Lavery nominated as Edinburgh's next Makar

Poet and playwright Hannah Lavery has been nominated as Edinburgh's new Makar, or poet laureate.

A report to the City of Edinburgh Council’s culture and communities committee on 14th September recommends Lavery to be inaugurated as the sixth Makar. If agreed, she will take over the honorary role from Alan Spence later this year at a reception.

Lavery was born and raised in the Scottish capital and has been published widely. Her poem, “Scotland, You’re no mine” was selected by Roseanne Watt as one of the best Scottish poems of 2019, and her poetry film, "Thirteen Fragments" featured as part of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Curious Festival this year. Polygon is publishing her poetry collection Blood, Salt, Spring in February 2022.

Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, culture and communities vice-convener, said: "Hannah Lavery is the sixth in an illustrious line of writers who have filled this important role in Edinburgh, the original city of literature. Hannah is a fantastic choice, an accomplished and highly-regarded writer whose work inspires and generates important conversations, and I’m sure she’ll take the role in fascinating new directions.

"The council continues to show its commitment to the celebration of writers and literature which enhance the capital’s international reputation, including establishing the post of the Edinburgh Makar, a Scots word celebrating the role of the writer as a skilled crafter of words and images.

"I’m truly delighted that Hannah has been nominated as the capital’s next Makar. She of course follows the brilliant Alan Spence, who has been an impressive advocate and ambassador for Edinburgh and for poetry, and whose interest in international dialogue and exchange has undoubtedly enhanced the city’s global reputation. It has been a pleasure to experience Alan’s perspective of the capital and we would like to thank him for the dedication and insight that he has brought to the role."

Lavery said she was "thrilled to be nominated" adding: "Edinburgh is in my bones, to be nominated as her Makar is an absolute honour and privilege."

The Edinburgh Makar is a civic post instituted in 2002 by the City of Edinburgh Council. The writer is selected and nominated by representatives of the Scottish Poetry Library, Scottish PEN, the Saltire Society, Edinburgh City of Literature Trust and the council.