Scotland’s national poet Jackie Kay is to present a new weekly series of online cultural events, created in response to the current lockdown.

The series, titled Makar to Makar, will feature established literary talents and emerging voices from Scotland and across the world along with other special guests, and will include a mix of conversation, spoken word performance, and live music.

Kay was inspired to create the series to entertain and accompany people in isolation during the current lockdown, which has seen literary and cultural festivals across the world shut down.

Each event will feature one or two “makars” paired with a singer, who will finish every show with a song. Contributing writers and musicians to each show will also be paid a fee, with a view to supporting artists during this difficult period for performers. The programme will also stage events featuring guests from different walks of life who will share their passions for good writing..

The first episode will broadcast this Thursday (14 May), with Kay as the first week’s performer, followed in week two by poet Don Paterson.

Speaking about the series, Jackie Kay said, “In these harrowing times it has been heartening to see just how much people need poetry, music, art, theatre. The impulse to be creative runs deep in us. It has been our saving grace throughout this crisis. Makar to Makar has been conceived to accompany people in their own homes – to offer solace and hope. A great mix of poetry and music – food for the soul.”

The events will be free to enjoy, and will be available to watch via the National Theatre of Scotland’s Facebook page and YouTube channel every Thursday at 7pm for 16 weeks, with each show lasting approximately 40 minutes.

Makar to Makar is Produced by the National Theatre of Scotland in association with HOME Manchester, Edinburgh International Book Festival and School of Arts and Media, Salford.