A poll commissioned recently by the NSPCC has revealed that more than eight out of 10 UK parents believe in-person play has a positive impact on children’s wellbeing.
The YouGov survey of over 1,000 UK parents, with children aged 18 or under, also found that 62 per cent of respondents would like their children to have more time to play and almost a third (32 per cent) said playing with peers is the best way to enhance their child’s experience and promote learning and development.
Play is central to thriving childhoods.
This data highlights the benefits of all types of play, whether in-person or online, as children spend weeks away from school during the summer holidays.
The NSPCC-run service, Childline, is hearing first-hand about the challenges that some children face during this time.
Some young people tell us that they struggle to cope being out of their school routine, whilst others feel disconnected from their friends and, for some, home is not a happy environment.
Childline’s trained counsellors promote play as a helpful tool that children can use to support their wellbeing, reduce anxiety and release stress.
Ensuring your child has a variety of different types of play, will help them cope in difficult times, connect with others, build confidence and learn more about the world around them.
Whether it be playing a board game, football or visiting the Childline website and playing a game in our online toolbox, all types of play can be beneficial.
Children can get in touch with Childline 24/7 every day of the year on childline.org.uk or by calling 0800 1111.
Police Scotland continues to engage with our communities to offer reassurance following violent disorder in other parts of the United Kingdom.
Officers continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure any potential for violence or disorder in Scotland is identified quickly and responded to immediately.
Today (Wednesday 7 August, 2024) Chief Constable Jo Farrell met with the First Minister John Swinney MSP along Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie in Edinburgh.
Our Chief is also meeting with community groups in Glasgow to listen to their perspectives and offer reassurance.
Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie, Gold commander for our policing response, said: “We understand the concern and officers right across Scotland are providing reassurance to communities across the country through enhanced patrols and direct engagement.
“We continue to closely monitor the situation to ensure any potential for violence or disorder in Scotland is identified quickly and responded to immediately.
“Policing in Scotland has strong relationships with the public and we are grateful for the ongoing support of our communities.
“We are aware of a number of potential protests, and counter protests, over the coming weeks, which will be policed appropriately but we are not going to speculate on or add publicity to individual potential events.
“I would also encourage everyone to be responsible in their use of social media and not to share speculation or inaccurate information. Please think twice about what you read, share and believe from online sources.
“Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation, and our role is to ensure public safety while balancing the rights of protesters who wish to peacefully demonstrate. We encourage anyone with concerns or information to contact us through 101.
“Violence and disorder is not legitimate protest and anyone who engages in disorder will be dealt with swiftly and robustly.
“Our thoughts continue to be with those affected by the appalling violence which has been experienced in some communities and with our brave colleagues in UK policing.
“We continue to be in close touch with other UK police services should requests for support be required.”
FIRST MINISTER MEETS FAITH LEADERS
First Minister John Swinney has held positive talks to provide further reassurance to people across Scotland in the context of ongoing disturbances and disorder in parts of the UK.
The First Minister met with representatives of faith and refugee groups at Bute House this morning to show solidarity with communities around the country.
He then met with Scottish political party leaders and Police Scotland representatives to discuss the situation in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
Speaking after the meetings, the First Minister said: “My positive meetings today were intended to provide reassurance that this is a time for solidarity and that we are united in our opposition to anyone who would seek to use disorder to divide people.
“I have drawn together faith leaders from across communities in Scotland to express our solidarity together – we respect each other and we want everybody to be safe within our society.
“I have also brought together leaders of political parties in Scotland for a briefing with Police Scotland to enable the police to set out the work they are undertaking to keep people safe in Scotland, should we face any events of the type that we have seen in other parts of the United Kingdom.
“The displays of violence, prejudice and Islamophobia seen in other parts of the United Kingdom have no place in democratic society, and I want to reassure people in Scotland that we have plans and preparations in place to ensure everybody is kept safe.
“We are absolutely not complacent and remain vigilant. I am in regular contact with the Chief Constable who has reassured me that Police Scotland has the capability and resources in place to respond should we face the same challenges.”
The First Minister met with representatives from the following faith and refugee groups this morning:
Scottish Hindu Foundation
Scottish Association of Mosques
Scottish Council of Jewish Communities
Senior Rabbi, Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue
Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society
Scottish Episcopal Church
Church of Scotland
Muslim Council of Scotland
Scottish Refugee Council
The First Minister also met with:
Jo Farrell (Chief Constable, Police Scotland)
Alan Speirs (Deputy Chief Constable, Police Scotland)
Gary Ritchie (Assistant Chief Constable, Police Scotland)
Douglas Ross MSP (Scottish Conservatives)
Anas Sarwar MSP (Scottish Labour)
Lorna Slater MSP (Scottish Greens)
Patrick Harvie MSP (Scottish Greens)
Alex Cole Hamilton MSP (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
The First Minister’s calling on social media giants to get their acts together and stop communities from being subjected to speculation and alarm@JohnSwinney met with faith leaders, political leaders and police chiefs at Bute House in Edinburgh earlier to discuss recent events pic.twitter.com/n2GcqZ6grd
Secretary of State for Scotland @IanMurrayMP has also written to reassure Scottish faith communities and underline there is no place in Scotland for racism, bigotry, or the politics of hate:
Half of Scottish workers want more flexibility – and more than 1 in 3 with children would consider term-time-only working, according to new survey
New survey from YouGov, commissioned by Amazon, explores Scottish views on workplace flexibility
While 51% of workers in Scotland would like more flexible working options from their employer, almost half (44%) say they have NO option to work flexibly at all
More than one in three (34%) of all parents with children aged 18 and under would consider term-time working; an innovative option recently introduced by Amazon for its Operations employees in Dunfermline and across the UK
As parents across Scotland plan ways to keep their children active and entertained during the school holidays, new research reveals that more than one in three working Scottish parents would consider term-time only working to improve work/life balance.
A YouGov poll commissioned by Amazon, reveals half (51%) of working parents in Scotland want more flexibility in their jobs, while more than one in three (34%) parents in Scotland said they would consider switching to a term-time contract.
Furthermore, almost half (44%) of those questioned in Scotland say their current employer offers no opportunity to work flexibly at all.
The survey follows a recent expansion of Amazon’s own ground-breaking term-time working option which aims to help employees and their families. The flexibility guarantees time off during the summer, Christmas and Easter school holidays for parents, grandparents and guardians of school-age children.
The company also recently introduced Amazon Anytime; a flexible part-time contract for a minimum of 80 hours a month, which lets employees pick and mix the shifts which suit their needs – part-day or full-day, day or night, weekday or weekend.
The new survey also reveals:
Three quarters (74%) of working parents in Scotland say flexible working is a priority when thinking about their next job
A better work-life balance (63%) and less commuting (53%) are the top perceived benefits of flexibility for working parents in Scotland
John Boumphrey, Amazon’s UK Country Manager, said: “These findings clearly demonstrate the huge importance of workplace flexibility, and why it matters so much to employees in Scotland and across the UK.
“At Amazon, we’re always listening to our employees and innovating for our people, and we’re delighted to offer these ground-breaking contracts to help provide employees and their families more flexible options.
“We have a variety of different full-time and part-time contracts, and we’ve also provided a four-day working week for our fulfilment centre employees for many years. Term-time working and Amazon Anytime are examples of how we continue to use feedback to support our people, help with childcare needs, and give families more time together.”
Amazon employees can also take advantage of Amazon’s pioneering Career Choice programme, which pre-pays up to 95% of costs for nationally accredited courses in high-demand fields (up to £8,000 over four years), regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon.
Competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and a modern, safe and engaging work environment are provided for Amazon employees. The roles pay a minimum of £12.30 per hour depending on location, as well as up to £33,500 a year for degree-level apprenticeships.
All employees can also benefit from a package that includes private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, and an employee discount – which combined are worth thousands annually – as well as a company pension plan.
Amazon has been named as a ‘Top Employer UK 2024’ by the Top Employer Institute, one of the world’s most prestigious certifications in the field of human resources management.
This award recognises Amazon’s commitment to the development and well-being of its employees. In addition to the UK accolade, Amazon has also been certified as one of the Top Employers in Europe for a second consecutive year.
Amazon was also recently ranked first in the top 50 employers of veterans in the UK by the GREAT British Employers of Veterans, a comprehensive benchmark of the leading companies that employ veterans.
The Momentum Delegate Programme kicks off in Edinburgh today, Wednesday 7 August, acting as a central hub from the world-leading Festival City to connect key cultural players from across the world with the wider Scottish and international cultural sector.
Every August during the Edinburgh Festivals the capital of Scotland becomes a global celebration of culture and creativity, with citizens of the city and the country joined by artists and audiences from all over the world.
At Momentum, a cohort of producers, government agencies, funders, stakeholders and programmers from invited countries will join a tailored programme of networking and meetings with creative practitioners, policymakers and educators in Scotland.
The collaborations established will enable long-term relationships, platforming Scotland and its artists and art organisations on the world stage and further cementing Scotland’s international cultural reputation.
On behalf of Momentum partners, Julia Amour, Director of Festivals Edinburgh said: “The Edinburgh Festivals are distinctively Scottish yet profoundly international, and we’re delighted to welcome cultural representatives from around the globe to our Momentum programme, where we will help them build relationships with our festivals and the wider Scottish cultural sector.”
The 36 delegates arriving are from Viet Nam, Sweden, South Korea, the MENA region (Middle East & North Africa), Türkiye, Mexico and Poland – as well as two artform delegations for Literature and Visual Arts. Information on each area, its delegates and sessions are available on the Momentum website.
Since 2011, Momentum has brought over 700 international delegates to Edinburgh during the buzz of the city’s August festivals. These have contributed to multiple collaborations, most recently:
Scottish Dance Theatre (SDT) connected with Ciało/Umysł, an international contemporary dance festival in Warsaw, developed from a meeting set up by the Momentum team last year. After the initial introduction, with support from the Momentum follow-up fund, SDT Artistic Director Joan Clevillé visited Poland for Ciało’s dance platform.
SDT’s Senior Producer, Robyn Jancovich-Brownsaid: “The visit enabled SDT to get a sense of the scene, visit venues, make more connections in the area, and, critically, really understand the cultural and political context in which the artists and organisations are working.
“We’re now talking about next steps and exploring plans for an artistic exchange programme in autumn 2025, in which Scottish and Polish dancers will be able to work together.”
Ryan said: “Initially Manuela and I had some great chats just about being new in our roles and the challenges of directing festivals. We stayed in touch, sharing ideas about poets and writers, and then agreed to partner on a grant application.
“That enabled us to have an extra event at Stanza last year, in collaboration with Cúirt International Festival of Literature, called Companion Planting. An artist and an author visited from Ireland to talk about strategies of support and examined ‘care’ within collaborative artistic working practices.
“This was a perfect fit with Stanza’s theme last year. It’s rare to see a project happen that fast; I felt lucky to encounter Manuela, and get something going so quickly.”
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, renowned for its vibrant theatre and comedy performances, is expanding its traditional repertoire to include sustainable home and community living, with the popular Green Home Festival making a welcome return.
Now in its third year, the Green Home Festival will take centre stage at Charlotte Square Gardens from 12 to 16 August. At its newly designed venue, the festival will feature a variety of shows, including workshops, panel discussions and live demonstrations, all aimed at encouraging sustainable living practices.
This year’s programme of free-to-attend shows includes:
Accessing and maximising funding options: Learn how to access all the available funding to help in your home transformations.
Demystifying the retrofit journey: A step-by-step guide to retrofitting your home.
Passivhaus for self-builders: Explore energy-efficient building strategies for self-build projects.
Smart home heating technologies: Discover cutting-edge solutions for heating your home efficiently.
Debunking myths about heat pumps in older homes: Clearing up common misconceptions and outlining benefits of installing a heat pump in pre-1919 homes.
Sustainable materials in construction: From low-carbon bricks to innovative seaweed-based paints and more.
Gordon Nelson, Scotland Director of the Federation of Master Buildersand lead organiser, commented, “The Green Home Festival’s ever-growing popularity reflects the increasing demand for sustainable living solutions. We aim to educate, inform, and inspire action towards greener practices crucial for our future.
“Leveraging the popularity of the globally renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe allows us to effectively communicate the essential changes and diverse options available to everyone for a low carbon transition.”
Targeting a wide audience from homeowners and community groups to international visitors, the festival shows that small changes can have a big environmental impact. Featuring a lineup of expert speakers and practical demonstrations, such as a full-size heat pump, the Green Home Festival is essential for anyone interested in making a sustainable difference.
Admission to all events at the Green Home Festival is free.
For more information and to book your tickets, please visit
Edinburgh local attends her 18th Fringe Festival after seven decades of performing arts
A CELEBRATED 77-year-old performer is marking a milestone as she gears up for her 18th appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, proving that passion for the arts knows no age.
Elizabeth Frances Dell, fondly known as Lyzzie, has been captivating audiences since she was seven.
Now at 77, she continues to shine, delighting thousands of art lovers annually as a dedicated member of the Edinburgh People’s Theatre.
Despite facing a stroke five years ago, Lyzzie has remained undeterred, continuing to audition and perform.
The former teacher and nurse is set to showcase her talents in the Scottish comedy ‘Ne’er the Twain’ at this year’s Fringe Festival.
Reflecting on her journey, Lyzzie said: “I went to the Stage School of Dance when I was seven and that was when I first started getting involved in the arts, from tap dancing and singing to pantomime and Scots comedy, but I truly love all forms of theatre.
“It must have been about 2006 when I started going to the Fringe shows. Even when I’m not on stage, I’m involved in some capacity.
“I really don’t know how many auditions I’ve done because they’re not always successful and you have to accept that. The director knows who would be best for the play, and it’s about fitting in with the whole picture. So, I’m quite happy.
“If I don’t get the part, I’ll do front of house, backstage, or anything else. It’s the teamwork that makes a play work.”
Her latest production Ne’er the Twain – an historical comedy about the amalgamation of Leith and Edinburgh – is running throughout the Fringe at Mayfield Salisbury Church.
Lyzzie said: “It takes place when Edinburgh is going to be amalgamated with Leith and of course Leith didn’t want it, and I learned the history from this.
“When Edinburgh wanted Leith to join up, there was a referendum in Leith and the Leithers just said, ‘absolutely no chance.’ However, Westminster overruled and that is how Leith became part of Edinburgh
“I play Nellie, she’s the old auntie in it and she’s got wee bit secrets to her bow, but she’s a bit of a rogue.”
Lyzzie also puts on regular community performances from shows for the homeless to routines in numerous churches, as well as outdoor performances such as the Edinburgh Easter Play with Cutting Edge Theatre.
None more so benefit from the Edinburgh local’s creativity than the tenants at Hanover Scotland’s Roseburn Court, where Lyzzie has lived for more than 17 years – making her the development’s longest residing tenant.
Lyzzie added: “I’ve been here 17 and a half years, and truthfully, I didn’t want to come at first, but it was the right thing to do. It’s a lovely place to live and I look right onto Roseburn Park and it’s just a nice place to be.
“I’m very lucky to be here. Anytime I have needed help they’ve been tremendously supportive. That’s part of the joy of living here knowing that if anything happens, I will get help and my family doesn’t need to worry. It takes the worry off their shoulders. It’s lovely.
“They have also allowed me to embrace my creative spirit, I help put on regular performances for the other tenants that live here and it really does create a closeknit community.”
Lyzzie hopes that she can continue entertaining people on the stage in whatever capacity she can. She said: “As long as somebody wants me, I’ll do it.
“Whether I am out there performing or helping with props or costumes I just love being involved and putting on a show. Drama is just a very special place to be, it’s just full of amazing characters.”
Hanover Scotland, a pioneering non-profit organisation founded in 1979, empowers independence by providing safe and secure social housing, enabling residents to live fulfilling, independent lives.
With more than 4,500 homes throughout Scotland, Hanover Scotland supports older adults in vibrant local communities.
Guided by values of respect, accountability, collaboration, and inclusion, Hanover Scotland continues to provide excellent, affordable, and modern housing services to meet the diverse needs of its tenants.
The Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust (AVCT) is pleased to announce a donation of £3,000 to Rock Trust, Scotland’s dedicated youth homelessness charity.
This funding will support Rock Trust’s efforts to expand their services, including increasing housing provision and introducing their innovative Youth Housing Hub model to Glasgow for the first time.
Rock Trust was formed in 1990 after the discovery that young homeless people had been sleeping rough in the graveyard of St. Cuthbert’s Church in Edinburgh, and since then has grown its operation into Glasgow, the Lothians, Perth and Fife, and is committed to ending youth homelessness.
In 2023 alone, the organization helped over 1,100 young people to avoid, or move on from, homelessness; like Danny, who came to Rock Trust at the age of 16.
Danny was living at home with his mum. Their relationship was troubled to the extent that his aunt had referred him to Rock Trust in the hope that their Early Intervention Programme might improve their relationship through 1-to-1 counselling.
But when an argument between Danny and his mum eventually turned violent, it became clear that he was no longer safe. Rock Trust were quickly able to move him into a shared flat with other young people and a supportive flatmate.
Danny’s support worker has helped him to access financial support and explore his potential. He has started going to art therapy and has completed an external employability course.
At 16, Danny didn’t just need a home, he needed help to process everything that had happened to him, help to discover his potential, guidance on developing essential life skills, and ultimately help to make the transition to adulthood.
Speaking of his experience with Rock Trust, Danny said, “I am more free, I’m happier, and I’m treated like an actual person. I’ve been given opportunities to do stuff and meet new people.
“I think I’m a better person, less antisocial. A lot of bad stuff would have happened if I didn’t have the Rock Trust. I’ve even got a better relationship with my mum now we don’t live together.”
The charity focuses on three strategic pillars: prioritizing prevention, increasing housing availability, and ensuring a focus on future opportunities for young people.
Calum Wright, Trusts and Grants Fundraising Lead at Rock Trust, highlighted the urgency of their work: “Scotland is facing a housing emergency which is disproportionately affecting our young people.
“At Rock Trust, we believe that accommodation, support, education, and employment are the best routes off the streets and away from the misery that accompanies homelessness.
“Thanks to supporters like the Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, we can help more young people avoid, survive, and move on from homelessness for good.”
This donation from the AVCT will play a crucial role in Rock Trust’s mission to combat youth homelessness amid rising costs, cuts in statutory funding, and an increasingly competitive fundraising environment.
David Facenna, Corporate Culture Director at Allied Vehicles Group, expressed his support, stating: “Homelessness is a heartbreakingly real prospect for many young people and a frightening reality for others.
“We are proud to support Rock Trust in their vital work to provide immediate and effective assistance to those in need and to help them build a stable future.
Our contribution aims to ensure that more young people have access to safe housing and essential ongoing support to rebuild and lead healthy, independent lives.”
Edinburgh residents are being asked for their views on Community Payback Orders (CPO) which are given by the Court to people to pay for their crimes as an alternative to a prison sentence.
In particular, we would like to know what you think about the unpaid work part of a CPO which replaced community service in 2011. This is when an individual who has committed an offence does unpaid work in the community.
Examples of unpaid work include:
repairing and reinstating headstones in local cemeteries
developing and maintaining children’s play areas
recycling projects including bicycles and outdoor furniture.
We are seeking your views on the effectiveness of community payback as a way to reduce re-offending and we want to know:
Do you have any experience of people doing unpaid work in your community?
Do you think unpaid work gives people the opportunity to repay the community for the crimes they have committed?
Do you have any ideas about residents, community projects or organisations who could benefit from unpaid work support?
As well as using the questionnaire to comment on community payback you can also recommend groups, residents, organisations or projects that may benefit from unpaid work through the online suggestion form.
Councillor Tim Pogson, Chair of Edinburgh Community Safety and Justice Partnership, said: “Community Payback Orders offer a robust alternative to a prison sentence and allow people to pay back for their crimes through doing unpaid work in the community.
“We are always keen to develop unpaid work opportunities in the capital and the views of our citizens are crucial to this process.
“Past examples of unpaid work include community clear ups, repainting community centres and the ‘Brake the Cycle’ scheme, whereby individuals undertaking CPOs have repaired bicycles for reuse as part of community projects.
“CPOs support participants to learn new skills and gain confidence in themselves and their wider community, all of which contributes to reducing reoffending.
“Through this consultation we want to open up discussion with communities about unpaid work opportunities which is key to properly understanding how CPOs help not only the individuals undertaking unpaid work, but the tangible benefits these bring to communities across our capital city.”
This consultation is open until Monday 9 Sept 2024.
Designs for new products and services, textiles, interiors and fashion garments are among the projects on display at this year’s postgraduate degree show at Heriot-Watt’s School of Textiles and Design in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders.
The Masters Degree Show 2024 features projects from 30 students from countries including the United States, Sri Lanka, India, China, Nigeria, Scotland, Pakistan, Poland and Turkey.
The show is open to the public for one day on Friday 9 August (10am to 4pm), following a private showing on Thursday 8 August for industry partners and friends and family.
Visitors can enjoy the show for free at the High Mill Building in Nether Road, Galashiels, the converted textile mill where the school is based.
The students showcasing their work are graduating from four postgraduate degrees – two Master of Arts (MA) programmes and two Master of Science (MSc) programmes. The MA programmes are Fashion and Textiles Design and Interior Architecture and Design. The MSc programmes are Design Management and Fashion and Textile Management.
MA Fashion and Textiles Design student Rebecca Welsh, from Dunlop in East Ayrshire, Scotland, has created woven cotton textiles that celebrate the life of her late father, David.
“I used objects owned by him as the main source of drawings for my sketchbook,” Rebecca explained. “Each item has a memory tied to it and colours, motifs and patterns in my textile designs evoke those memories. One of my motifs is a frog, which is inspired by an origami frog dad made for me while we waited in accident and emergency when I was younger, after breaking my arm.”
Rebecca previously studied a four-year Bachelor of Arts in Design for Textiles at Heriot-Watt’s School of Textiles & Design and it was during her final year of this degree that her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
“He passed away shortly after my graduation in 2018,” Rebecca said. “I wanted to continue weaving through my Masters degree because I wanted to create a positive memory after such a difficult final year. Dad also helped restore a loom for me – he was a civil engineer and was fascinated by the technical process.”
Rebecca’s textiles are designed to be used for tote bags and small handbags, and feature bands of colour combining different check, tartan and geometric motifs.
The pathway has six career progression steps, including goal setting, leadership training and access to resources such as career accelerators and mentorship, and is based on Shamita’s own experience at work as a journalist and communications strategist.
“I led teams and projects in previous roles, but this wasn’t recognised or reflected in my pay,” Shamita said. “I didn’t have adequate access to career guidance or mentorship that could help with career goal setting.
“I wanted to research career accelerators for women that would bridge this gap and would be accessible to young women professionals from underrepresented groups.”
Chelsie has created a design for a sustainable high school in Peebles. Her approach uses a discipline called biophilic design, where nature is integrated with architecture and urban planning to improve well-being.
“The critical element of my project is a river-centric design connected to the River Tweed through organic shapes and flows throughout the space,” Chelsie explained. “This includes walls with living greenery and encouraging herb gardens in the school’s interior.
“Enhancing connections to nature in this way helps to improve learning experiences and mental health.”
Chelsie completed her degree while looking after her two-year-old son, Mason, and now hopes to work with an architectural firm. She said: “Becoming a single mother and trying to fulfil my career was a challenge.
“But time management and forward-planning helped me through it. I am deeply grateful to Heriot-Watt University for helping to foster my creativity over five years while I navigated the challenges of being a single mum.”
Cath Clark, Postgraduate Programme Director at Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design and Assistant Professor for the MSc Design Management degree, said design skills were more important than ever in industry.
“Designers are key to the success of an organisation,” she said. “Businesses continually have to rethink and reimagine what they do – especially as technology accelerates – and design expertise can give them crucial competitive advantage.
“So design graduates are becoming increasingly valuable to businesses, because they’re problem solvers. Our Masters students have shown huge creativity in their work this year and we’re looking forward to showcasing that.”
Julian Malins, Executive Dean at Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design, said: “Our Masters Degree Show celebrates our postgraduate students and their work and is an important event for us.
“It recognises the tremendous commitment our students have made to their skills and careers. It’s also an opportunity to showcase the talent of our students to industry and to our community here in Galashiels and further afield. We wish all our Masters students the best of luck in their careers.”
Masters students at Heriot-Watt’s campus in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates are also completing their School of Textiles and Design degrees.
Postgraduates at Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design include students with undergraduate degrees looking to enhance their qualifications and skills and working professionals looking to progress their careers.
The School is a centre of excellence in design and dates back to 1883, when classes in weaving, dyeing and chemistry were introduced to train workers for the local textiles industry.
Honorary Graduates include the late British fashion icon Dame Vivienne Westwood. The school’s degree programmes prepare students for roles in industries including fashion design, interior design, textile design, product and service design, digital design and fashion marketing.
The Scottish Borders is at the heart of Scotland’s luxury textile and design industry and is home to manufacturers including Barrie, one of Scotland’s oldest cashmere knitting manufacturers. It was acquired in 2012 by French luxury fashion house Chanel.
Masters Degree Show 2024, Heriot-Watt School of Textiles and Design
Dates:
Thursday 8 August – 2pm-7pm – private showing for industry partners and friends and family. Register here: Masters Degree Show Opening
Visual Arts Scotland (VAS), a leading platform for national and international contemporary artists, are holding their biggest-ever exhibition in Scotland’s historic Dalkeith Palace this August.
Now and Then: Dalkeith Palace (Part Two) continues a year of centenary celebrations for VAS and will showcase over 540 artworks and 341 artists, making this a record breaking exhibition for the arts charity as it honours its 100th year.
This exhibition celebrates 100 years since VAS was established in 1924 and follows the successful 4 star exhibition, Then and Now: 100 Years Of Visual Arts Scotland (Part One) which took place in Edinburgh’s Royal Scottish Academy earlier this year. Now and Then: Dalkeith Palace (Part Two) will showcase artists from Scotland and beyond, exhibiting a breadth of disciplines across the sprawling 17 room exhibition, including painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, installation, and jewellery.
The exhibition will run from Saturday 17th – Sunday 25th August 2024 and will be open daily from 10am – 4pm with free access. Dalkeith Palace is located just outside Edinburgh and the exhibition expects to reach a global audience as it aligns with the city’s busy festival period.
Tavienne Bridgwater, VAS President, said:“2024 marks 100 years since Visual Arts Scotland was founded. The organisation began as the Scottish Society of Women Artists in 1924 with the aim to empower women after their contribution to the war effort.
“Today, we’re known as Visual Arts Scotland and we’ve spent the past couple of months celebrating our centenary through art fairs, archival reflections, and our successful centenary exhibition (Part One) which took place in Edinburgh’s Royal Scottish Academy and showcased 242 artists and over 300 contemporary artworks.
“Part Two of our centenary exhibition is proving to be even bigger than we’d anticipated and with over 1800 applications, we’re on track to set a new record of participating artists in a Visual Arts Scotland show.
“The exhibition will be held in the beautiful Dalkeith Palace in August, and the palace’s rich history and centuries of stories are fitting with our centenary year ambitions to dig a little deeper into our history whilst also showcasing the best of contemporary art in Scotland.”
Charlotte Rostek, Development Lead for Dalkeith Palace, said:“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Visual Arts Scotland to Dalkeith Palace this August.
“VAS is such a prestigious and dynamic organisation with international reach and this partnership is a perfect match for us as we are beginning to write a new chapter for this beautiful, multi-layered building.
“Dalkeith Palace is one of Scotland’s most significant early classical buildings with an illustrious history reaching back to the middle ages and closely associated with some of our nation’s most important stories.”
“The palace that we see today was the single-minded vision of Anna Scott, the first Duchess of Buccleuch, in the early 1700s paving the way for three centuries of the Buccleuch family’s engagement with culture and patronage of all the arts.
“However, today the palace stands almost empty and, having been very much hidden from public view for more than a century, we are excited to take steps for it to become, once again, a place for culture, community and creativity.
“We can’t wait to see VAS’s artists from all disciplines ‘take over’ the palace this August and very much look forward to a uniquely curated experience. These kinds of partnerships are so important to the Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust as we are re-energising our mission to engage with the past, present and future of this wonderful heritage.’’
Full details on Now and Then: Dalkeith Palace are available here.
