Andrew Redmond Barr

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Doamockbooksmall In 2020 Scotland will celebrate the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, one of the most significant artefacts in our nation’s history.

I am looking to raise funds to produce an illustrated book which will be published by the Saltire Society, one of Scotland’s leading cultural bodies. Click here to donate.

“It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom – for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”

The History

smalldoa The Declaration of Arbroath, also known as the Declaration of Scottish Independence, was a diplomatic letter from the Scots to the Pope in 1320, calling for Scotland to be recognised as an independent kingdom against English claims of overlordship. It is thought to be one of the earliest written arguments for popular sovereignty and one of the most significant statements of nationhood in Europe.

The Declaration is one of the primary foundation stones of Scottish identity, but its influence is international – the text is believed, for example, to be one of the inspirations behind America’s own Declaration of Independence. In 2016 the Declaration was also awarded ‘Memory of the World’ status by UNESCO World Heritage.

The Book

The Illustrated Declaration of Arbroath will offer a unique, artistic and visually striking interpretation of this 700-year-old artefact in a way which is fit for the 21^st century. It will bring the artefact to life, highlighting its cultural significance as well as its contemporary relevance. It will examine ideas of community and people-power, and ask what ‘freedom’ means in today’s world.

The book will be published by the Saltire Society, one of Scotland’s leading cultural bodies. The finished product will be a well-designed hardback book mixing text and illustrations. Click here to donate.

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The Money

I’m looking to raise funds to contribute towards the following:

Materials and labour for the creative work (paper, ink, time spent on writing and drawing)
Occasional research trips to Arbroath (meeting partners, studying library archives)
The cost of printing the final book
Promotional materials to raise awareness (leaflets, posters)
Short promotional film (for use on social media and for screening at events)

Supporters who donate £20 can claim a finished book from the ‘perks’. Please note the £20 is part of the fundraising drive and the final book may eventually be on sale for less.

Supporters who donate £50 can ‘Sign the Declaration’, meaning their names will be printed in the final book’s acknowledgements. As well as being thanked in print these supporters will also receive a signed copy of the book.

Click here to donate.

The Legacy

The intention of the project is to establish a broader understanding of the Declaration of Arbroath outside of academia. The book and corresponding artwork will expose aspects of Scottish history which I hope people will find new and interesting. This project has an educational and awareness-raising element rather than being solely artistic. It will demonstrate how the early ideas and principals of the Declaration shaped Scotland, and why it still matters in the modern world.

About the Artist

My name is Andrew Redmond Barr and I’m a writer and illustrator with an interest in Scottish history and literature. I have experience in producing books, promoting Scottish culture and creating illustrated exhibitions.

In 2011 I was one of the co-founders of the arts campaign National Collective.
In 2016 I released my first book, Summer of Independence: Stories from a Nation in the Making (Word Power Books), a grassroots account of the 2014 independence referendum which featured in The Scottish Review of Books’ Picks of 2016.
In 2018 I held a solo art exhibition, ‘Pith & Power’, at the Saltire Society in Edinburgh exploring Robert Burns’ relationship with politics and power.

“The writer has a keen sense of power dynamics, history and literature, but more importantly he has imagination and talent. We can have faith in Scotland’s future with young writers like this.” – Meaghan Delahunt

Other Ways You Can Help

If you’d like to support this project but can’t donate, I’d appreciate your help in getting the word out. Please consider sharing the link with your networks, and follow me on social media for updates:

Facebook: Barr’s Books & Pictures

Twitter: @AndrewRBarr

Website: AndrewRBarr.com

Contact me: AndrewRBarr.com/Contact

Click here to donate

Two months ago today I launched Pith & Power, an illustrated exhibition celebrating the life and works of Robert Burns at the Saltire Society in Edinburgh.

Most Saturdays I sat in the exhibition, working on new illustrations and speaking to visitors. I spoke to locals as well as people from many other countries, keen to find out more about Scotland’s famous bard.

International knowledge of Burns was more widespread than I anticipated. An environmentalist from Germany told me how ‘To a Mouse’ gave her a deep love of nature. A Canadian couple told me how Burns Nights brightened their winters back home. A Danish family spoke to me about the similarities between Scots and Scandinavian languages. A French historian recognised the spirit of Liberté, égalité, fraternité in ‘A Man’s A Man’.

What people said they liked about Burns was that distinctness of Scottish culture mixed with an international outlook. Some remarked how different this was to their perception of Britain in recent months. Burns, to them, indicated that Scotland had its own distinct contribution to make to the world. The Scots language was no real barrier to their understanding of his work. In fact it made their understanding all the more profound.

It has been a pleasure to hold this exhibition at the Saltire Society, and to have so many conversations about Burns, politics, language and culture with such a broad variety of people from all over the world. The Saltire Society are a real asset to Scotland’s cultural life and have been kind and accommodating hosts.

A highlight for me was being interviewed by the Scots Language Radio, a video of which can be found below.

‘The Illustrated Declaration of Arbroath’