The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum will be celebrating the life of SNP founding president Robert Bontine Cunningham (1852 -1936).
The two-day event is titled Don Roberto and Scotland: International Perspectives and will take place on May 11-12.
The event will include various talks, a dinner, and visits to Gartmore village and Buchanan Castle where the Graham family seat is located. A trip to the island of Inchmahome where Graham and his wife Gabriela are buried is also included.
Widely known as Don Roberto, the political and literary figure was best known for co-founding the Scottish Labour Party with Keir Hardie and acted as the first president of the Scottish National Party (SNP). He lived a long, remarkable life and was also a traveller, adventurer, horseman, prolific writer and humanitarian.
About the event
Speakers at the event will include novelist James Robertson, Glasgow University professor of Scottish Literature Alan Riach, and playwright Chris Dolan.
Director of The Smith, Caroline Mathers, said: “We’re delighted to be hosting this weekend which perfectly complements Don Roberto’s longstanding presence in our collection and our dedicated Cunninghame Graham library.”
Event organiser Jamie Jauncey is Don Roberto’s great-nephew and author of a new biography about his life. He said: “Don Roberto was an enormously influential figure in Scottish politics and culture. He deserves to be much more widely known than he is. This weekend sets out to redress the balance and bring his extraordinary story to a new audience.”
Professor Joe Farrell, Chair of the Cunninghame Graham Society, said: “This celebration of Graham’s remarkable life is greatly to be welcomed – and long overdue.”
The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum was founded in 1874 and serves as a cultural centre for Stirling. As well as showcasing historical artefacts and art from the Stirling area, it also hosts exhibitions for contemporary artists.
Tickets for the event are available through The Smith’s website or EventBrite.
The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum
