Irvine Welsh announced as Patron of Screen Education Edinburgh

Irvine Welsh, the Edinburgh born novelist, playwright, storyteller and screenwriter has today been announced as the Patron of Screen Education Edinburgh.

Screen Education Edinburgh support young people and emerging talent in developing and expressing themselves through the medium of film, developing them as people and improving their life chances.

Irvine Welsh commented: “As a local who grew up in Pilton and Muirhouse, I’m delighted and honoured to be patron of Screen Education Edinburgh. If you come from a disadvantaged area, the world can often seem to conspire against you, constraining your vision to the streets around you and the urgent here and now of simply getting by. Cinema is a wonderful tool in combating that horrible malaise, opening up windows into different worlds, and helping us to understand our own ones better through the broadening our horizons. The skills you learn through being part of a committed team, working on a task that can create a little bit of magic are transferable to other areas of our life.”

Graham Fitzpatrick, Creative Manager at Screen Education Edinburgh, said:“We are delighted to welcome Irvine as our patron. His endorsement for our work is invaluable in further establishing our position as supporters of emerging filmmakers within the Scottish film industry.

“We approached Irvine because of his connection to Edinburgh and our roots, his association with great British films such as ’Trainspotting’ and ’Filth’ and because of his position as one of the most important and imaginative writers of your generation.”

Janet Archer, CEO at Creative Scotland said: “The fact that Irvine Welsh has agreed to be SEE’s patron is great news – a local writer of international repute lending his support will help SEE to build upon the vital work that they do in Edinburgh and the Lothians.”

Submitted by Neil Rolland