The Stone of Scone: future destinies

The Stone of Destiny is moving to Perth in 2024 and the perspective of women on the Stone and its future merits greater understanding. Gender Equality Perth is therefore warmly invited to join a free workshop about the Stone of Destiny. In attending this workshop, designed for you, you will contribute to research seeking to understand the contemporary meanings and value of the Stone. There will be a focus on the role of women in the life of the Stone, creative responses to the Stone and its potential to tell stories in the future.

Morning coffee and a buffet lunch are provided, so you are kindly asked to please confirm attendance and any dietary through this page no later than Wednesday 18 October.

The workshop will take place in the Crush Hall at Stirling University’s Pathfoot Building. This is the main venue for the University’s Art Collection, where the artist George Wyllie’s Stone of Destiny is currently on exhibition. Perth Museum’s full-scale model of the Stone, created from a 3D scan, will also join us.

About this event

The outline for the day is as follows:

10:00-10:30 Welcome and coffee in the Crush Hall, Pathfoot Building

10:30-10:45 Introduction by the organisers. Review of ethical process. Any questions?

10:45-11:15 Opening discussion led by Sally Foster and Mark Hall

11:15-12:15 Discussion of George Wyllie’s Stone of Destiny, led by Emma McCombie. Description of the after-lunch activity.

12:15-13:15 Buffet lunch

13:15-14:15 Emma McCombie will lead a hands-on art activity – casting with pewter – to be inspired in some way by the Stone of Destiny!

14:15-14:45 Wrap-up discussion

The event is organised by Sally Foster of Stirling University, Dr Mark Hall, Perth Museum and Art Gallery, and the Emma McCombie of the University of Stirling Art Collection. This activity is part of a University of Stirling research project entitled Authenticity’s Child: current meanings and future destinies for the Stone of Scone, funded by the British Academy / Leverhulme Trust (https://TheStone.stir.ac.uk).

The immediate context for this research is that the Stone is on the move a lot in a short period and this has therefore renewed social and political interest in it: Edinburgh Castle > Westminster Abbey > Edinburgh Castle > St Giles > Edinburgh Castle > in 2024, the new Perth Museum.

The Project Information Sheet describes the context for the event and its ethical process, which has been approved by the University of Stirling; in signing up for the event, you will be asked to give your informed consent to participation. Rebecca has kindly agreed to collect the emailed forms, but please direct any queries to s.m.foster@stir.ac.uk.

The research process will involve audio recording / taking notes of discussions and participant observation (any future use of quotes from attendees will be anonymous). We would also like to take photographs of the event for use in our lectures, social media and publications (you would need to let us know if you did not want to be in a photograph).

See https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/getting-here/ for advice on finding the University of Stirling.

If you have any questions about the event, please get in touch with s.m.foster@stir.ac.uk.

About the organisers

Sally Foster is Professor of Heritage at the University of Stirling.

Dr Mark Hall is Collections Officer, Perth Museum and Art Gallery

Emma McCombie, Deputy Head of University Collections, University of Stirling

Transport

Once final numbers are confirmed, Perth Women's Collective will organise car sharing for anyone who is interested. You are of course welcome to get yourself to and from Stirling, but you will receive an email organising car sharing details if you would like to.