Imagination is vital when we are looking to the future. Through our work, the Futures Forum has supported various artists, writers and thinkers, to look creatively at how Scotland might change.
Please note that Scotland’s Futures Forum exists to encourage debate on Scotland’s long-term future and we aim to share a range of perspectives. The views expressed in these reflections are those of the creator and do not necessarily reflect the Futures Forum’s views.
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2035
A story by Iain Finlay MacLeod about Scotland in 2035 and beyond. Written originally in Gaelic for Seachdain na Gàidhlig in 2022, “2035” is a darkly comic tale of our future.
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Scotland 2030: Creative Reflections
Stories, artwork and other creative reflections on Scotland’s future produced during the Futures Forum’s Scotland 2030 Programme
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Chrysalis by Laura Scotland
A story by Laura Scotland about Scotland in 2030. Written in 2020, “Chrysalis” explores the experience of a new parent in a world laden with technology.
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The Thief and the Watchdog by Katya Bacica
A story by Katya Bacica about Scotland in 2030. Written in 2020, “The Thief and the Watchdog” follows a journey in a very different Edinburgh.
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Saplings by Sophie Charlotte Baumert
A story by Sophie Charlotte Baumert about Scotland in 2030. Written in 2020, “Saplings” follows a school trip into the countryside.
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In An Enlightened Future by Susie Maguire
A reflection by Susie Maguire on the potential effect of a citizen’s income. Written in 2019, “In An Enlightened Future” charts the dream of someone living in a world with a citizen’s income.
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Our Future Scotland: Artwork
Artworks commissioned in 2018 by the Futures Forum from Fiona J MacLellan as part of a paid internship. The pieces represented the growing body of work in our Scotland 2030 Programme.
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The Future and Me: Living in Tomorrow’s World
What does the future hold for young people? What do they think will happen? This video from 2017 explores what inventions we might see by 2030.
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News from 2030 by Karine Polwart
As part of the launch of our Scotland 2030 Programme in March 2017, we asked award-winning folk singer, songwriter and essayist Karine Polwart (@IAMKP) to reflect on the cultural implications for our society from technological change. In…
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Betty Bags a Booker by Karine Polwart
An imagined news story from 2030 by Karine Polwart. Written in 2017, “Betty Bags a Booker” reflects on the effect of automation on our society and culture.