14
Management Services Winter 2012
Adam Smith Celebrating a leg
Dr Andrew Muir reports on a two day symposium to launch the Adam Smith Global Foundation.
The inaugural dinner to launch the Adam Smith Global Foundation was held at the Adam Smith College, Kirkcaldy, on 7 August. The dinner, part of a series of events held over two days, was an imaginative affair with almost 200 guests enjoying an 18th century inspired fi ve- course banquet complete with hog roast.
Smith himself was brought back to life by celebrated actor, Denis Alexander, who was supported by historical fi gures including philosopher David Hume and the national bard Robert Burns.
Entertainment was provided by Sheena Wellington, one of Scotland’s greatest traditional singers, who played the role of Lady Nairn; and a programme of music, that Smith may well have enjoyed, was performed by the Rose Street Quartet. CEO of the Foundation, Marilyn Livingston, welcomed guests. “We have many eminent academics and Smith afi cionados with us this evening,” she said. “They have come from different parts of the world to take part in the colloquium on Smith’s life in the town, discuss his infl uence abroad over the centuries and support the efforts that are underway to commemorate his legacy.”
Marilyn explained that the purpose of the Foundation is to celebrate the life and work of Adam Smith. “We want to harness the spirit and enterprise that he was able to demonstrate all those years ago by bringing public, private
and philanthropic principles together for the benefi t of all,” she said.
“Prevention of poverty is one of the key platforms of the Foundation and we are concentrating on the areas of education, the arts, sport, heritage, culture, science and music to deliver opportunities we believe will bring real and lasting benefi ts to the community.”
Guests at the dinner included organiser of the academic symposium, Fonna Forman, associated professor of political science at the University of California and editor of the Adam Smith Review. Professor Forman spoke about “a huge revival of interest” in Smith’s work and pledged the support of the International Adam Smith Society “to Kirkcaldy and the Foundation as it celebrates Smith’s legacy.”
The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP and Chancellor of the Adam Smith College, told guests that Smith remained hugely relevant today, highlighting his views that people are interdependent locally and globally. “We owe him a huge debt,” he
Adam Smith, author of The Wealth of Nations and father of modern economics (1723-1790).
said. “He never left his roots that were so important in his life. He understood that the wealth of nations lay not in land but trade and realised that the people of Kirkcaldy could do and make things others couldn’t – and vice versa. He also understood moral obligation. He was brought up in a town where the church helped the poor, where education was provided – but where there was also civic society. He wrote about our own interdependence, about how people could play a part in society locally – they depended on each other and worked with each other. “It is 222 years since Adam Smith died, and in 11 years we will celebrate the 300th anniversary of his birth – and what he has to say in 2012 remains as relevant as ever.” The dinner was a resounding success and a fi tting way to launch the Foundation. Everyone was impressed by the excellence of the food, the palatability of the wine and the performance of the actors and musicians. A huge vote of thanks must go to the organisers and, of course, the staff and students of the Adam Smith College for making the dinner such a memorable occasion.
The intention is for the dinner become an annual event and based on this year’s evidence, there will certainly
“There is a need to rebalance the world and this will be the challenge for the generations to come.”
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