Tag: opening event

Where to Begin to light up the city

Only one week left before the Edinburgh International Festival’s spectacular Opening Event

  • Exclusive sneak peek of the stunning projections designed by Pinwheel and a legend of Scottish music announced as part of the event’s creative team.

Audiences are invited to ignite their festival season with Edinburgh International Festival’s Opening Event: Where to Begin, set to light up the grounds of George Heriot’s in the heart of the Scottish capital on 2, 3 and 4 August in response to this year’s Festival theme: Rituals That Unite Us.

Tickets are now available on Festival’s website.

Blending immersive installations, performance, spectacular video projections and captivating storytelling, Where to Begin is the perfect opening to the city’s festival season.

Released today are stills from the projections designed by UK’s leading creative production company, Pinwheel, giving the audiences a taster of the spectacular event they can expect.

It is also announced that “One of the finest singer-songwriters in Britain” (The Guardian), Karine Polwart features on a new track commissioned for Where to Begin, composed by Roma Yagnik with lyrics by Davey Anderson and Simon Sharkey. Listen to a snippet of the song here.

An Edinburgh International Festival production, created by Pinwheel and in partnership with The Macallan, Where to Begin transforms an iconic Edinburgh location into the epicentre of creative power, exploring the myths and rituals which shaped the country, the capital and its festivals.

These include the process of whisky making and the warm welcome visitors to the city received in 1947 thanks to the private donations of coal rations by Edinburgh residents which were used to light up Edinburgh Castle during the first ever Edinburgh International Festival.

World’s biggest cycling event gets underway

Scotland encouraged to celebrate the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships

Thousands of elite cyclists, including para-athletes, have arrived in Scotland to compete in the world’s biggest cycling event, as the competition is set to get underway in Glasgow.

Speaking ahead of the opening ceremony in George Square yesterday, First Minister Humza Yousaf has encouraged people to join in the fun by visiting fan zones, attending some of the free events or soaking up the atmosphere around the venues which will likely be gathering points for the thousands of local and international visitors that are expected.

Over the next 11 days, venues across the country will host 13 UCI cycling world championships, coming together for the first time to create the biggest cycling event in history. Plans have been put in place by key partners – including Transport Scotland, ScotRail and local authorities – to minimise disruption, however given the scale of the event, people, businesses and organisations are encouraged to plan ahead and consider travel plans to reduce the risk of delays.

The First Minister said: Scotland is proud to host the first ever UCI Cycling World Championships. Cyclists from around the world will be participating in one of the biggest and most exciting sporting events of the year. I’m delighted to welcome all the competitors and the many international visitors.

“The championships will highlight the beauty of Scotland’s landscapes and the vibrancy of our cities. Several of the events don’t require tickets and there will be free activities to enjoy.

“Checking travel arrangements in advance will help people make the most of what’s on offer.

“As events get underway, I would like to thank all the individuals and partner organisations who have helped prepare for them. I encourage as many people as possible to get involved and hope they will be inspired to cycle as a result.

“We are already delivering a range of community events and activities, and have improved infrastructure across the country through the Cycling Facilities Fund and the Community Cycling Fund.

“This is also a great opportunity to promote the broader benefits of active travel for us all which helps to reduce carbon emissions.” 

Paul Bush OBE, Chair, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships said: “I’m thrilled that after years of careful planning and partnership working, we are now ready to raise the curtain on this unique, first-of-its-kind mega event bringing 13 cycling championships to Scotland over 11 days of elite and amateur competition.

“The eyes of the world will be on us from the official Opening Ceremony in Glasgow’s George Square – featuring our very own KT Tunstall, along with a glittering array of local and international artists – and Scotland is ready to put on a show.

“The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will again showcase Scotland’s status as a world-class events destination and will also deliver a real and lasting impact for cycling in communities across the country.”

LOVE Gorgie Farm to reopen tomorrow

LOVE Gorgie Farm, formerly Gorgie City Farm, is set to reopen this Saturday with a huge celebration and range of family-friendly activities.

A number of local celebrities including Hearts and Hibs footballers, Edinburgh and Scotland rugby players, politicians and Council representatives will also be attending the festivities.

From 11am-3.30pm children (and even adults!) will get the chance to feed the animals on the farm, which include pigs, sheep and goats, and can even take some newly arrived  alpacas for a stroll.

There will also be face-painting and a henna tattooist on hand, as well as entertainment for all, including tombola, music, a photo booth and much more.

Education and social care charity, LOVE Learning, took over the site of the former Gorgie City Farm in January after it went into liquidation in November 2019.

LOVE Learning has also organised a community consultation event, from 12pm-2pm, where visitors can tell the new owners about their hopes for the future of the farm.

The Farm has been opened earlier than expected thanks to the assistance of hundreds of volunteers who assisted in the two weeks running up to the reopening.

After the site opens its doors to the public it will remain open seven days a week and will be free for visitors. LOVE Learning intends to keep using the site as a city farm as part of their portfolio of environmental projects.

In addition, LOVE Gorgie Farm provides educational services to children through animal and forest therapy. It also provides a range of professional apprenticeships and Scottish Qualifications Authority awarded qualifications, as well as looking to be involved in organising social prescribing and wellbeing therapies in partnership with the NHS in the future.

Lynn Bell, CEO of LOVE Learning said: “We are incredibly excited to be opening LOVE Gorgie Farm much earlier than we anticipated and we are hoping for a great turnout on Saturday.

“This will also provide the chance through our consultation exercise for the local community to provide its views on what people would like to see the farm used for in the future.

“I would like to thank the hundreds of volunteers who have given up their valuable time to help get the farm up and running earlier than anticipated. We could not have done it without their crucial role.

“Not only will the farm remain open seven days a week and remain free, but we will provide a range of exciting education, environmental and social care programmes supporting vulnerable individuals.”

Sandy McCall Smith, author of the No. 1 Detective Agency and 44 Scotland Street books, among others, said: “I am aware of the major role that Gorgie City Farm, now LOVE Gorgie Farm, plays in the local community.

“It is wonderful news that it has been rescued. It brings animals and the countryside into the lives of so many children, young people and adults, who might otherwise feel cut off from such things. Put simply, LOVE Gorgie Farm does a great deal of good.”

Mr McCall Smith has generously donated signed copies of his books for Saturday’s opening event.