The Alasdair Gray Archive

Feeling so touched by this beautifully knitted cushion from our talented design assistant, Abby Carter. 💛✨ She turned our logo into a stunning handcrafted piece — a true treasure for our archive. Thank you, Abby! 🧶💫 #alasdairgray

Another day, another menu! ✨
Welcome back to Christmas on a Shoestring—budget-friendly festive ideas inspired by Shoestring Gourmet @canongate.co.uk (1986).
Today’s highlight: Ratatouille.
Try something? Tag us! 🎄📸

😉👌

On a thrifty Christmas? Try Sole with White Wine & Shallots from Shoestring Gourmet for your festive menu (Paterson, @canongate.co.uk 1986), plus check out Gray’s fantastic fish illustration. Cooking from our menu? Tag us—we’d love to see! #alasdairgray

Love Wilma’s handwriting, very distinct 👌

Christmas on a Shoestring 🎄✨ Today’s pick from Wilma Paterson’s Shoestring Gourmet (illus. Alasdair Gray, 1986 @canongate.co.uk): Smoked Haddock Soup! A cosy, budget-friendly classic. Trying it? Share your pics with us 📸✨ #alasdairgray

✨Christmas on a Shoestring- a new series of post celebrating a sustainable Christmas!✨ Kicking off with our budget-friendly starter: Aubergine & Courgette Fritters from Shoestring Gourmet by Wilma Paterson (1986 by @canongate.co.uk). Try them and share pics! 🎄📸

Our shop’s packed with gifts for the Alasdair Gray fan! 🎁✨ New collabs, Poor Things–inspired nails, classic tees & culture-ray mugs—maybe treat yourself! Order by 17 Dec for the best chance of Christmas delivery.

Our first limited-edition scarves with the amazing Aoife Cawley are heading out today, with postal orders leaving Monday 💪🏽 Huge thanks to models Flo & Lauren. Send us a 📸 of you wearing yours ❤️

See you at Oran Mor Sun 7 Dec for Mór Festive! 🎁✨ Shop Alasdair Gray titles, AGA merch + our new collab with Aoife Cawley. 11am–3pm. Vendors, family fun, choirs + live music! 🎅🎶 #alasdairgray

Looking for something special under the tree? 🎄 Explore Alasdair Gray’s books via or online bookshop—short stories or the mysterious world of Unthank, there’s something for everyone. Order by 17 Dec for the best chance of Christmas delivery. ✨

🎁 Giveaway! Win an AGA x Aoife Cawley scarf + Glasgow/Unthank tote for you & a friend! Follow us and tag a friend to enter. Ends today 6pm, Wed 3 Dec. 18+. Not sponsored by any social media platform.

Our Custodian @sorchadallas.bsky.social spoke at Creative Scotland’s Go See Share webinar today on her research into new financial models for artists’ archives, exploring UK examples to support sustainable, artist-led futures in Scotland.

New! Alasdair Gray Archive x Aoife Cawley ✨
Limited-edition scarf + stickers now available! Inspired by Gray’s iconic Scottish motifs. Order via our shop—ships before Christmas. Don’t miss out! Head to our online shop to buy now, 100% of funds raised will support our 2026 programme!

ONE WEEK LEFT!
Emerging animators: AGA & @canongate.co.uk are commissioning 4 short films for early 2026 (£500 each). Email sorcha@thealasdairgrayarchive.org with CV, approach + 2–3 samples. Deadline 6 Dec 2025.

What a year! ✨ Thanks for being part of an incredible 2025 at AGA. 🤍 From 4,800+ tour visitors to new commissions, events & trustees, it’s been huge. Your support makes it all possible — see our 2025 Annual Review, now on our website! ✨

Deadline this Thursday, 04.12.25 at 5pm! thealasdairgrayarchive.org/wp-content/u...

Happy St Andrew’s Day! Alasdair championed Scottish independence and believed Scotland could be a nation with a new vision of itself. His 2014 screen print artwork reads: “Is Scotland a Possible Nation? Yes—Make It!” #alasdairgray #standrewsday

On the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, we share Tareq al-Karmy’s poem Not Only Rivers, translated by Alasdair Gray for A Bird Is Not a Stone, featuring translations of both established & emerging Palestinian poets translated by 24 Scottish writers.

✨ Born today in 1757, William Blake shaped Alasdair Gray’s vision. From Lanark to his art, Gray echoed Blake’s fusion of word and image — even reimagining Infant Joy as his Brain Baby, a symbol of life’s cycle. ✨

💫 AGA X Aoife Cawley 💫
Launching 02.12.25!
Limited-edition cosy, stylish pieces inspired by Gray. 100% of sales support our 2026 programme. Perfect for you or the Gray fan in your life this Christmas. 5 more sleeps…

Celebrating Morag McAlpine’s birthday and her anniversary with Alasdair today. Her card, now in Morag’s Museum, reflects their life, love, and creative partnership. Learn more in our Alasdair & Others biography series, book a free tour to find out more!

Next is timeline post 56: 2020 — The Alasdair Gray Archive is established. After Gray’s passing, @sorchadallas.bsky.social worked quickly to protect his legacy, creating a free public archive that preserves his work and shares his stories. 📸 Fiona Watson.

Delighted to host Inverclyde Academy’s N5 Art & Design class exploring Alasdair Gray’s Cowcaddens Streetscape. They used our study guide, explored archive materials and visited local sites. Get in touch to arrange a visit!

✨ Emerging animators! ✨
AGA & @canongate.co.uk are commissioning 4 short animations for early 2026. Fee £500. Apply by 6 Dec 2025: CV, brief approach + 2–3 samples to sorcha@thealasdairgrayarchive.org. Results by 15 Dec.

Thank you to the Campbells for donating Alasdair’s hard hat used while painting the Oran Mor mural! It will sit beautifully with our archive photos. Have any Alasdair Gray items to donate? Please get in touch!

First Alasdair & Others event at GU ARC with Willy Maley, in conversation with @rodgeglass.bsky.social exploring Alasdair Gray’s creative networks and unveiling Willy’s new archival box. Thanks to all who joined—video coming soon. Photos by @alasdairwatson.bsky.social

Thanks so much Nicky 🙏❤️🙏

On Tuesday, we welcomed 2nd-year Printmaking & Painting students from GSA, led by Cole Collins. ✨ We explored our collection, focusing on the ledger and research, sparking discussion on their own practice. 🏡💛 #alasdairgray #thealasdairgrayarchive #gsafacs