Programme

Chair - Muriel Gray

How does the past shape national identity? Does heritage instil confidence or create conflict - does it take us forward or hold us back? Three perspectives from three very different speakers.

• Tom Devine - In Bed with an Elephant: the reinvention of Scottish identity within the Union
• Jim Hunter - In praise of diversity: A Highlander's take on integration, Britishness and Empire.
• Gary Younge - An outsider's view looking in: "National identities are always fluid. The question is what we can do to ensure they are flowing in the right direction."

Muriel Gray with Tom Devine, Jim Hunter and Gary Younge

A personal view of Scottish heritage and the role it plays in national, cultural and individual identity.

• Fred MacAulay

Julie Fowlis and Bani Bhattacharya

This haunting performance – especially commissioned for today – brings together two talents and two cultures to tell the story of identity and a sense of place through a song that tells a common experience of the fishing communities on the Bengali-speaking Ganges and a similar community on the Gaelic-speaking island of Uist.

The panellists will explore the challenges and sensitivities of a diverse society. Does language unify or divide, how important is a sense of place? Can religious, ethnic and cultural differences contribute to a cohesive national identity rather than divide us?

• Kay Hampton - Commissioner CRE, Scotland
• Quintin Oliver - Nil By Mouth
• Donnie Munro - Development Director, Sabhal Mor Ostaig College, Skye
• Lesley Riddoch - television presenter

Muriel Gray with Kay Hampton, Quintin Oliver, Donnie Munro and Lesley Riddoch

A fascinating journey, from Hadrian to Holyrood, to look at how Scottish identity has been influenced by the built environment and how, conversely, heritage and identity have inspired Scotland's architecture and buildings.

• Murray Grigor - Film-maker

The panellists will discuss the future, exploring how we embrace our past as Scotland's identity and nationhood continues to evolve. As a diverse society and a modern European nation who do we want to be and what from our past can contribute to our future?

• Hamish MacDonell - Political Editor, The Scotsman
• David McCrone - Writer
• Aasmah Mir - Broadcaster and writer
• Graham Leicester - The International Futures Forum

Muriel Gray with Hamish MacDonell, David McCrone and Gerry Hassan

Muriel Gray and Liz Forgan - Chair, Heritage Lottery Fund

Fred Morrison

The "King of Pipes" plays a piece specially composed for today that is inspired for the themes of identity in Scotland's past, present and future.