The Centre for Gray Studies

We are a centre for research called ‘Gray Studies’, allowing a unique, unparalleled opportunity for students, academics and the wider public to gleam a fuller understanding of the expansive nature of Gray’s practice and the invaluable contribution he made to 20th century culture

What is Gray Studies?

The term ‘Gray Studies’ describes any critical or creative work interrogating the life, works and moral outlook of the Glaswegian polymath Alasdair Gray, as well as that which meaningfully responds to some element of Gray’s practice by making something new. There are multiple ways into Gray Studies. These might include: analysis of Gray’s literary and/or visual artistic works, creative responses to Gray’s works across space and form, as well as primary or secondary research into people, places or ideas connected to Gray’s work.

Who can be part of Gray Studies?

Anyone! So far, those who have made significant contributions to Gray Studies include visual artists, literary critics, creative writers across genre and form, architects, historians of Glasgow and Scotland, scholars in disability studies and the environment, as well as jewellers, printmakers, designers, curators, curators and librarians.

The University of Strathclyde is the leading academic institution that works with The Alasdair Gray Archive on developing Gray Studies and there are multiple ways to engage at undergraduate level, postgraduate level or via research. This could include analysis of Gray’s literary or visual artistic works, creative responses to Gray’s works across space and form, or primary or secondary research into people, places or ideas connected to Gray’s work.

In 2022 we co-convened with the University of Strathclyde, ‘Making Imagined Objects’ a two-day multi-venue conference hosted that happened in person and online bringing together experts and supporter from across Europe and beyond, it was the largest international gathering yet of people interested in Gray Studies. Themed ‘Across Space & Form’, the conference encouraged speakers from radically different disciplines and backgrounds to consider Gray’s visual and literary outputs, for the first time, in conversation with each other and on an equal footing.

Keynotes were delivered by the author Ali Smith and Exhibitions Director at The Glasgow School or Art, Jenny Brownrigg. We also work with academic partners including The University of Glasgow, The Glasgow School of Art, Edinburgh College of Art and Edinburgh University and are keen to develop further partnerships, get in touch to become involved and find out more!

Collaborative Doctoral Awards

We are currently co-supervising 2 Collaborative Doctoral Awards from The Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities:

– City Recorder: Alasdair Gray’s Practice & The ‘Disappearing City’ of Glasgow with Dr Rodge Glass and Dr. Eleanor Bell at Strathclyde University, 2022-2026

– Archiving Agnes Owens: Asserting the Marginal Voice  with  Dr. Eleanor Bell, Strathclyde University and Dr. Corey Gibson, Glasgow University, 2023-2027

Awards

In 2022 we supported the inaugural award in Alasdair’s honour, the Wat Dryhope Award with MLitt English Literature: Fantasy at the University of Glasgow. The recipient was Kate Fry. Find out more here;