Festival City Stories launches at Meadowbank

Street advertising specialists JACK ARTS Scotland have teamed up with the Edinburgh Festivals to share some of the many hidden community stories that sit behind the more well-known festival events – all displayed as an accessible street exhibition surrounding Meadowbank Sports Centre.

Festival City Stories highlights people involved in year-round partnerships between some of Edinburgh’s leading festivals and local community groups, schools and organisations – all captured by Edinburgh-based photographer Ellie Morag. 

The resulting artwork of imagery and words celebrates a diverse range of projects – from children exploring what their rights mean to them, to music programmes sparking joyful connections for people living with dementia.

Amongst the Festival City Stories highlighted are:

• Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society work with Oaklands additional needs school, on the creation of an interactive multi-sensory show drawing on the importance and exploration of objects
• Edinburgh International Children’s Festival work with Forthview Primary School, in piloting their new Creative Encounters programme which takes a child’s rights-based approach to programming work
• Edinburgh International Festival work with Space @ The Broomhouse Hub, on development of The Beacon Club which uses music to spark joyful connections with people living with dementia and facing social isolation
• Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival work with Passion4Fusion and St Augustine’s RC High School, on HAIR, which centres on Black Hair stories, exploring key historical and political moments up until the present, and how these are diverse representations of ‘Blackness’/Black Culture. 
• Scottish International Storytelling Festival work on Sensing Stories, an inclusive series of storytelling sessions for groups interested in using storytelling as a wellbeing tool and for developing performance skills
• Edinburgh Art Festival work with Rhubaba, on a co-created programme of free workshops and events to connect marginalised artists with creativity through film, theatre, photography, ceramics, writing, and more

Jim Cowan, Partnerships and Marketing Manager, JACK ARTS Scotland shares: ‘It’s a pleasure to use our shared street space to champion these vital community voices from year-round partnerships between some of Edinburgh’s leading festivals and local groups, schools and organisations.

“From inclusive storytelling sessions to workshops using the power of objects to unlock creativity – Festival City Stories helps share and celebrate their incredible work with a wider audience by showcasing these artworks on our city streets.’

The public gallery of artworks will be displayed on JACK ARTS Scotland’s poster sites surrounding the Meadowbank Sports Centre, on London Road and Wishaw Terrace, from 17 February to 2 March 2025.