You are invited to our exhibition …
Borja Prada – a retrospective
with photographs from Muirhouse Photography Group
Thursday 27 November 1.30 to 3.00 pm
Muirhouse Library
Tag: arts
Opportunities for children in local theatre project
Children to participate in 1d Tenement Opera
As you may know, we are developing a couple of street scenes in the 1d Tenement Opera which include young children. Altogether we need six children and some of you have already said that your children are interested in participating.
If anyone else has children who are interested in participating, please let me know by Friday 7th November.
The children will be required for the following rehearsals:
Saturday 8th November 12 noon – 2pm at North Edinburgh Arts
Saturday 15th November 12 noon – 2pm at North Edinburgh Arts
Saturday 29th November 12 noon – 2pm at North Edinburgh Arts
Saturday 6th December 12 noon – 2pm at North Edinburgh Arts.
The children will also be required for rehearsals from 2nd January – 17th January. Performances are on 15th, 16th & 17th January.
Please get in contact with me or Kate Wimpress, if you would like to discuss this further. People who have already expressed an interest – again, please confirm this to me by 7th November.
Visit to National Library of Scotland Monday 8 December
I have heard back from some of you, but if there is anyone else who should like to come, please let me know by 7th November.
Stephanie Knight, North Edinburgh Theatre Project
Autumn arts festival tackles mental health stigma
A national festival aiming to tackle the stigma of mental health launches across Edinburgh and the Lothians this weekend.
The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival aims to challenge preconceived ideas of mental health as well as celebrate the artistic achievements of those with lived experience of mental health issues.
More than 65 events will be taking place across Edinburgh and the Lothians exploring this year’s theme of personal, political and social power. The programme includes film, theatre, music, dance, photography, comedy, storytelling and guided walks, with many of the performances and activities free of charge.
The festival, which is celebrating its seventh year in Lothian, officially launched yesterday with Out of Sight/Out of Mind, an exhibition featuring work by artists with experience of mental health issues.
The exhibition, which is free, opens to the public at Summerhall, Edinburgh today and will also appear at Ocean Terminal, Central Library, Edinburgh University Chaplaincy Centre and Portobello Library throughout the month.
Linda Irvine, Strategic Programme Manager, Mental Health and Wellbeing, NHS Lothian, said: “One in four people in Scotland will experience mental health problems at some point in their life. We know the arts have the power to tackle the stigma associated with mental ill health and promote recovery.
“This year’s festival features a number of inspiring and provocative events, from hard-hitting theatre to family storytelling events and there really is something for everyone.”
Jane Crawford, Co-ordinator of The Consultation & Advocacy Promotion Service (CAPS), an independent advocacy organisation for people who use or have used mental health services, said: “The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival is a very powerful focus for people to convey their feelings and experiences of mental health in a creative way. Advocacy is all about giving people a voice and this can be done in many different ways – not just by speaking. Poetry, painting, sculpture, comedy, song all allow people to give expression to their experiences.”
Other highlights of the festival include:
- Voices of War at Edinburgh Castle, an evening of poetry and reflection exploring the pioneering work of World War I psychiatrist Captain WHR Rivers, Thursday 9th Oct, 7.30 – 9pm
- Lothians on Film is an exciting selection of short films made in and around the Lothians. The selection includes documentary, fiction, animation and film art and will be shown, for free, at various locations across Edinburgh and the Lothians from Thursday 2nd October to Friday 10th October.
- Resilience: Legislative Theatre is radical, participatory theatre giving power back to the people of Edinburgh. Audience members will be invited to propose, discuss and debate new ideas for legislation. The event is free and takes place on Saturday 11 October at Out of the Blue, Edinburgh from 3 to 9pm.
- The International Film Awards 2014 The annual film awards ceremony will honour the very best of the films submitted by filmmakers from all over the world. Expect to be moved and inspired by the stories shown in the excerpts. Thursday 16 October at the Filmhouse Cinema, Edinburgh
- The Wellbeing Mela is a free, fun, family day to celebrate diversity and promote positive mental health and wellbeing amongst Edinburgh’s varied minority ethnic communities. Music, dance, complementary therapies, relaxation workshops and lots more will be happening on Sunday 19 October at Out of the Blue, Edinburgh
The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation in association with the following national partners: the University of Strathclyde Glasgow, See Me, VOX Scotland, NHS Lothian, NHS Health Scotland, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire Recovery Network, Healthier Scotland, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Bipolar Scotland.
A full programme of events taking place in October is available at www.mhfestival.com
HEY! I’M ALIVE!
Arts group seeks funds for project to highlight cystic fibrosis
Creative Electric is a critically acclaimed, award-winning company who create contemporary performance based on real experiences. Often their work is interactive, sometimes its personal, at times its one to one.
Their work has been performed in both Scotland and Sweden, in theatres, studios, art galleries, nightclubs, on trains, in fields, city centre squares – and on rooftops! By creating work in non-traditional theatre spaces Creative Electric aim to engage with audiences who may not necessarily attend traditional arts venues.
Creative Electric are now trying to raise funds to support an exciting new project, as Director Heather Marshall explains:
“We are working with Arches Live to create HEY, I’M ALIVE! an immersive theatre experience that explores the impact that Cystic Fibrosis has on a young person and their family and friends. It’s a project that we’re really excited about as we feel that it raises awareness of the condition whilst also giving opportunities to emerging artists, including a young performer with CF.
“Because people with Cystic Fibrosis are not meant to socialise with one another (the risk of infection is too high) we are faced with the challenge of not being able to reach out to as many young people with CF as we would like. And so we’re hoping to live stream the production so that it can be shown to young people at home and in hospital. Jordan, our performer with CF feels that its important that other young people see that they’re not alone and hopes that HEY, I’M ALIVE! is a way to reach out to some of his peers throughout the UK and hopefully across the world.
“The costs of staging the production are mounting and so we’ve launched a crowd funding site to help pay for the live streaming, Jordan’s travel & support and childcare costs for one of our emerging artists who is also a young mum. We’ve attached further information about HEY, I’M ALIVE! in the hope that you may be able to support the project. This may be through a donation on our indiegogo page
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/hey-i-m-alive
or promoting the project via your social media -we’re using the hashtag #electricHIA.
“We’d love to be able to name you as one of our supporters and will make sure that you are mentioned in all press and marketing related to the production. If you require further information please contact me on Creative_electric@hotmail.com
The HEY, I’M ALIVE! team
and
Heather Marshall
Director, Creative Electric
Lecture celebrates the life of Scottish arts champion
Community council salutes arts legend
Edinburgh-born artist and colossus of the Scottish arts scene Professor Richard Demarco is giving a lecture at Edinburgh College this week at an event celebrating his contribution to cultural life. The Portobello Demarco Lecture on Thursday night (11 September) is being held by Portobello Community Council to honour one of the area’s most famous figures.
The free lecture will take place at the CRE:8 auditorium at Edinburgh College’s Milton Road Campus on Thursday at 7.30pm.
Edinburgh-born Demarco will talk about his remarkable life and achievements within the Scottish and international art worlds, of which he has been a crucial figure for more than 50 years.
Throughout this time, the 84-year-old Traverse Theatre co-founder has organised scores of plays, exhibitions and events, including a long-standing association with the Official Edinburgh Festival. His work has earned him a number of national and international honours. Earlier this year, Demarco was presented with the annual Edinburgh Award, which honours people who have made major contributions to the city. This followed his European Citizen of the Year 2013 Prize last August, given by the European Parliament for his exceptional achievements.
Professor Demarco said: “My lecture in Portobello will focus on how the history of art and science in the decades which followed the Second World War must consider the future of education so that art is not divorced from such a history.”
Jon Buglass, head of the Centre for Creative Industries at Edinburgh College, said: “We’re delighted to host the lecture and play our part in honouring one of our cultural greats, someone who has arguably done more to promote the arts in this country than anyone else in recent times.
“Professor Demarco is an inspirational figure whose influence on our country’s artists and the way that we present art is enormous. I’d urge our students and anyone else with an interest in arts to learn from his vision. Without his commitment to supporting our country’s talent our cultural landscape would be very different and far worse off.”
Geoff Lynn, chair of Portobello Community Council, said: “Portobello Community Council is delighted to be able to play host to such a venerated and colourful figure as Richard Demarco. His early life growing up in Portobello, his dedication to the artistic and cultural life of this city and beyond. It should be a great evening.”
The event is free but booking is essential. Tickets can be booked here.
Dare you enter … The Twilight Zone?
I’m writing to tell you about a programme at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery for after-school clubs and family groups called The Twilight Zone.
Get the gallery to yourselves after-hours or come at the weekends and enjoy fun, interactive tours or creative workshops. Visits are free of charge to community groups.
Read all about it here:
www.nationalgalleries.org/TwilightZone
Meg Faragher
Families and Communities Learning Co-ordinator
National Galleries of Scotland
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
1 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JD
Tel: 0131 624 6428
M: 07814751087
mfaragher@nationalgalleries.org
SEE: Film Academy Scotland Residential Completed!
Those guys at Screen Education Edinburgh have been busy! Click on link below to SEE for yourself …
Say what you see: Surveillance Gallery opens on Saturday
Take to the Streets at North Edinburgh Arts!
Surveillance Gallery is an exciting new exhibition space opening in Muirhouse. The outdoor gallery will occupy the public walkway outside North Edinburgh Arts and will exhibit a range of work from artists with connections to North Edinburgh – from local art groups to established photographers.
The works are to be pasted and painted directly onto the exterior walls, giving local artists a platform to showcase their work in a unique space. The Grand Opening is 1pm on Saturday 16th August.
Theatre Project meeting reminder
I hope you are having a lovely Summer!
This is just a wee reminder that there is an open meeting for everyone who is interested in participating in the amazing 1d Tenement Opera project, on
Thursday 14 August at 11am at North Edinburgh Arts.
I attach the flyer once again (below) and please forward this to everyone who you think will be interested. Looking forward to seeing you next week,
Stephanie Knight
Fringe first for North Edinburgh
The Fringe is back, with it’s eclectic mix of the good, the bad and the downright awful. Last year’s event offered enthusiasts no less than 45,464 performances of 2,871 shows, making it the largest ever arts festival in the world. This year’s could be even bigger – aficionados really are spoiled for choice.
It’s always a bit of a gamble, of course: you pay your money, you take your chances – but art-lovers in North Edinburgh have landed a major cultural coup. Internationally renowned artist Pierre Toblerone is exhibiting his latest collection on the streets of North Edinburgh – for free!
Toblerone is known by some as the French Banksy, and the unconventional young artist from the Left Bank has delighted critics with his bold use of everyday household items in major art installations. Never far from controversy, Toblerone – who changed his name in 2010 in a one-man protest against the exploitation of cocoa beans – steadfastly refuses to exhibit at major galleries and museums but instead brings his work ‘close to the people’.
Toblerone famously refuses to speak to the media – the reclusive artist now only communicates through the medium of artistic expression following some particularly harsh reviews – but his agent said: “Pierre believes that art has the power to move and that all art – if it is honest – must provoke and challenge. These major new works do all of these things. They provoke, they challenge – and I’m sure I saw one of them moving. And even if I didn’t, they will be moving soon”.
“The first creation The Way to the Sea (above) demonstrates the eternal battle of the elements, in this case fire and water, while Armageddon (top) portrays the futility of war. Pierre believes that this is his most complete exhibition to date: it has been nearly four years in the making but Toblerone lovers will appreciate the passion and attention to detail that goes into Pierre’s work.”
Guardian arts correspondent Guy Hyperbole gushed: “Toblerone is an artist very much in demand, and if he chose to exhibit at, say, The Tate Modern, the demand for tickets would be insatiable – art lovers just can’t get enough Toblerone. This latest exhibition by the enfant terrible of the arts movement has been much-anticipated and it was certainly worth the wait. Simply put, it is so powerful one feels almost violated.
“Art lovers simply must see this exciting exhibition before it moves on – it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get close to some truly inspirational work. The juxtapositions are incredibly brave and these installations are Pierre’s message to the world. Just what that message actually is is open to a bewildering range of interpretations, but if you see only one exhibition during the Festival, I urge you to see this – you will never experience primitive urban art in quite the same way again.”
Don’t miss it!
Pierre Toblerone: Les matresses d’amour. Free
