Highlights from the Alasdair Gray Estate Collection: works on paper, painted over 15+ times, a rescued ledger documenting a changing Glasgow, and new responses uncovering hidden histories. Find out more on our website!

Did you know The Alasdair Gray Archive cares for 8,500+ items across two unique collections- the Alasdair Gray Estate Collection & our AGA Collection, we'll be sharing highlights that continue to inspire our innovative model for research, commissioning and learning.

Our Custodian @sorchadallas.bsky.social was honoured to write the obituary for Gray’s friend, museum curator and academic Beth McKillop for @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Beth McKillop obituary

Museum curator and scholar with a special focus on Korean art

theguardian.com

Important new @sgsah.bsky.social supported research to help widen @agrayarchive.bsky.social’s collection to new interpretations and audiences ⬇️

The Alasdair Gray Archive@agrayarchive.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Join @sgsah.bsky.social supported researcher David Lothian for a guided tour of The Alasdair Gray Archive through a neurodivergent lens, exploring Gray’s art, writing and personal items in new ways. Link in bio.

One of my favourite parts of the job, what a brilliant bunch of learners! We had a lot of fun!

The Alasdair Gray Archive@agrayarchive.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Oakgrove Primary P5s brought energy & attentiveness to the archive today, exploring Alasdair Gray through collection handling, worksheets and mask-making. Part of our North Glasgow schools programme, supported by GCC Area Partnership funding. 🙌👏

Lovely feedback from today’s tour group exploring the AGA & @aowensarchive.bsky.social collections with custodian @sorchadallas.bsky.social: “A national treasure”, “Beautiful”, “Wonderful” & “terrific commentary”. Thanks for celebrating Agnes & Alasdair’s legacy.

PLEASE SHARE 🙏 Visit us & @aowensarchive.bsky.social this June 2026! Tours by Custodian @sorchadallas.bsky.social: 5, 13, 19 & 26 June, 11am. Book via link in bio/Eventbrite.

PLEASE SHARE: Free 8-week writers group at AGA/ @aowensarchive.bsky.social Glasgow. Starts 28 May, Thursdays 1–3pm at The Whisky Bond. For local people new to writing. Guest sessions with @heatherparry.bsky.social & @kirstininnes.bsky.social, facilitated by Saskia McCracken. 10 free spaces.

Hope Scotland votes today for a future that brings people together with hope, compassion, and unity, rather than division or exclusion 🤞

Our custodian @sorchadallas.bsky.social returned to Whitehill Secondary yesterday to launch a new project with Whitehill Arts & UofG. S1 pupils will explore identity through arts, film, journalism & languages. We can’t wait to see it grow!

Tickets still available for Polygon book launch for Agnes Owens new title release, stellar line up! @aowensarchive.bsky.social

Images by @alasdairwatson.bsky.social from Out of the Margins, curated by @sorchadallas.bsky.social at Lillie Art Gallery, Milngavie. Featuring rare archival works, alongside Eardley & Gray, plus new ceramics by Hayley Jane Dawson. Come visit!

Continuing our Meet the Board series—meet our Secretary, Dougie Smith. With wide UK governance experience, he champions open, accessible structures. A lifelong Alasdair Gray fan, he joined in 2022 to help build a lasting legacy. 📸 by Matthew Arthur Williams.

As part of Out of the Margins, we’re hosting events at Alexandria Library celebrating Owens’ life and legacy. Workshops (7,14,21 May), 100th birthday (23 May) & exhibition (23 May–30 Sept). Join us! #agnesowens

Available for preorder now! Edinburgh University Press will publish The Edinburgh Companion to Alasdair Gray and the Arts (May 2026), inspired by the 2022 conference by @rodgeglass.bsky.social & @sorchadallas.bsky.social - a fresh look at Gray’s literary & visual world.

Delighted to share our new short film on Agnes Owens, marking her 2026 centenary, now live on AGA’s YouTube. Discover her life, work, and legacy—or watch it on a retro TV at the Lillie Art Gallery exhibition from today!

Agnes Owens: Out of the Margins

YouTube video by Alasdair Gray Archive

youtube.com

📚 Pre-orders now open! 📚 Polygon’s @birlinn.bsky.social reissued Agnes Owens titles—with new introductions by @danigaravelli.bsky.social Kirsty Logan @kirstininnes.bsky.social and @heatherparry.bsky.social are in our shop. New covers by Joan Eardley. Order via link in bio!

📚 Agnes Owens in the Archives ✨ FREE TALK ✨ 23 Apr, 17:30–18:30 | National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh Celebrate Agnes Owens’ centenary and explore her archives with expert speakers @laurzzs.bsky.social @sorchadallas.bsky.social and Dr Colin McIlroy 🎟️ Book via Eventbrite (link in bio)

Centenary Agnes Owens tote with her striking quote, in typewriter-style font. Baby pink, 100% organic cotton. Features Calum Colvin photos. Limited run—pre-order now or buy at events. Link in bio.

Final event in our Milngavie programme for the Agnes Owens centenary ✨ Join a special Curator’s Tour of Out of the Margins with @sorchadallas.bsky.social 12 June, 11:00am, Lillie Art Gallery.

PLEASE SHARE ✨ Celebrate Agnes Owens this spring (Apr–Jun 2026) in Milngavie & Alexandria. Join the Polygon launch + live event (9 May, 4–6:30pm, Milngavie Town Hall) with readings, Q&A & signing. Tickets via Eventbrite.👇🏽

Agnes Owens: A Life in Conversation & Polygon Publications Launch

An evening celebrating Agnes Owens at Milngavie Town Hall

eventbrite.com

Celebrating 100 years of Agnes Owens ✨ Out of the Margins opens 18 April at Lillie Art Gallery. Featuring archival & contemporary works, it honours Owens’ powerful, place-rooted writing and lasting impact, curated by @sorchadallas.bsky.social

PLEASE SHARE ✨ Agnes Owens at 100 ‘Out of the Margins’ celebrates her life & work with exhibitions, events & talks across Milngavie & Alexandria this spring. Join us to rediscover a vital Scottish voice. More details soon! Curated by @sorchadallas.bsky.social @agrayarchive.bsky.social

PLEASE SHARE 🙏 Visit the us & @aowensarchive.bsky.social this April–May 2026. Tours by @sorchadallas.bsky.social (Gray collaborator since 2007). Dates: Apr 24; May 2, 8, 15, 30 at 11am. Book via Eventbrite link in bio.

Free Tours of AGA and AOA in April and May

Free guided tours of The Alasdair Gray Archive and The Agnes Owens Archive

eventbrite.com

Please share & sign 👇🏽

Sign the Petition

Save Trongate103 from closure

c.org

To mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we share new research exploring Alasdair Gray through a neurodiverse lens. Discover ‘Process, Cognition & Neurodiversity’ by @sorchadallas.bsky.social —link below 👇🏽

paisleybookfestival.com/programme/ri...

Rich Things with the Alasdair Gray Archive | Paisley Book Festival

Explore Rich Things, a creative collaboration inspired by Alasdair Gray, in conversation with the artists and contributors at Paisley Book Festival.

paisleybookfestival.com

The Alasdair Gray Archive@agrayarchive.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Rich Things with The Alasdair Gray Archive. Sun 17 May, 14:00–15:00, Paisley Town Hall - Pay What You Can (£5/£8/£12). Artists incl. Chitra Ramaswamy & Matthew Arthur Williams discuss a new collaborative book inspired by Gray.

Final animation by Miranda Peyton Jones, one of five emerging animators commissioned by The Alasdair Gray Archive & Canongate to respond to the new Lanark audiobook (narrated by Alan Cumming), exploring the novel’s famous Epilogue. m.youtube.com/watch?v=-baM...

Lanark Epilogue - Miranda Peyton Jones

YouTube video by Alasdair Gray Archive

m.youtube.com

Our Custodian, @sorchadallas.bsky.social, was honoured to write the @theguardian.com obituary for sculptor and educator David Harding. As town artist in Glenrothes he embedded sculpture in everyday spaces, shaping a vision of public art that lives with the weather and the street.

David Harding obituary

Sculptor and educator who embedded art within the new town of Glenrothes and encouraged students at the Glasgow School of Art to move beyond the studio

theguardian.com

Yu Sun, one of five animators commissioned by the Alasdair Gray Archive and @canongate.co.uk, created a mixed-media response to Chapter Twelve of Lanark. Inspired by Duncan Thaw’s childhood imagination, the film premiered at Gray Day 2026.