Ben Macpherson sworn in as Northern Leith MSP

First surgery details announced

Ben Macpherson MSP - Solemn Affirmation - swearing in ceremony, 12 May 2016

New MSP Ben McPherson was sworn in as the new member for Edinburgh Northern & Leith MSP yesterday, one of five new Edinburgh constituency MSPs voted in last week. Continue reading Ben Macpherson sworn in as Northern Leith MSP

Tonight: European Literature Night at North Edinburgh Arts

EUPROPEAN LITERATURE NIGHT: FRIDAY 13 MAY

North Edinburgh Arts 5 – 6.30pm

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‘With the media spotlight shining so squarely on the politics of the EU referendum,’ says poet Colin Herd, ‘We think it’s important to also make space for a cultural expression of European experiences.’

Tonight, Edinburgh will welcome contemporary poets from across Europe for two events in celebration of European Literature Night.

Co-curated by Herd and Theodora Danek, in association with Edinburgh City of Literature and The Enemies Project, the poets represent some of the most exciting of cutting-edge contemporary European writing.

‘I think of Europe itself as a long never-ending poem, always emergent and always surprising, its meanings and its resonances never fixed,’ Herd says.

Following on from the success of European Literature Night 2015, this year’s celebration features 10 European and Scotland-based writers, including: Billy Ramsell, Christodoulos Makris, Nurduran Duman, Efe Duyan, Ásta Fanney Sigurðardóttir, Alexander Filyuta, Alessandro Burbank, Heather O’Donnell, Graeme Smith and Dominic Hale.

There will be an introductory taster event at North Edinburgh Arts Centre from 5 – 6.30pm followed by an evening extravaganza at Summerhall’s Red Lecture Theatre from 8 to 10.30pm.

As will reflect the diverse languages of Europe, some poets will choose to read in their own language (with translations) while other poets will read in English. There will also be some poets working in new media, sound and video.

Newly developed for this year, the events will also see the launch of #EuroPoem, a collective international poetry initiative, which poets and poetry-fans from across Europe are encouraged to contribute to. #EuroPoem responds to a need to explore what Europe is, means, and can be ahead of the UK’s referendum on EU membership. European writers are invited to submit two lines of poetry to the collective poem; contributions are of equal value, with no one poet setting the agenda of the poem and it will be polyvocal and multilingual.

Following its launch in Edinburgh at Summerhall, the poem will continue to emerge and evolve online through the Twitter hashtag #EuroPoem. No two versions of the poem need be the same, as poets from across Europe continue to add to this collaborative work. To join in with this unique poetry event, tweet your two lines of poetry to @edincityoflit using the hashtag #EuroPoem as part of European Literature Festival on 13th May, or email Colin Herd on europoem2016@gmail.com.

For more information and to book free tickets, follow these links:

North Edinburgh Arts Event (5 – 6.30pm)
Summerhall Event (8 – 10.30pm)

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Europe, future dream!
Europe, morning to come,
borders without watchdogs,
nations with his frank laughter
thrown wide open!

‘Europa’, Adolfo Casais Monteiro

 

Granton Parish Church raises £1100 for charity

Daffodil Tea event supports Eileen McCallum Trust 

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Granton Parish Church social group organises an annual Daffodil Tea to raise funds for a different charity every year. This year, the group decided to support The Eileen McCallum Trust, which supports Duchenne muscular distrophy, and popular actress Eileen McCallum was delighted to receive a cheque for £1100 to support the charity’s work.  Continue reading Granton Parish Church raises £1100 for charity

Many hands make light work in Muirhouse Avenue

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There’s a mighty team effort taking place in Muirhouse Avenue right now. Muirhouse Centipede Project are putting the land not currently being built on to good use and are now preparing the ground for a community amphitheatre and performance area.

It’s a lot of work – it’s a lot of space! – but volunteers from Craigroyston Community High School, Tomorrow’s People, Scottish Widows, Community Action North, Scottish Gas, the Haven Project’s Dad’s Group and North Edinburgh Arts are really getting stuck in!

You’ll already see an amazing difference … and today 130 tyres will arrive for the next stage of the operation! Get involved!

More pictures on our Facebook page

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