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What motivated you to engage the public with your work?

The entire aim of my project is to make the work of Heather Dohollau better known, especially to an anglophone readership. She is one of the rare women poets writing in French, and her work is of great value for anyone interested in bilingualism, exile, the way we perceive paintings or remember significant places. Above all, the voice we hear in her poems is that of a strong woman upholding values that are too often neglected: the need for art in its various forms, its place as something that is central to our lives, rather than a luxury or ornament; and its eminently transmittable nature across national, linguistic and cultural boundaries. One way of achieving this aim is to write criticism about the poetry. Another has been to create encounters between this distinguished poet and the broader public. Yet another will be to edit a bilingual edition of her poems with English translations.

Describe the public engagement activity you have done.

My main public outreach project was Heather Dohollau's tour of Scotland in March 2008, which involved: 1. A travelling exhibition called Heather Dohollau: Words' Eyes, on the poet's lifelong dialogue with the visual arts. This substantial exhibition featured 14 original (some of which were on display for the first time), as well as reproductions which sugested links between images and texts. The exhibition was displayed in historic, attractive locations: the Victorian Town Hall in St Andrews, and the Linklater Rooms at the heart of King's College in Old Aberdeen. 2. A film showing at the French Institute of Scotland, Edinburgh. La Promesse des mots is a unique filmed portrait of Heather Dohollau (Rolland Savidan and Florence Mahé, 2005). 3. Readings by the poet in Edinurgh, St Andrews (as part of StAnza, Scotland's foremost poetry festival) and Aberdeen 4 Talks on the poet by international speakers at the University of St Andrews. These events were all open to the public and all but one were free. Translations and transcripts in English were provided.

What are your top three tips for other researchers?

1. Such projects are enormously time- and energy- consuming, if immensely rewarding. Be clear about what you intend to gain from them, as that is unlikely to be time or money!

2. Plan at least one full year ahead. Fundraising deadlines and venue bookings demand it, and it will save you lots of money 2 Plan at least one full year ahead. Fundraising deadlines and venue bookings demand it, and it will save you lots of money. 

3. Keep written records of everything that is granted to you and double check every single booking a couple of weeks before the event, or that wine reception may well fail to materialise. For more information, see the online resource on event organising which I designed in exchange for a grant towards my project: http://eventorganising.wikidot.com/

What are your top three resources to support your engagement work?

1. Passion for my subject! 

2. Support from the hosting universities or institutions (in terms of venues, attendance and publicity)

3. Persistence.

What would you say to encourage another researcher to engage with the public?

Keep calm and carry on.