pubs and various Burns for Bairns activities.
Marie Christie, Homecoming Scotland 2009 Project Director said:
“Essential to the success of the Homecoming Scotland Finale Celebrations is the creation of a strong and inspiring programme of events across Scotland. We are delighted that Dear Mister Burns will be part of these important celebrations that are creating Scotland’s biggest ever St Andrew’s Day celebrations.”
The Dear Mister Burns … exhibition will run from Thursday 26th until Monday 30th November and be spread across two venues – Irvine Burns Club, Wellwood, 28 Eglinton Street, Irvine, KA12 8AS and Harbour Arts Centre, Harbour street, Irvine, KA12 8PZ. It will be open each day between 10.00 and 18.00 hrs…
Further Information from Irvine Burns Club:
BILL NOLAN
Tel. 07885 071804 or billnolanpr@fsnet.co.uk
November 10, 2009
Posted in: Scotland