ANTI-WAR campaigners won their own battle yesterday when the Procurator Fiscal dropped charges against North Edinburgh activist Willie Black.
Protesters celebrated outside Edinburgh Sheriff Court on the news that three charges of organising illegal protests had been dropped.
A victory for those campaigning to defend the Right to Protest.
As Scotland’s official Team GB Fanzone, St James Quarter is hosting a Festival of Sport to celebrate the 2024 Olympics. From screenings to interactive fitness and competitive classes, the spirit of sport will be all around the Quarter.
Inspired by the Paris 2024 Olympics, St James Quarter will invite guests to ‘get active’ from 26 July—11 August, with a whole host of sporting festivities and special guests, as it launches its ‘Festival of Sport’ right in the heart of the city.
As the official Team GB Fanzone in Scotland, the Quarter will show all the live action from the Olympics in Paris on a giant screen, delivered in partnership with Ocean Outdoor.
Spectators can visit the Fanzone on Level 5 to cheer on their favourite athletes from the comfort of the Quarter’s rooftop bar, with captivating views of Edinburgh’s historic Calton Hill.
The official Team GB mascot Pride the Lion will join in the fun, heading to the Quarter to celebrate with sporting fans on 30th July.
Guests will also have the chance to meet and greet Olympic athletes, with Badminton player Kirsty Gilmour, who is competing in this year’s games, visiting the Fanzone on 7th August, and Joel Fearon, who competes in Athletics (Sprint) and Bobsleigh on 8th August.
As part of the two-week-long Festival of Sport, St James Quarter, in partnership with Edinburgh Leisure, is hosting a range of free fitness activities for all guests inspired by the UK’s success at the Olympics.
From Pilates to Body Combat, Hatton Boxing to Musical Theatre Fitness, there’s something for everyone to get into the spirit of the Games, including family-friendly classes.
In addition, with breakdancing making its Olympic debut, B-Boys will ‘pop and lock’ around the Quarter, rocking live battles on Register Square and offering guests the opportunity to give it a spin. There will also be football freestyling exhibitions to wow sporting fans.
During the two-week Festival of Sport, the St James Quarter team, along with invited guests will be gearing up and ‘cycling’ to Paris in the heart of the Galleria, to raise money for the Quarter’s charity partners Health in Mind and Edinburgh Women’s Aid.
Home to over 80 brands from luxury boutiques to high-street stores, plus an enticing mix of restaurants and bars, St James Quarter is the perfect place to shop, dine, play and stay this summer.
To keep up to date with events happening throughout the Quarter, visit the St James Quarter website or download the St James Quarter App.
A very short walk from both Princes Street and Charlotte Square in the heart of the capital, The Resident Edinburgh combines the heartfelt hospitality The Resident is known for with a distinct Scottish warmth, evoking the brand’s connections with Scotland.
The Resident Edinburgh will be open to guests from 1st September 2024, with rooms available to book now.
All 164 rooms and suites are designed for the home from home experience with mini-kitchens in every room and great natural light. Guest rooms have been specially crafted anticipating a slightly longer guest stay. Overall, the hotel has a cultured thoughtful elegance befitting the prime location and the world destination status of Scotland’s capital city.
From Double Rooms to Junior Suites averaging between 17 and 35-metres-squared, the stylish rooms offer a range of breathtaking views including Edinburgh’s skyline, Edinburgh Castle and exceptional views north over the Firth of Forth.
Amenities have been carefully selected and include everything from a personal Nespresso coffee machine with complimentary capsules, GHD hairdryers for the dressing and vanity area; Molton Brown bathroom products in the stylish en-suites; a dining/working area beside the full height windows.
The Resident has the latest easy to use in room tech and free Wi-Fi solutions for simple streaming from your own devices to minimum 50” UHD TVs. The beds are bespoke designed for The Resident with multi pocket springs and luxurious mattress toppers, Twin, King, or Super King.
Heartfelt hospitality is the ethos of The Resident Edinburgh’s guest experience. Each team member will be a “Resident Insider”, meaning they will be equipped with insider city knowledge so they can be tapped into for local advice, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in what Edinburgh has to offer.
The personal touch is what The Resident is renowned for, every evening hosting an hour of early drinks for guests. This social pause gives guests and the teams an opportunity to connect with each other and receive recommendations straight from the knowledgeable Resident Edinburgh team, all while enjoying drinks and snacks from local suppliers, including Stewart Brewery and Quirky Chocolate or Wines from Justerini & Brooks. Guest events will showcase local artisan producers and give deeper insight to Edinburgh’s culture and Arts scene.
The hotel will partner and support businesses around the city, providing guests with exclusive offers for local restaurants, bars and gyms to ensure they have access to the best venues in Edinburgh. The breakfast partner, The West End Brasserie, will offer a full breakfast offering for guests to go to. The other partners include; Cairngorm coffee, Dulse, Kyloe and attractions such as the Royal Yacht Britannia, The Real Mary King’s Close and Pickering’s at Summerhall.
The Resident Edinburgh is aware of the cultural and arts appeal of the City to its visitors. The library lounge will host a curated book collection of fascination and relevance to the city, as well as its culture.
The hotel owners, Mactaggart Family and Partners have commissioned Art for the public spaces from Emily Beamish of Dacre Fine Art, featuring local artists Katy Eccles, Hatti Pattisson and Poppy Cyster. The Resident will be the perfect spot to relax with friends for a quiet glass of wine, or a specially selected whisky.
The hotel has a variety of quiet niches to retreat for work or leisure. Whether a long day of exploring the city, or returning to the hotel after a day of work, the warmth of The Resident Edinburgh’s team will be there for you.
The Resident Edinburgh’s interior design takes inspiration from local surroundings and the designers have placed emphasis on sourcing items to fully capture the vibrant character of Edinburgh. Furnishings have been carefully handpicked and fabric elements in the rooms and lounge areas have been sourced from well-regarded Glasgow-based, Timorous Beasties.
The hotel’s interior colour palette draws subtly on national references; the pale blue of the Saltire flag, the soft hues of the Craigleith sandstone, the earthy tones of the countryside visible from the rooms and finally the smoky browns that allude to the city’s affectionate nickname of ‘Auld Reekie’.
David JM Orr, CEO of Resident Hotels Ltd, said: “The Resident Edinburgh marks a significant milestone for The Resident brand, many of us in the business and especially our ownership have cherished, deep Scottish roots and a great affinity for Edinburgh and its cultural affluence.
The Resident Edinburgh brings a new offering to the visitor for the City, a slightly longer stay with the guest and our teams at the centre. The Resident has an enviable track record at ensuring the visitor whether on business or leisure can experience a home from home, living like a local but with a very light touch.
The Resident teams’ advocacy of businesses, attractions, artisans and institutions within the city will be fulsome as our mission to showcase the entrepreneur chefs’ restaurants and bars throughout the city.
“The guest experience is at the centre of our operation, and we have carefully curated a hotel that is inspired by Edinburgh, Scotland and the people who live here. We are delighted to be able to offer a personal experience for any guest that enters The Resident Edinburgh and equip them with insider knowledge, so they can feel like a resident in Scotland’s vibrant capital.
“I’m looking forward to welcoming guests from September; the afterglow of the Festival will be a perfect time to visit a city that has proven increasingly to appeal throughout the year.”
Gillian Mylles, General Manager of The Resident Edinburgh, said: “I am so excited to be bringing The Resident experience to Edinburgh. The attention to detail in The Resident Edinburgh is impressive.
“Amenities and services have been diligently considered to offer an exceptional experience for guests in an idyllic setting. We will be welcoming guests from all around the world, each visiting the capital for a variety of different reasons, and we have made sure we can cater to any potential need.
“The Resident Edinburgh will be a comforting home away from home. Guests will be able to get involved in the Edinburgh community, learn insider tips from the very best and also have the chance to socialise with other guests. I’m looking forward to our doors opening in September and meeting Edinburgh’s current and new residents”.
The Resident Edinburgh has seen the redevelopment of a 1960’s building, repurposing the former 1963 HM Revenue and Customs office for a use for at least the next 60 years. An innovative glass recycling solution by Arup is a first in a hotel project in the UK; 10 tonnes of glass from the building’s façade were returned to glass manufacturer, NSG Pilkington, which resulted in savings of 12 tonnes of virgin raw materials and more than 5 tonnes of CO2 emissions were avoided during new glass manufacture.
The hotel will open from the 1st September 2024, and reservations can be made directly on the hotel’s website. By becoming a member, guests can enjoy 15% off booking and other benefits. Sign up in one simple step by visiting: https://www.residenthotels.com/registration/.
The Resident Edinburgh joins five existing The Resident properties located in prime locations in London and Liverpool, with planning permission approved for The Resident Farringdon, London. The Resident Covent Garden and The Resident Liverpool have both been ranked as #1 in their respective cities on Tripadvisor, cementing the fact that the brand has guest experience at its heart and will be bringing this elevated offering to Scotland.
Stay updated with The Resident news on Instagram @resident.hotels and on Facebook @ResidentHotels.
Average prices start from £269 per room.
FIRST PERFORMANCE FROM BEMZ NOW LIVE
Tremolo Virtual Concert Series Schedule
Out now – Bemz – Stream
26th July – Kathryn Joseph
9th August – VLURE
16th August – Lizzie Reid
30th August – Fergus McCreadie
6th September – SILVI
20th September – Hamish Hawk
27th September – Anna B Savage
The Usher Hall in Edinburgh is delighted to announce a series of eight breathtaking, intimate performance films recorded throughout Scotland’s only 5 star concert hall.
With a dynamic and diverse lineup traversing genres including indie, folk, pop and hip-hop set to drop over the coming two months, kicking off the series today is Glasgow based rapper Bemz, streaming exclusively on The Usher Hall’s YouTube channel here.
The mini concerts will feature Bemz, Hamish Hawk, Kathryn Joseph, Lizzie Reid, SILVI, Fergus McCreadie, Anna B Savage and VLURE performing from hidden corners of the beautiful venue, giving viewers access to spaces that have never witnessed a live performance before.
Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener, comments: “It is a huge joy to launch Tremolo, which will give Scotland’s most exciting talent the chance to perform and showcase work in the same venue where so many legendary musicians have played, such as Adele, The Killers and Paloma Faith.
“The series is a fantastic opportunity to show the Usher Hall in a fresh light. Our new digital programme is eclectic and dynamic with artists spanning a wide range of genres, from folk and jazz to rap and indie. I’d like to thank Creative Scotland and all other partners who have contributed to this project.
“We’re confident that this fantastic new project will leave the audiences of Edinburgh and beyond coming back for more!”
Bemz, is one of several artists helping to further establish Scotland as a bona fide hotbed for Black music, while also proving that rap’s cultural reach stretches way beyond London and the English borders. Bemz’ strengths lie in the honesty within his music.
Indie folk singer-songwriter Kathryn Joseph transports listeners with beguiling soundscapes of piano, harmonium and voice; a visceral, often melancholy blend of poetry and wistful refrains, conjuring up cinematic visions of Scottish landscapes and raw emotions.
Rule breaking Glasgow five piece VLURE blur the lines between live electronics, jarring guitars and the performance sensibilities of their post-punk contemporaries. Synth laden hooks and heavy club influenced rhythms find their way twisting around emotionally confronting lyrics.
Lizzie Reid is one of Scotland’s most promising talents. An emotionally raw songwriter, Reid’s songs explore themes of love, loss, identity and modern life, drawing comparisons to contemporaries like Laura Marling, Angel Olsen and Julia Jacklin.
Parliamentary and Scottish Jazz Awards Album of the Year winner Fergus McCreadie is a composer of elegant, nuanced, and captivating Jazz music as well as a pianist and improviser of exceptional ability and originality.
SILVI‘s music could easily be filed alongside Lana Del Rey’s epic approach to songwriting but also the brooding style of Two Feet or Bishop Briggs. Her incredible single “Burning” was crowned ‘Song Of The Year’ at the Weekender Awards last year.
Edinburgh singer-songwriter Hamish Hawk, twice nominated for the Scottish Album of the Year Award, creates musical portraits as vivid in lyric as they are in melody. His music is packed with characters, incident, emotion, and tunes to hang your coat on.
Vulnerability and curiosity have consistently been operative words to describe Anna B Savage’s work and on her second album, in|FLUX, she ruminates on the complexities and variables of humanity, the pain or pleasure of love, loss and earthly connection, capturing it all in devastating, elating and powerful ways.
Tremolo isn’t just a series of concerts; it’s a statement of support for artists, a celebration of the Usher Hall, and a dynamic addition to Edinburgh’s cultural calendar.
Viewers are sure to discover their favourite new artists in an iconic venue without even having to leave the house!
An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location
National Galleries of Scotland exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy building
20 July–27 October 2024
Admission £5 – £19
An Irish Impressionist | Lavery on Location | National Galleries of Scotland
Indulge your wanderlust at the National Galleries of Scotland’s summer exhibition, An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location, opening this Saturday (20 July) at the Royal Scottish Academy building in Edinburgh.
Dip your toes in the sun, sea and society of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, viewed through over 90 works by renowned Glasgow Boy, Sir John Lavery. Lavery on Location brings together an array of the Irish impressionists most notable paintings, including many works not usually seen by the public and nearly 20 paintings exclusively on display in Edinburgh.
Tickets are on sale now Book tickets | National Galleries of Scotland.
Take a trip through the extraordinary life of the Belfast-born artist, Lavery (1856-1941), from Scotland to New York via Paris and Morocco. Lavery never travelled without his painting kit, and An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location explores some of the locations he visited and was inspired to paint.
Move through the exhibition to experience the glamour of a lost era, with visits to the races, tennis matches and the golf course, or simply relaxing on warm days with Lavery’s family and friends.
See sumptuous portraits, impressionistic landscapes and idyllic scenes of leisure against a backdrop of Tangier, St Jean de Luz, Palm Springs and the Venice Lido. Be whisked away to Switzerland, Spain, Ireland and Italy, as well as to cities such as Glasgow, Seville, Monte Carlo and New York.
Indulge in beautiful seascapes of Tangier from the Ulster Museum, as well as spectacular portraits such as Idonia in Morocco from Glasgow Museums and Hazel in Black and Gold from the Laing Art Gallery.
From the highly finished to the swift impressionist sketch and a uniquely personal style, the range of subjects on show is staggering.
Born in Belfast, where his father ran a small wine and spirits shop in North Queen Street, Lavery was orphaned at the age of three, and moved to his uncle’s farm at Moira before being sent as a ten-year-old to a distant relative in Saltcoats, Ayrshire. He first ran away to Glasgow at the age of 15 and went on to take early morning and evening drawing lessons at the Haldane Academy, completing his training at the Académie Julian in Paris.
Along with a number of his fellow Scottish students Lavery worked at the colony of Grez-sur-Loing, near Fontainebleau, which will be the focus of the first room of An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location. Then, back in Scotland in 1885 he became one of the leaders of the much-loved group of artists known as the Glasgow Boys. The Glasgow Boys rebelled against the stuffy Edinburgh-based art establishment and challenged the Academy’s emphasis on historical painting. Instead, their subjects were drawn from everyday life, often painted outdoors.
Lavery quickly attained an international reputation in his early 30s when he received a gold medal at the Paris Salon, the most prestigious art exhibition in the world at the time. Enjoying great success after his move to London in 1896, Lavery combined his talents as a portrait painter with an interest in contemporary events and was later knighted in 1918.
As his style developed Lavery began to share some of the principal tenets of Impressionism. The movement was developed in France in the nineteenth century and is based on the practice of painting outdoors and on the spot. Using lively brushstrokes, these artists often produced works of art rapidly in a single sitting. Like Lavery, the Impressionists were interested in capturing the changing effects of light, frequently exploring this through landscape scenes painted in the open air.
With seven themed rooms, An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location will allow visitors to immerse themselves in Lavery’s oil sketches for the Glasgow International Exhibition of 1888, where he had his big break and was commissioned to paint the State Visit of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria.
Journey through Lavery’s travels in North Africa, with mesmerising paintings of snake charmers and camps on his adventures to Fez. For over twenty years, his villa in Tangier, surrounded by beautiful gardens, would become a winter retreat.
Then experience Lavery’s time as an Official War Artist with scenes in hospitals, submarine pens and air raids during World War I. In the final room you can experience the luxurious lifestyle of post-war society, including visiting the Henley Regatta and racing at Ascot.
Lavery experienced enormous social, political and technological change during his lifetime, yet, despite his travels and worldly experience, Lavery’s connections to home – to Scotland and Ireland – remained strong throughout his long career.
Senior Curator Prof. Frances Fowle said: ‘Lavery was a versatile painter who was equally at home in Scotland, North Africa and the French Riviera. “His paintings offer, on the one hand, a nostalgic glimpse of a bygone era and, on the other, a modern world of sunshine and leisure.
“Technically he was a true impressionist, intent on capturing a particular moment or atmospheric effect – perhaps night falling on Tangier, or early morning light, dancing on the crest of a wave.”
Guest Curator Kenneth McConkey said: ‘In a career that spanned over sixty years, Lavery’s output was immense. He saw carthorses become ‘horse-power’, windjammers transform into steamers, and flying machines reborn as air liners.
“Against a backdrop of immense social and political change, in the land of his birth, he witnessed the first cracks in the British Imperial entablature. Visual reporting skills, perfected in Scotland, took him to extraordinary situations and while his works develop in fascinating ways, their basic premises – setting down what was before him – remained constant.
“The same remarkable hand that brought us a Dutch Cocoa House in 1888 takes us to a tea-table in Palm Springs in 1938.”
This exhibition is organised by the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, in collaboration with National Museums NI and the National Galleries of Scotland.
For more information and to buy tickets visit An Irish Impressionist | Lavery on Location | National Galleries of Scotland.
Around 7.50pm on Wednesday, 17 July, 2024, police officers observed a stolen vehicle being driven in the West Port area.
It failed to stop, and a short pursuit took place on Lady Lawson Street towards Lothian Road where it was cancelled for safety reasons.
Shortly afterwards, the same vehicle then struck a female pedestrian on Princes Street, before continuing onto South Saint David Street where it crashed into another vehicle.
A 17-year-old male was arrested on Market Street by officers following a short foot chase. He has been charged in connection with road traffic offences and released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date.
Emergency services attended, and the female pedestrian was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment to minor injuries. The driver of the other vehicle wasn’t injured.
One lane of Princes Street was closed near the Scott Monument for around three hours as enquiries were carried out, which caused some disruption to public transport.
Police would like to thank members of the public who assisted officers in tracing the male.
InterContinental Edinburgh The George Hotel has unveiled a commissioned artwork in celebration of one of the city’s great literary figures, Susan Ferrier, on the bicentenary of her novel The Inheritance.
The initiative, in collaboration with Edinburgh College of Art (ECA), the University of Edinburgh has culminated in a beautiful piece that will be permanently displayed in the new Ferrier Suite at InterContinental Edinburgh The George Hotel.““
Following a competitive selection process involving numerous talented students from ECA, Ella Williams’ standout piece entitled ‘Studies from Ferrier’s The Inheritance’ was chosen as the winning entry. The piece stood out for its creativity, depth and heartfelt homage to Susan Ferrier’s ‘The Inheritance’ and its contribution to Scottish literature, 200 years after being first published.
The work by Ella Williams, a third-year Fine Art student, features a collection of smaller narrative paintings that portray key elements and scenes from the novel, focusing on Ferrier’s critique of marriage in the novel.
Her work laid bare the realities of the marriage market or the alternative of being an unwed women in 1824, the year of its publication.
The paintings also reference Ferrier’s connection to Edinburgh, specifically the InterContinental Edinburgh The George Hotel townhouse itself, where she once lived. The collected images seek to imply a narrative while remaining ambiguous to inspire curiosity amongst its audience about Ferrier’s work.
Williams’ intention was to illustrate the novel’s protagonist, Getrude St. Clair, and her journey largely through symbolism, representing the strong female character navigating the constraints of the period setting. Leaning into aspects of romantic imagery, Williams was intrigued by Ferrier’s use of the romance genre as a subversive means to comment on the position of women in society.
Williams explained: “Several of the paintings illustrate key settings within the novel, while others represent Gertrude’s journey of self-discovery in pursuit of a suitor that is her equal, symbolised by the clasping of hands and elements of romantic imagery such as roses.”
The figurative paintings are framed to exclude the faces of each subject, avoiding too literal an interpretation of the characters and allowing the viewers imagination to take precedence, deciding if Ferrier or Gertrude in the subject.
Williams continued: “I sought to nod to Ferrier’s residency in the building portraying elements of the hotel that would be recognisable to guests such as Ferrier looking out the window of the suite and a tea set that matches those available to guests.
“I’m delighted to have won this art project and can’t wait to see my piece displayed within the hotel and being enjoyed by visitors to the city.”
Jonathan Dawson, General Manager at InterContinental Edinburgh The George Hotel, said: “We are thrilled to showcase Ella Williams’ stunning piece within the hotel.
“Her work not only honours Susan Ferrier’s literary achievements but adds another piece to our already rich cultural heritage. This partnership with Edinburgh College of Art has been incredibly rewarding, and we looking forward to seeing how Ella’s work will inspire our guests.”
Susan Mowatt, Head of Art, Edinburgh College of Art, said: “Ella Williams’ artwork is a testament to the talent and creativity nurtured at our institution. We are proud to support initiatives that connect our students with the community and celebrate our city’s historical figures.”
As well as becoming part of the hotel’s heritage, Williams also received a purchase price of £3,500 for her artwork, an overnight stay in the Ferrier Suite and dinner in the hotel’s restaurant Le Petit Beefbar.
Artistic runners up from ECA include Chengyi Xu Xu and Amy Sema who each won an overnight stay and dinner in Le Petit Beefbar.
‘Studies from Ferrier’s The Inheritance’ will be displayed in InterContinental Edinburgh The George’s Club InterContinental lounge over the summer, before being put on permanent display in the hotel’s Ferrier Suite in celebration of the author’s unique connection to the hotel.
The city council has released the first Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) figures since the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) came into force in Edinburgh.
A LEZ was introduced in Edinburgh on 31 May 2022, along with LEZs in Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee, restricting the most polluting vehicles and benefiting everyone’s health.
In Edinburgh, a two-year grace period was in place, meaning no penalty charges were issued during this time, with enforcement beginning on 1 June 2024.
The figures released yesterday showed 6,030 PCN fines have been issued for the month of June 2024. This is broken down as: 5,756 level 1 penalties (first contravention) and 274 level 2 penalties (second contravention). There were no penalties issued for further levels.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Scott Arthur said: “Whilst our objective is to ultimately see zero non-compliant vehicles enter our LEZ, I’m conscious that this is a process which will take time to fully materialise.
“I was encouraged to see the relatively low level of second contraventions in the figures alongside none for further levels. This shows clearly that people are getting used to the LEZ and modifying their transport habits accordingly.
“We’ve already seen that public attitudes towards LEZs are improving across Scotland, with a national poll earlier this year indicating that 60% of respondents were in favour of the zones, with just 21% opposed. This is clear evidence that people are seeing the many benefits of LEZs, and how they link in with our wider aims to make our city cleaner, greener and healthier for everyone.
“I’d also reiterate that any revenue that we generate from the LEZ will be reinvested into the running of the zone, with any surplus funds supporting the LEZ’s wider goals.
“These ambitious goals include achieving net zero, accommodating sustainable growth, cutting congestion, and improving air quality, amongst other commitments to create a safer and more people-friendly city. Edinburgh is a city with big ideas for the future and the LEZ forms a key part of these.”
The revenue generated from LEZ fines won’t be used to repair Edinburgh’s broken roads and pavements, however.
All revenue generated from PCNs contribute towards running the LEZ. Any surplus revenue may only be used to support LEZ objectives, which are primarily to reduce harmful emissions from transport and encourage sustainable travel.
The LEZ also forms part of the city’s wider ambitions under our 2030 Climate Strategy and other initiatives such as the City Mobility Plan and the 2050 Edinburgh City Vision.
It is anticipated that the LEZ will significantly reduce harmful emissions of nitrogen dioxide from vehicles. This will improve public health.
A map of the LEZ is available on the Council’s website.
Walking like a Tortoise, a mixed media, walking art exhibition
Edinburgh Central Library, 7 – 9 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EG. Foyer and Display Case on Main Stairs
1 August – 30 September
(10am – 8pm Monday to Wednesday; 10am – 5pm Thursday to Saturday)
‘Walking like a Tortoise’ is a range of art work based on a series of walks around Granton on the northern edge of Scotland’s capital city.
Using maps of the area from 1870 to the present day, Tamsin Grainger skirted the urban and coastal landscapes of Granton, looking into hidden corners, seeing from unlikely angles and meeting those who live and work there.
Through photography, words, video, textiles and found materials, she asks how the act of slow walking can develop a sense of belonging somewhere, and how mindful noticing of the area on foot, promotes appreciation of and connection to what is home.
Tamsin’s been walking around Granton for 14 years now, alone and with other members of the community, and has become interested in the alterations that people and the climate have wrought.
Although places transform all the time, the built-up environment and natural spaces of Granton have recently been changing at an exceptionally rapid pace and still are: the harbour is now a no-go area; streets and stations have been given new names and functions; and views have disappeared.
Slowly wandering the boundary and making artwork has stimulated a deeper understanding of local history and heritage, but how much of this will soon have vanished? Is Granton disappearing and being replaced by the Edinburgh Waterfront?
By visiting the exhibition, you are invited to consider: ‘What are the invisible boundaries which define us?’ ‘What happens if the exact edges of our living space change? Is it important to you that things stay the same or do you welcome transformation?’ ‘Do you feel part of the decision-making processes which precipitate such changes?’ and, ‘Is there a link between a sense of who you are and feeling that you belong somewhere?’
Tamsin Grainger is a walking artist who has lived in Granton for 15 years and has extensive experience in the Community Arts in Edinburgh.
She was Dance Artist in Residence for the City of Edinburgh, and is currently the Granton Waterfront Heritage Programme Development Worker.
This exhibition was first shown at the Granton:hub in 2023.
YESTERDAY saw the start of the Sprint World Orienteering Championships in Edinburgh. Under blue skies the GB team took on the individual sprint in a race involving over 45 competitors and finishing in Princes St Gardens
Linlithgow’s Grace Molloy competed in the women’s race – results here.
Often thought of as a countryside sport, the Sprint World Orienteering Championships (www.woc2024.org), is being staged in the intricate urban terrain Edinburgh has to offer, with the capital’s iconic landmarks providing the perfect backdrop for the elite courses.
They run from 12th to 16th July 2024.
The event is yet another opportunity for the public to watch elite sport in the capital – but this time for free.
Fans will be able to watch the world’s best orienteering athletes tackle challenging routes which weave through the city’s historical and cultural attractions while enjoying a fun day out with the family.
There are free family activities are on offer throughout the week, including orienteering mazes, fun races and all the action on live screens.
The orienteering maze and big screen featured in Princes Street Gardens yesterday (Friday 12 July), followed by fun races for kids and adults alike at The Meadows, as well as another orienteering maze, from today (Saturday 13 July) until Monday 15 July.
The five-day orienteering festival also features amateur races for all ages and levels, with competitors as young as 10 and some in their 80s. The ‘WOC Tour’ will allow competitors, from those relatively new to the sport up to experienced recreational athletes, to experience the best of urban orienteering.
The first elite races were the Individual Sprint taking place in Leith on the morning of Friday 12th July, with finals in the afternoon finishing in Princes Street Gardens.
The action continues on Sunday 14th July at Heriot Watt University with the Team Sprint Relay. On Tuesday 16th July the Knockout Sprint qualifications take place at Wester Hailes with the finals finishing on St John Street in Central Edinburgh.
Find out more about WOC 2024 and the WOC Tour.
WOC 2024 will be broadcast on Eurovision Sport (www.eurovisionsport.com), the European Broadcasting Union (IBU)’s new free streaming platform and on the IOF YouTube channel.
