Aly Barr

Deputy Director / Head of Operations

About me: After several years as a touring musician, I joined Waterstones as Events and Marketing Manager. Following that, I became a rep for Penguin selling books to bookshops from Dumfries to Thurso, eventually co-founding a new imprint Penguin Scotland. In 2005 I joined the Scottish Arts Council Literature team leading on publishing and translation as well as becoming lead officer for the Scottish Poetry Library. Before joining the SPL, I was Creative Scotland’s Acting Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing. I have also served on the board of Cove Park, the international artists’ residency centre on the west coast of Scotland.

My favourite poetry quote is: ‘to you it may be taboo to poo-poo the tattoo / but to me the tattoo is something to say tat-ta to’ (John Hegley).

My favourite poets are: James Robertson, Michael Pedersen, Kathleen Jamie, Don Paterson, John Hegley, Gerry Cambridge, Jackie Kay.