Jackie Kay: The People’s Poet at Edinburgh International Book Festival 2024

The Open University is proud to sponsor Jackie Kay: The People’s Poet​ at the Edinburgh International Book Festival 2024.

Beloved poet, novelist, playwright, Open University Honorary Graduate, and former Makar (national poet laureate of Scotland) Jackie Kay joins us with her latest poetry collection, May Day.

These profound and urgent poems draw on Kay’s decades of political activism, bringing influential figures from history to life, whilst interweaving her own personal experience of grief and loss, love and celebration.

Join Kay as she talks to fellow Scottish poet Michael Pedersen, for what is sure to be an enlightening and inspiring conversation.

Tickets available via the Edinburgh Book Festival website. Booking options include watching in-person or a 'pay what you can' option to watch online.

Explore Jackie's poem Race and Place on OpenLearn, our free learning resource, as part of the Race and Ethnicity Hub. You can also explore more about writing poetry in a short podcast series with Jackie Kay and other master poets.

Photo by Denise Else