Granton pupils bring 30 years of Capital’s heritage to life

Granton Primary School children using the 30th anniversary of the Old and News Towns World Heritage Site in Edinburgh as inspiration to create an exhibition to help mark this important milestone.

The children’s artwork will be displayed in a special exhibition for residents and visitors to view in the Museum of Edinburgh later this year to celebrate three decades since the Site was inscribed by UNESCO in 1995.

The class of primary four pupils are working with local artist Stephanie Walker on their ‘Imagine if…’ project to help the children put together artwork using the Old Town to help spark excitement and curiosity for the world around us. The aim of the project is to create a connection and a sense of wonder for the valuable heritage Edinburgh is so famous for.

 Local artist Stepanie Walker said: “The project has been designed to guide the children through a series of art sessions to help them imagine and create their final piece to display on canvas.

 “Before our visit to the World Heritage Site we explored what we know about Edinburgh. The children brainstormed and shared ideas about famous buildings and drew them to create a class exhibition.

 “We visited the Museum of Edinburgh on the Royal Mile and learnt about why the city has a World Heritage Site, explored artefacts in the museum and shared what we had discovered.

 “We visited the Site twice walking around the cobbled streets and narrow closes in and around the Royal Mile. The children looked carefully at the old buildings, monuments and skylines as well as all the nature we found in the historic area. We visited the Canongate Kirk, and I encouraged the children to imagine what the people who lived there long ago were like.

 “The pupils then made sketches and used water colours to create paintings of their favourite scenes, buildings and objects to use as reference material for the final piece they will put together back in the classroom.”

 Cllr Joan Griffiths Planning Convener said:This project is both creative and educational as it allows pupils from a different area of the city to use art to help bring to life different aspects of the World Heritage Site such as the buildings and skylines that they find inspirational.

“It’s wonderful to see the work they have produced and I’m very much looking forward to the final exhibition in the Museum of Edinburgh later this year. It’s important that we teach children the value of preserving our World Heritage Site for future generations to come.

“I’m hoping this class of primary four pupils will remember the project in years to come holding onto what they’ve learned about what’s special about the history of their city and will pass this on.”

Photography enthusiasts are also being encouraged to enter a competition to celebrate the 30 years milestone running until October

Entries will be grouped into twelve categories, each celebrating a particular value of Scotland’s capital city. The winning photograph in each category will become part of a year-long calendar, which will be sold on Historic Scotland sites and at Edinburgh World Heritage events to raise money for the Trust.

The over-all winner will take pride of place on the front cover of the calendar and will receive a one-year membership for Historic Scotland, who run top-rated visitor attractions all over the country.

Photography competition to kick off 30th birthday celebrations for Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site

Residents and visitors are invited to enter a photography competition, launched to celebrate Edinburgh’s 30 years on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The competition is being run by the partners who look after the site: Edinburgh World Heritage (EWH), Historic Environment Scotland (HES), and the City of Edinburgh Council.

Entries will be grouped into twelve categories, each celebrating a particular value of Scotland’s capital city. The winning photograph in each category will become part of a year-long calendar, which will be sold on Historic Scotland sites and at Edinburgh World Heritage events to raise money for the Trust.

The over-all winner will take price of place on the front cover of the calendar and will receive a one-year membership for Historic Scotland, who run top-rated visitor attractions all over the country.

The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh were first inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995, where they were recognised as one of the most extraordinary urban landscapes in the world. With its division into Old and New Town, Edinburgh is a remarkable example of urban growth, showcasing two distinct but equally significant styles of city planning.

Photography enthusiasts will have until October 2026 to submit their work showcasing Edinburgh in all its glory across the seasons. The competition is open to both amateur and professional photographers, using any camera or device.

The entries will be judged by Tom Duffin, a professional photographer who specialises in showcasing Edinburgh’s heritage; Neil Hanna, a multi-award-winning photographer with over 35 years of experience; and Jane Bradley, celebrated Arts and Culture Correspondent at the Scotsman.

Terry Levinthal, Director of Edinburgh World Heritage, said: “Edinburgh is a city of matchless qualities.  It is a city of contrasts; of distant prospects and intimate details; a city of old and new; a place to be admired and be lived in.  

“These very picturesque qualities make it the perfect subject for photography.  To mark 30 years since inscription, we hope that everyone will be inspired to share their favourite views, details, buildings and places with us, so that we can share them with others.”

James Bruhn, Head of World Heritage and Heritage Policy at HES, said: “When a place is inscribed on the World Heritage List, that is by no means the end of the story.

“Edinburgh is a living, breathing place, and we are excited to support this competition and give local photographers the chance to capture Edinburgh’s unique beauty and win a membership to visit historic sites across the country.”

Cllr Joan Griffiths Planning Convener said: “I’d encourage everyone with an interest in photography to help us celebrate this significant milestone for the Old and New Towns World Heritage Site by entering the competition for a chance to be part of this exciting calendar.  I’m really looking forward to seeing the results.

“It’s a huge accolade to hold World Heritage Status and it’s extra challenging for a living, breathing city. We look after the Site with our partners and it’s important to us to make sure our residents from across the city feel a sense of ownership and belonging to the Site.

“The competition and resulting calendar is a great opportunity for people to reflect on what the Site means for them through their art as well as what they find special or feel proud of in this internationally renowned part of the Capital.”

The twelve categories for which applicants can submit their photographs are:

  1. Medieval Old Town
  2. Neo-classical New Town
  3. Gardens and open spaces
  4. Urban planning/street layout
  5. Topography and skyline
  6. Public and commercial monuments
  7. Conservation
  8. Layering of heritage
  9. Architectural detail
  10. Graveyards
  11. Juxtaposition
  12. The Living City

To learn more about the competition and prepare to take the perfect shot, visit this document.

Unearthed Edinburgh photo competition

CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS!

Edinburgh Libraries have launched a photography competition celebrating gardening and the city’s parks, gardens and green spaces.

The ‘Unearthed Edinburgh’ theme recognises both the city’s wonderful green spaces and gardening as forces for creativity, resilience and connection. We welcome photos which celebrate any green space in the city, from the Meadows to your window box!

The competition is free to enter and open to all.

All entries must be submitted via Edinburgh Collected (www.edinburghcollected.org) where they will become part of a community archive of Edinburgh memories.

Tell us in the accompanying description what makes the picture special to you and remember to add the tag “unearthed”. Entries will be judged on both their photographic merit and on the accompanying text.

There are fantastic prizes to be won! Enter for a chance to win:

1st prize – £100 book token

2nd prize – £50 book token

3rd prize – £25 book token.

The competition runs until 31 July 2025.

Make sure to read the Unearthed Edinburgh competition guidelines and terms and conditions – https://zurl.co/BvAtt – or if you have any queries, contact informationdigital@edinburgh.gov.uk

This competition is part of a wider project in collaboration with the British Library and the Living Knowledge Network of libraries on the theme of Unearthed: The Power of Gardening.

‘Hidden in Plain Sight’: Moderator launches photo competition

Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, has launched a photo competition – ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ – with both children and adults alike invited to send in their photographs showing the Cross in our everyday surroundings.

The winner in each category will be awarded a gift to the charity of their choice.

Dr Fair, who has spent his year as Moderator reaching out to congregations and churches online due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is keen to show that the Cross is an ever-present support in our lives, particularly during difficult times such as these.

“As we head towards Easter, the Cross will come ever more into view – the central symbol of the Christian faith,” Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair said.

“Generally speaking, we find Crosses set within church buildings or worn as jewellery. But, when we open our eyes to the possibility, we can begin to see images of the Cross all around us – in both nature and the built environment.

“Your challenge, should you choose to accept it: find a Cross that is ‘hidden in plain sight’ and using your camera, or your phone, take a photograph of it.

“Perhaps it will be two branches on a tree which form a Cross shape. Perhaps you’ll see a Cross in a section of wrought-iron fencing. Maybe you’ll see it in a set of road markings or in a random piece of graffiti?

“The only limit is your imagination. Open your eyes and you’ll see that the Cross is all around you.”

How to take part

To submit your entry for the photography competition, please email MediaRelations@churchofscotland.org.uk, attaching your photograph(s) as well as your name and which category you are in:

  1. Primary school age
  2. Secondary school age
  3. 18+

The rules are very simple:

  • The photograph must be one that you’ve taken yourself.
  • You must take the photograph within your own community and must observe all Covid-related restrictions when doing so.
  • Each entrant can submit up to three photographs.
  • Images can be taken either on cameras or smartphones and must be submitted by email. Please note, we unfortunately are unable to accept photographs submitted via post at this time.

The competition will run for one month – from Wednesday 17 February (the start of Lent) until Wednesday 17 March. All submissions must be received by the closing date.

All entries will be featured in a special photo gallery on the website.

The Moderator will head a judging panel and the winners in each category will be announced in the lead up to Easter Sunday, with a gift to the charity of the winner’s choice being awarded in each category.

The winning entries will be displayed across the Church of Scotland’s social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and in a special photo gallery on the website.

Let the fun begin. Get snapping!

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Edinburgh man wins global photography competition

Mike Glendinning, 44, from Gilmerton, has been named the overall winner of the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s annual photography competition for 2018.  Continue reading Edinburgh man wins global photography competition

CAN YOU CAPTURE EDINBURGH IN A SINGLE CLICK?

CITY ART CENTRE PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

edinburgh image

The City of Edinburgh Council is searching for six striking shots of the Capital to sit alongside some of the greatest artworks in the Council’s collection. Photographers with a keen eye for the Capital are being invited to ‘Capture Edinburgh’ for the chance to see their work displayed in a major new exhibition at the City Art Centre next year. Continue reading CAN YOU CAPTURE EDINBURGH IN A SINGLE CLICK?