As part of the Year of Homecoming 2009 celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, in partnership with Sheilagh Tennant of Artruist ltd, the Mitchell Library hosted a major exhibition celebrating the life and work of Burns.
The Inspired exhibition featured around 50 contemporary works of art by international and UK artists all inspired by the Burns legacy, alongside treasures from The Mitchell Library, home of the largest collection of Burns items in the world.
Among the many artists involved in Inspired were Tracey Emin, Douglas Gordon, Peter Howson, John Bellany, Sacha Newley and Ed Ruscha.
The exhibition, held in the library's Main Hall, also featured relics from Robert Burns's own life as well as the Mitchell's own Burns collection of documents, including the original manuscript of Auld Lang Syne.
This exciting and imaginative exhibition illustrating the relevance and influence of Burns in the present day ran from 4th April 2009 to 20th September 2009.