Tag: Edinburgh Mela

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

Lottery funding for Edinburgh Mela

A Special Olympic Games in Stirling, storytelling workshops for visually impaired people in Glasgow and a cultural festival in Edinburgh are amongst a range of events set to go ahead thanks to a National Lottery boost of £767k announced today. 

The funding comes from National Lottery Awards for All Scotland which makes grants from £300 to £10,000 to voluntary and community groups across the country.  

Among the projects funded today:  

  • Special Olympics Scotland will stage a 50th anniversary games at Stirling University thanks to an award of £9,000.  In August this year over 1,000 athletes with additional support needs will come together from across Great Britain and Europe to take part in a range of sports from badminton to cycling and table tennis. Over 500 local volunteers will be recruited to help deliver the Games.
  • Based in Glasgow, Terra Incognita, will run a project for adults who are visually impaired which will explore the city’s history and culture.  The award of £6,000 means they can deliver a series of workshops which will explore the theme of storytelling.  Tutors will support people to create their own artworks which will be exhibited to their friends, families and the wider public at the end of the project.
  • The Edinburgh Mela Limited will use its £10,000 award to organise this year’s event.  The week-long festival, which has been running for 22 years and brings together local and international groups, is a celebration promoting arts, food, sport and culture.

An Awards for All spokesperson said: “Today we are announcing over £767,000 that will help communities across Scotland to set up and develop projects run for and by local people.

“What is clear is that the smallest amount of funding can often make the biggest difference to people’s lives. All of these grants are a great way to show the variety of projects that can be funded through National Lottery Awards for All.”  

National Lottery Awards for All Scotland is now more straightforward to apply to and faster to get funding from. Applications are received on a rolling basis and can be received at any time.

To find out what National Lottery Awards for All Scotland could do for your community telephone 0300 123 7110 or visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/awardsforallscotland 

Fire safety message taken to Edinburgh Mela

Thousands see fire safety displays at city music and dance festival

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City firefighters joined revellers at the Edinburgh Mela over the weekend to raise awareness of the support available to help the public prevent fires and the tragedies they cause.

Thousands of people enjoyed live music at Leith Links on Saturday and Sunday, making the annual festival an ideal opportunity for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) crews to share potentially life-saving information.

Watch Manager Steve Scott said: “Our community action teams and crews from Marionville and McDonald Road Fire stations had two great days of engagement with the public.

“We had more than 1,200 people visit the SFRS Mobile Museum and they loved getting dressed-up in fire kit and getting selfies. It’s popular with young and old alike but of course the main drive is making our communities safer.

“All these visitors saw displays that make you very aware of common hazards within the home as well as the steps you can take to prevent them causing a potentially devastating fire.”

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The SFRS crews offered free home fire safety visits, which involve local firefighters helping householders identify hazards and taking simple steps to address them.

With early warning known to be vital if a fire does happen, the SFRS crews also check smoke alarms are working and even provide and install the devices if they are found to be needed.

Free home fire safety visits are available from SFRS by calling the freephone number 0800 073 1999, by texting ‘FIRE’ to 80800 or by filling in an online form at www.firescotland.gov.uk.

Watch Manager Scott added: “We would much rather take 20 minutes to help someone stay safe than attend a fire that could have been prevented.

“Fire in the home is devastating. Even where no-one is seriously hurt, the loss of cherished possessions, the financial impact and the emotional trauma can all be horrific for those involved.

“We want to hear from anyone who thinks they or someone they know could benefit from some friendly, expert advice and support from their local crews.”

Pictures: Edinburgh Mela

 

Leith’s going Bollywood!

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The Edinburgh Mela launched its 2015 programme yesterday at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Dalmeny Street.

Launching the event, Cabinet Secretary for Culture Fiona Hyslop MSP said: “The Edinburgh Mela is a major highlight in Scotland’s vibrant festivals calendar, uniting people from all backgrounds and beliefs to participate in diverse cultural and creative activities.

“Through the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, the Scottish Government is proud to support the Mela to deliver world class performances, grow its international reputation and build engagement with local communities.

“The £80,000 we have awarded this year to support the Mela World Dance piece ‘Goddess’ and ‘A Bollywood Love Story’, a collaboration with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, will delight audiences both at home and abroad. This takes the total sum awarded to the Mela to more than £800,000 since the Expo Fund was set up in 2007.”

Shami Khan, Chair of Mela’s Board of Directors, added: “I am delighted to see the Edinburgh Mela continue to flourish and celebrate its success as Scotland’s largest festival of world music and dance inspired by South Asian culture.

“Every year audiences and performers from across the world flock to Leith Links for the Mela which is made possible by our team of dedicated staff, community groups, individuals and volunteers who make the festival such a fantastic event for all the people of this great city”.

Running on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August, Scotland’s largest celebration of world music and dance will celebrate its 21st edition in style with a packed programme of live music and dance across three stages, plus interactive family shows in the Mela Kidzone and the irresistible sights and smells of street food from around the world in the Global Food Village.

The diverse, internationally-reaching arts festival will see artists from across the globe entertain crowds of 30,000 locals and visitors in an unmissable two-day celebration at Leith Links.

World class headliners on the Main Stage

The 2015 Main Stage supported by Lebara Mobile is the heart of the Edinburgh Mela party, boasting crowd-pleasing live sets from some of the biggest names in world music today.

Saturday’s live highlights include superstars in the making Raxstar and Mumzy protégé turned electrifying break-out star Junai Kaden, plus extended performances from featured artists Ayrad, six talented multi-instrumentalists from Canada who navigate between Andalusian and Berber rhymes over reggae and Latin grooves with some awe-inspiring improvisational skills, and an intoxicating mix of African desert blues and Indian rhythms from two-time Juno Award winner Kiran Alhuwalia.

Saturday night then goes out with a bang with a show-stopping gig from Birmingham’s superstar bhangra producer and singer-songwriter Sukshinder Shinda.

Ease yourself into Sunday with Bengali singing sensation Suzana Ansar, young Pakistani Qawaali singers the Chishti Brothers, the inimitable Bollywood Brass Band, mixing up traditional brass band trombones and trumpets with Johnny Kalsi and members of the Dhol Foundation on dhol-drums, and British-Indian Asian Underground bhangra beats courtesy of Swami before the Main Stage climax, the spectacular Bollywood Love Story.

Bollywood glamour comes to Leith in A Bollywood Love Story

An unmissable Mela moment, the Main Stage will play host to the festival’s signature show Bollywood Love Story. Directed by Sanjoy Roy of Teamwork Arts the Edinburgh Mela’s ground-breaking collaboration with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and will see a cast of top Bollywood dance professionals from India perform alongside 40 talented local performers drawn from Edinburgh and Scotland’s diverse communities in a classic Bollywood tale of romance and adventure.

Having performed highlights of the show at Edinburgh Castle every night in August in front of a global audience of millions at the Tattoo, the company will come together to perform the dazzling full-length show which is set to be the defining moment of the 2015 Edinburgh Mela.

Breathtaking moves on the Mela World Dance Feste Stage

Dance remains a major part of the Edinburgh Mela, with the dedicated Mela World Dance Feste Stage showcasing the best contemporary and traditional dance talent from across the world over the two days.

The Mela continues to cement its reputation as a commissioning body for innovative new dance work with the premiere of its 2015 commission Goddess, an exploration of goddesses across global cultures and religions choreographed by Edinburgh’s Alan Greig.

There’s also the welcome return of Jenny and Ricardo Oria – stars of the hit 2013 Mela commission Star Crossed- bringing their own authentic Argentinian tango set to the Mela. Joining them on the World Dance Feste Stage are Quebec’s La Otra Orilla with Moi & Les Autres, a spirited re-invention of flamenco by charismatic choreographer and dancer Myriam Allard and singer Hedi Graja; the jaw-dropping Roadworks, a raucous, laugh-out-loud hip hop battle like no other as B-Boys take on BMX riders; the sensational winner of the South Asian category in this year’s ‘BBC Young Dancer Of The Year’ competition, Vidya Patel with a new interpretation of classic Kathak dance; infectious beats from Glasgow’s irrepressible Desi Bravehearts and South Asian-inspired dance with a contemporary narrative twist courtesy of Edinburgh’s own Dance Ihayami.

Catch the up-and-coming stars of the future on the new Awaz FM Mela Mix Stage.

New for 2015, the Edinburgh Mela is delighted to be working with Scotland’s top Asian Radio Station Awaz FM to host the first-ever Awaz FM Mela Mix Stage. The line-up boasts some of the finest up-and-coming acts from the world music scene. This is a rare chance to catch them in an intimate festival setting. The handpicked line-up of hotly tipped talent includes G-Town Desi, Krown, Edinburgh’s own Swaryatra, Northern-Exposure, Dangerman and traditional Polish music from Weilkopolska.

Families are invited to Go Bananas! In the Mela Kidzone, plus the best in food, fashion and shopping all on-site

One of the most family-friendly events in Edinburgh’s Festival calendar, children aged 12 and under come free to the festival and have their very own Mela Kidzone to explore. This year Mela audiences young and old are invited to Go Bananas! and enjoy a host of live performances, professionally led dance workshops, interactive craft sessions and other hands-on activities.

An absolute Edinburgh Mela favourite, the Global Food Village is a must-visit for keen foodies or anyone with a rumbling tum! Growing every year, it features delicious street food from around the world including sweet and savoury specialities from across Asia.

If you’re thirsty, don’t miss the beautifully decorated Kingfisher beer truck – an eye-catching photo opportunity which handily transforms into a bar serving ice cold pints of India’s No.1 beer.

Other returning favourites include the Mela Fashion Show as local models strut their stuff on the catwalk decked out in the latest in women’s, men’s and children’s fashions and the Mela Marketplace, the perfect place to browse and pick up beautiful handcrafts and stunning sari fabrics, plus friendly information on local charities and organisations.

Chris Purnell, Director of the Edinburgh Mela, said: “It gives me great pleasure to announce the Mela programme for 2015. The Mela brings together the highest quality performances from international stars of the world music and dance scene and home grown talent, in a pulsating celebratory mix of everything vital about our many rich and diverse cultures.

“Our commissioned work continues to enthral audiences drawn from all communities across the city and Scotland, and this year, that trajectory is maintained with some truly inspiring pieces. Together with a packed programme of artists and performances across three stages, representing a myriad of styles, I hope that everyone will take away a special moment of their own”.

 

Keen to make the festival as affordable as possible for all, Mela attendees are encouraged to buy the £4 Early Bird ticket, available until noon on Friday 28 August.

Tickets for this year’s Edinburgh Mela Festival are on sale now via www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk, on the Ticket Hotline 0131 226 0008 or pop in to the Edinburgh Fringe Box Office on the High Street. No booking fees are charged. After this time, tickets are £5 on the gate. Children aged 12 and under go free and children’s tickets can be pre-booked alongside your order.

Book online at www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk

Roll up, roll up: breakdance, circus and parkour project to launch in North Edinburgh

G Force, a breakdance, circus and parkour dance project, is to launch in North Edinburgh later this month giving the area’s young people the chance to participate in a six month project where they can train ans learn new skills with some of Scotland’s foremost performers and tutors.

The G Force Project has been developed by the Edinburgh Mela and Bright Night International and is supported by Cashback for Communities. The 16-25 year old participants will have the opportunity to join an intensive training programme culminating in a performance onstage at the Mela’s World Dance Feste tent , at the heart of the 2013 Edinburgh Mela programme. G Force will develop the young people’s skills and confidence, giving them the chance to work with some of the best dancers and performers in Scotland and enhancing their employability. Participants will be given opportunities to progress onto further learning, training and personal development, through existing connections to local organisations and practitioners.

Taster sessions are being held on four dates this month in partnership with North Edinburgh Arts Centre and Duncan Place Resource Centre. These are free of charge and are open to all those aged 16-25 with an interest in dance, acrobatics, parkour and circus.

G Force builds on the success of two key projects at the 2012 Edinburgh Mela: Bright Night International’s hiphop and parkour dance theatre piece 925 , which was creatively led and devised by leading Scottish hiphop artist Xena Gusthart of Xena Productions and commissioned by the Mela for their 2012 World Dance Feste; and The G Code Project, a seven-month collaboration between the Edinburgh Mela and North Edinburgh Arts Mela’s 2012 G Code Project, which offered diverse groups of young people the opportunity to develop their skills as music producers, hiphop artists, singers and rappers, and created a group which still meets and performs.

Free Taster Sessions Dates and Venues:

North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Road, EH4 4TZ

Tuesday 14th May 5pm to 8pm

Saturday 25th May 11am to 2pm

Duncan Place Resource Centre, 4 Duncan Place, Leith, EH6 8HW

Wednesday 15th May 5.30pm to 8.30pm

Wednesday 22nd May 5.30pm to 8.30pm

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For further information go to Bright Night International’s website at 
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/brightnightint

Mela’s G-Code crew launch album

Edinburgh Mela is based at North Edinburgh Arts Centre, and the organisation has been working with young people in North Edinburgh on various projects that were first performed at the Mela festival in September. The Mela’s G-Code project has been running on Thursday evenings, working with young local musicians on developing new music.

The G-Code project has flourished over the past few months with the young people taking part in a variety of performances including performing alongside Tinderbox Orchestra at the Dalai Lama’s World Peace event.

The participants also wrote and produced two tracks – ‘Inner Peace’ and ‘Journey’ – and the young musicians showcased their musical achievements at North Edinburgh Arts Centre last Friday where they hosted an album launch, music event and exhibition before being interviewed by young people from Muirhouse Youth Development Group.

For more information about the Mela G-Code project contact Angela on 0131 315 2151.