See You in 10 Years: Scottish author Val McDermid joins young people of Scotland for time capsule containing a Sutherland teenager's work which will be revealed in 2030
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Scottish Book Trust’s patron and award-winning author Val McDermid has joined young people of Scotland to contribute to a time capsule for Book Week Scotland.
The project – called See You in 10 Years, – is a partnership between the charity and the National Library of Scotland, who will store the time capsule for 10 years before it is opened in 2030.
Fitting with the theme of Future for Book Week Scotland, Val McDermid reflects the time of “fear and chaos” in 2020. The first piece of the author’s work will be published in the Future book, a free publication: 50,000 copies will be distributed to libraries, community groups and schools across the country. The second part of McDermid’s piece will be locked in the time capsule and revealed in 2030.
Six young writers will also be included in the time capsule, selected by a panel including Scottish Book Trust staff. They will have the opportunity to showcase their work to families and friends alongside Val McDermid during a private celebration – a film documenting the creation of the time capsule has premiered on YouTube.
The young people included in the time capsule are: Skye, 16 from Glasgow; Keir, 17 from Falkirk; Emily, 17 from Falkirk; Reilly, 13 from Kinross; Robecca, 18 from North Ayrshire and Hannah, 17 from Sutherland.
Artist Ali Forbes from Glasgow was commissioned to create the time capsule. A jewellery design graduate of the Royal College of Art and Central Saint Martins, London, Ali first discovered jewellery making and design when she participated in an HND course at Cardonald College.
Book Week Scotland is the country’s biggest celebration of reading and writing and it returns for its ninth year from Monday 16 November to Sunday 22 November. Although there will be no physical events this year, the Digital Festival has a stellar line-up including award-winning author Denise Mina; actor and comedian Ruby Wax; bestselling crime writer Louise Welsh and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Val McDermid, author and patron of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Of course, digital media offers platforms where young writers can showcase their work. But digital media is fast-moving and often temporary. It's vital that we find more long-lasting ways to capture writing that addresses the future as well as the here and now, and See You In Ten Years does just that."
Marc Lambert, chief executive of Scottish Book Trust, said: “2020 has been an uncertain year, and there’s no better way to document it than with a time capsule. We’re grateful to our patron Val McDermid for including a piece of work for See You in 10 Years, and to the National Library of Scotland for safeguarding the capsule. We look forward to 2030, when the writing of the young people will be revealed.”
Martha Burns Findlay, head of public programmes at National Library of Scotland, said: “The National Library of Scotland is a repository of Scotland’s memories which we preserve for current and future generations.
"We are therefore delighted to host Scottish Book Trust’s time capsule for a 10-year period within our stores, safeguarding the capsule until it is reopened and its contents revealed in 2030.
"We are equally delighted to be supporting new Scottish writing which will provide a unique glimpse into the world of 2020 through the eyes of young writers in 10 years’ time.”
Artist Ali Forbes said: “I applied to the See You in 10 Years project because the brief really captured my imagination: it immediately seemed like a very magical project to be part of.
"The subject matter really resonated as it feels like we are currently living in a very significant time historically: learning to live with a global pandemic which has no current end in sight.
"I am thrilled to be involved, not only because it is the first project I am undertaking in Scotland since moving back to Glasgow in July, but also because it gives me the chance to create a beautiful and intriguing object.”
