Here's some of what I'm working on at present ...

 
The Scottish Civic Trust's My Place Awards 2010 was presented to Castlemilk Stables on 19 April 2010. This project is the first of its kind in Scotland and seeks to celebrate the importance of place making in a rapidly changing built environment by inviting local civic societies and preservation trusts to nominate projects they feel have added significant value to their neighbourhoods and communities.  
Hendron Associates worked closely with the Scottish Civic Trust from the inception of the project in Autumn 2009, through the web site build, call for entries, promoting the initiative to the awards event itself. 
 
2009 is Scotland's year of Homecoming.  This ten month iniative - from Burns Night on 25 January to St Andrew's Day on 30 November, embraces the country's rich culture seeking to attract ex-pats back and encourage affiliate Scots to make that long promised visit this year.  The Scottish Civic Trust co-ordinates Doors Open Days nationally and this year is marketing this programme to an initernational audience.  Hendron Associates has undertaken this role for the year.  Check out the details, and come and join us.
 
 In early January the focus at Hendron Associates was on a three day 
 academic conference for the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at the 
 University of Glasgow.  This major event is the first in a year of global 
 celebrations commemorating and celebrating the poet's work and life. Over 
 three days delegates heard enthusiasts and academics from Canada,  
 US, Spain, France, Germany, England, Ireland and Scotland address
 issues from 'Transatlantic Burns' to Burns and the slave trade, death and
 friendship.   In addition to Scotland, worldwide events and celebrations will take place in locations including Prague, Vancouver and South Carolina throughout the year. Responsibilities included:
  • co-ordinating panel speakers, plenary keynotes and guest speakers
  • scheduling time-table
  • website consultation
  • registration and delegate care consultation
  • catering arrangements and entertainment
  • liaising with appropriate bodies within and outside the University
  • conference communications and marketing

The conference was opened by the Fiona Hyslop MSP, Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning who acknowledged the importance of the event at the beginning of Homecoming Scotland 2009, (a tourism initiative to attract visitors to Scotland).  It closed with a plenary address by      Prof Robert Crawford from the University of St Andrews who published The Bard, a biography of Robert Burns in January . 

Iris Prize Festival
For two days in October 2008 Hendron Associates undertook a comprehensive audience research project for the Iris Prize Festival.   The outcome demonstrated the importance of this event in attracting a high percentage of visitors from outside Wales and the UK to Cardiff.  The economic impact of 'Iris' is significant, the cultural relevance of the event powerful.  It was a pleasure to play a part in an important event in Cardiff's events calendar.

  Peter Pindar, C18th Poet 
  Over a short period of time throughout 2008, 
  Hendron Associates assisted a retired academic/writer to  
  prepare a selection of this now little known 18th century
  satirist's work ready for publication.  (He was the best selling
  poet of his time!)  Responsibilities included transcribing
  selected poetry, proofing, discussion of editing decisions and
  delivery of the completed text to the publishers in the agreed
  format.  Publication date - September/October 2009,
  Publisher - Carcanet Press
Opera singer and entertainer 
This is a fascinating research project archiving the career and recordings of one of Scotland's foremost opera singers ready for the launch of a dedicated website in 2009.  Responsibilities include:
  • building a performance chronology for Bill McCue's distinguished 50 year career
  • identifying significant highlights and sourcing images and recordings as appropriate
  • working with key Scottish cultural bodies with which Bill McCue had close connections
  • collaboration regarding the design and implementation of the website