Month: September 2019

Queensferry Crossing artwork unveiled

Scotland’s national poet contributes to permanent tribute.

An ode to the Queensferry Crossing by Scotland’s national poet has been set in bronze in a specially commissioned work. 

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop will unveil the artwork, Bridge of Pages, by the local artist Gordon Muir and featuring a poem by the Makar, Jackie Kay, on the Forth Road Bridge west footpath. This location, a vantage point on to the Queensferry Crossing, will be a permanent home for the work.

The 3.5m-wide plaque represents five pages of a book with illustrations of mythical and historical characters from the area, alongside scenes from the Queensferry Crossing’s construction. These were hand sculpted in clay before being set in bronze.

The poem, which was read out by the Makar at the Queensferry Crossing opening ceremony in 2017, has also been set in braille along the bottom of the work.

Ms Hyslop said: “This fantastic piece of artwork will allow walkers to enjoy the Queensferry Crossing poem while taking in the spectacular views of the new road bridge. The Queensferry Crossing is a breathtaking example of Scotland’s world-class engineering projects, and as our national poet, Jackie Kay is the perfect choice for the work.

“The Queensferry Crossing poem has been an important part of the bridge’s journey, having been read out at the opening ceremony, so it is fitting that it will now be installed as a permanent tribute to be enjoyed by people for generations to come.”

Ms Kay said: “It is a huge honour to have a poem on the bridge. I am particularly excited that this is one of the few public poems in the world to be in braille. It is funny to have a poem that will outlive you. I think the Queensberry Crossing is a magnificent sculpture.”

Mark Arndt, Account Director for the Forth Bridges operating company Amey, said: “We’re delighted to have played a part in bringing together poetry, art and engineering for this apt and timeless celebration of the Queensferry Crossing.

“The artwork’s unique setting high on the Forth Road Bridge footpath is the perfect place to appreciate these words and images cast in bronze. I’m sure they will be enjoyed by many generations of locals and visitors alike.”

Artist Gordon Muir said: “As a poetry-loving ‘brigophile’ I was super chuffed to be working with Makar Jackie on this tribute to the new Queensferry Crossing, another shining example of Scottish engineering.”

 

 

Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics programme unveiled

The Scottish Parliament will welcome a range of leading public figures such as Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, journalist and broadcaster Andrew Marr, and TV’s Dr Rangan Chaterjee, as part of this year’s Festival of Politics. Continue reading Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics programme unveiled

Book launch – Shafted: The Media, the Miners’ Strike & The Aftermath (new edition)

FREE PUBLIC EVENT / SCOTTISH BOOK LAUNCH & SPEAKER EVENT

for new edition of 

Shafted: The Media, the Miners’ Strike and the Aftermath Continue reading Book launch – Shafted: The Media, the Miners’ Strike & The Aftermath (new edition)

Stormy weather: Mela faces uncertain future

Edinburgh Mela 2019 was held on Saturday the 31st August and Sunday the 1st of September at Leith Links. There were strong winds on the Saturday but sunshine on the Sunday. In terms of public safety the Festival was closed for two hours on Saturday. 
Paid-for Services were regrettably and unavoidably limited on Saturday because of the bad weather but on Sunday the ‘Mela was the Mela’ of a capacity crowd coming in, staying and leaving. Also, children played on fun fair equipment and adults and the elderly sat, stood, talked and ate a wide variety of wonderfully cooked foods.
Here, different people were expressing a common humanity. The Edinburgh Mela remains a local event put on by the Mela Board for the people at no cost. This ‘free’ concept remains important to the Board because no one should be excluded because of not being able to pay an entrance fee. Music, dancing and a fashion show were provided and were enjoyed by people of different cultures. Edinburgh Mela remains a multicultural event.
Funding was Lottery funding. It was limited but greatly appreciated. Council funding and funding from Creative Scotland were sadly missed.
Financially, the Mela may not survive much longer but if the community loses the Mela after nearly 25 years in place, a special way of bringing our multicultural community will be lost.
Such a loss will reduce a sense of belonging. A sense of belonging is an important part of community cohesion and contribution to our society.
The nature of Mela (2019) is captured in the post-Mela clean-up of the Links when a neighbour saw Mela Board members and the Chair Sir Geoff Palmer (above) cleaning and stayed and helped. Turned out her husband, a journalist, had interviewed Sir Geoff Palmer decades ago about his life and race relations.
Edinburgh Mela

Scottish groups hit the Lottery jackpot

Groups from across Scotland are sharing in a bumper package of National Lottery grants totalling £952,883 this morning. 

Across the country, 136 community groups have picked up awards from National Lottery Awards for All – a quick and simple way to access small National Lottery grants of between £300 and £10,000.  Continue reading Scottish groups hit the Lottery jackpot

People Know How shortlisted for £50,000 grant

Dear Friend,

For almost a year now, People Know How has been working in partnership with Polwarth Parish Church towards our shared dream of acquiring a canal boat on the Union Canal and using it as a shared community space to enhance our Positive Transitions Service. If you have been lucky enough to be part of our summer pilot, you will understand why we are so excited about this new service.

I am thrilled to report that we have taken a big step towards making that dream a reality – but we really need your help!

We have been shortlisted by Ecclesiastical Insurance to receive a grant of £50,000 as part of the 2019 MOVEMENT FOR GOOD Awards.

This grant would allow us to acquire a canal boat and recruit a member of staff to develop the All Aboard project on a full-time basis, cementing our partnerships with Polwarth Church and extending the reach of our services.

We are one of 15 projects to have been selected from hundreds of applications, and over the next 2 weeks, our friends, colleagues, and partners will have the opportunity to show their support for our project by visiting the Movement for Good website and voting for us – https://www.ecclesiastical.com/movement-for-good/50k-shortlist/people-know-how/

Please show your support and help us to secure the funding to make 2020 our biggest and best year yet!

Please also share our request with as many of contacts as you possibly can. The more support we can drum up for our application, the greater the chance that the judging panel will be persuaded to make an award in our favour.

We are also running a campaign on social media – please retweet, follow, share, etc.

With excitement and thanks !!

Glenn

Glenn Liddall FRSA

Founder, Chief Executive

525 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH5 2FF

Tel: 07714 586 971 / 0131 569 0 525

Website: www.peopleknowhow.org

Registered Charity No. SC043871