The Evergreen: A New Season in the North

Description of impact

Elliott’s research on the Bannatyne Manuscript (c. 1568) and its role in inspiring later anthologies, Ever Green (1724) and Evergreen (1894-6), demonstrates the anthology’s function as a format enabling the expression of collective identity, and illuminates the influence of the Bannatyne Manuscript on Edinburgh’s cultural heritage. It motivated the publication of a new anthology of creative work, The Evergreen: A New Season in the North (4 vols., 2014-19), which has played a significant role in Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust’s work to preserve Edinburgh’s built and cultural heritage by catalysing relationships between social enterprise and the academic humanities, directly supporting artistic practice and fostering new understandings of how cultural heritage can meet community needs.

Outcomes to Date / Future Developments

Illuminating the tradition stemming from the Bannatyne Manuscript, Elliott’s research was the locus for EOTDT’s venture into community publishing. The Evergreen: A New Season in the North, is a four-volume anthology of poetry, prose, and visual art (E1-E4, 2014-19) involving 85 contributors and intended as an Evergreen for the 21st century [S1]. The anthology created a new space for writers and artists to explore key themes, including place, identity and community. It has supported EOTDT to achieve its aims by increasing community participation and creative partnerships, contributed to EOTDT’s income, and fostered new understandings of how cultural heritage can meet community needs.

Impact status	Impact Completed (Open)
Impact date	2012 → 2019