Article Source: Edinburgh International Book Festival
Last Updated: 15 April 2019 12:29
Edinburgh International Book Festival today announced two days of activity in May as part of their Citizen programme. Citizen at North Edinburgh Arts on Thursday 9 and Saturday 11 May will feature events and activities for schools and Edinburgh residents, bringing people together to share stories, experiences and ideas of what it means to be a Citizen. Culminating in a performance by folk musician Aidan O’Rourke and pianist Kit Downes of a selection O’Rourke’s songs written in response to James Robertson’s 365 Stories, Citizen at North Edinburgh Arts is open to all comers.
Following on from the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s successful ReimagiNation series across Scotland’s five New Towns, Citizen is an ongoing creative programme which works in partnership with organisations across Edinburgh and listens to people’s views about the communities in which they live. Led by Scottish-based writers-in-residence, Claire Askew and Eleanor Thom, Citizen aims to give a voice to communities, offering residents an opportunity to explore their connection to each other and their relationship to their local area, their city and beyond.
Schools Writer in Residence Claire Askew is working with pupils in Liberton High School, Broughton High School and Craigroyston Community High School. Those pupils will be participating in workshops on Thursday 9 May with authors including Cumbernauld’s Kirkland Ciccone, Gerald Richards from Leith’s Super Power Agency and illustrator Eilidh Muldoon. Eilidh will be joined by students from the Edinburgh College of Art to help pupils create flags inspired by belonging, home, a sense of self – all ideas at the core of the Citizen project.
On Saturday 11 May, a variety of free activities provide a perfect interactive day out for all. At the heart of the day is a sharing of some of the stories gathered by Eleanor Thom and Claire Askew during their work with community groups and schools across Muirhouse, Wester Hailes and Moredun. Attendance is free but a ticket is required. Relaxed, drop-in activities include a selection of local archive films from the National Library of Scotland’s Moving Image Archive, quick illustration workshops with artist Eilidh Muldoon and comic book artist Tanya Roberts, and Mitch Miller introduces the dialectogram –pieces of graphic art that show the relationships we have with the places and people around us.
A free community buffet welcomes all comers to break bread and share stories with their neighbours. The importance of food in bringing people together has been a common theme across all the groups participating in Citizen.
Janet Smyth, Edinburgh International Book Festival Programme Director, said; “A brew and a blether are an essential part of community life – being able to get together to share your stories, your experiences, your worries is an important part of holding a community together. Citizen at North Edinburgh Arts is an open house for Edinburgh’s residents – come along and join us to meet your neighbours.”
Kate Wimpress from North Edinburgh Arts said; “The stories we tell, to others and to ourselves, shape the way we see the world and how the world sees us. North Edinburgh Arts is a place where people meet to share time, food and ideas relevant to the local, the city, the country and beyond. The Citizen events in May give us the chance, once again, to throw the doors open wide, strike up conversations, and offer a really warm welcome to everyone involved so far or interested in finding out more".
The public programme ends on Saturday evening with a performance of some of the 365 songs written by singer songwriter Aidan O’Rourke and performed by O’Rourke and musician Kit Downes. A selection of James Robertson’s stories, which inspired the songs, will be read by students of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Tickets for this event cost £6.00 (£3.00 for holders of a Good Neighbour card from North Edinburgh Arts) and are available from North Edinburgh Arts or online at northedinburgharts.co.uk/whats-on/citizen/. All drop-in events on Saturday 11 May are free of charge.
Full details of the programme, and timings of events, can be found at northedinburgharts.co.uk and ontheroad.edbookfest.co.uk
Citizen is part of Edinburgh International Book Festival On The Road, a series of events and activities around Scotland throughout the year, and is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and through the PLACE Programme (funded by the Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council, and the Edinburgh Festivals, and supported and administered by Creative Scotland).
Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “Players have been supporting Edinburgh International Book Festival for five years running and Citizen sounds like a fantastic collaborative project to bring people in communities together to express their views about where they live. It’s great that funding from Postcode Culture Trust is helping the festival’s creative programme to reach more people.”
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “I am pleased to see PLACE funding go toward the Citizen project at North Edinburgh Arts, and I am looking forward to seeing how the project progresses in Liberton High School, Broughton High School and Craigroyston Community High School. It will be fantastic for local people to come together to celebrate ideas, thoughts and beliefs of what it means to belong in their communities, and for the festival to learn from these relationships as they develop and embed new means of community and audience engagement.”
Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I’m delighted that through our 'Platforms for Creative Excellence' partnership, the Council is helping the Book Festival and North Edinburgh Arts stage this new creative programme. It will celebrate the unique connection between our city and the world of literature but most importantly give our local communities a platform to share their stories. Our greatest and most creative cultural asset is our people and by engaging with schools, community groups and residents, Citizen will bring another authentic ‘Edinburgh’ voice to this year’s International Book Festival.”
Black Sheep Coffee is proud to announce the opening of its newest site in Haymarket Square, Edinburgh on 14th May and is offering £1 coffees throughout the first day.
READ MORERUSK & RUSK, the independent Scottish restaurant group, today (Friday 10th May) officially opens The Spanish Butcher at 58A North Castle Street.
READ MOREGet ready to shake it off and dive into an unforgettable brunch experience at Gaucho!
READ MOREIRN-BRU is helping to build hype for the national side ahead of the Euros by turning some of Scotland's most hopeful fans into stars.
READ MOREEdinburgh's culinary scene is about to get even more exciting as Duck & Waffle's Corporate Chef Maxwell Terheggen teams up with one of the city's top chefs for an exciting collaboration.
READ MOREScotland’s world champion curling team has swept into action to launch two new outdoor cocktail bar experiences in the heart of Edinburgh for spring and summer.
READ MOREUnderbelly is thrilled to announce the latest lineup of shows completing its Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024 programme.
READ MORERetro arcade game & classic console venue NQ64, is levelling up this summer with a brand new cocktail menu that will have you pressing "start" round after round.
READ MOREThe Health Lottery is excited to announce the launch of its newest venture, the 'Paying it Forward' podcast, hosted by renowned radio and TV presenter, Danni Menzies.
READ MOREAcclaimed American chef Rodney Wages has confirmed the opening of his first UK restaurant, Avery, in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge on 21st May.
READ MOREOne Square, The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa’s award-winning bar and brasserie, has unveiled a unique Afternoon Tea menu inspired by Edinburgh’s best storytellers and their famous tales.
READ MOREDo you know the Best Cocktail Bar in town or perhaps a Dog Friendly Pub that treats your pooch like a princess? If so, why not get voting for them in this year's Scottish Bar and Pub Awards?
READ MOREThe Fringe’s original home of comedy, Gilded Balloon have revealed their full line-up for 2024’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, including Jack Docherty, Andy Gray tribute & Paul Black.
READ MORELaser Station in partnership with Cash For Kids, is thrilled to announce the success of its recent Laser Marathon fundraiser in Edinburgh, Hull & Braehead, raising a total of £2266.
READ MORETop Dogs is back! Dog lovers invited to come and have a fun day out with their four-legged family members.
READ MOREVirgin Hotels Edinburgh has a bumper series of events planned for May, including an unmissable Summer Gin Garden, live music each Thursday and a new Peruvian menu for the Commons Club Chef's Table.
READ MOREBritain's biggest independent craft brewer, BrewDog is giving beer lovers a chance to 'Drink Beer, Win Cash' with the return of its Cash Cans scavenger hunt this Spring.
READ MOREWe're thrilled to announce that, for the third year running, TikTok will be the Official Virtual Stage of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
READ MOREEuropean Ryder Cup stars Ludvig Åberg, Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland are set to reunite at the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open.
READ MORESix Company announces additional investment in the Edinburgh hospitality industry with the opening of Six by Nico Edinburgh West End and Somewhere by Nico Edinburgh.
READ MOREUber releases Swiftie-inspired friendship bracelets, offering £20 credit ahead of the Era's Tour this June.
READ MOREFayre Play, the ultimate adult funfair games experience in Glasgow & Edinburgh, have announced an exclusive ticket giveaway for Taylor Swift's highly anticipated show at Murrayfield on June 8th!
READ MOREPURE Spa & Beauty is proud to announce its partnership with 02Worx by launching Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in 16 of its spa locations across the United Kingdom including three in Edinburgh.
READ MOREFor the first time, audiences will be treated to a dazzling dozen amazing pro dancers from BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, performing this spectacular show at Edinburgh Playhouse!
READ MOREScotland’s National Chef Gary Maclean is hosting an exclusive Oyster and Champagne Bar as part of the Edinburgh Seafood Festival on Saturday May 4th and Sunday May 5th at Bonnie & Wild.
READ MOREFleurs de Villes, the world-renowned floral show has announced it will return to Edinburgh next month with its major new exhibition; ARTISTE.
READ MOREA packed programme of music, film and storytelling kicks off Edinburgh Tradfest this weekend (3 May to 13 May).
READ MOREDementia specialist nursing charity, Dementia UK, is running its 14th annual 'Time for a Cuppa Fundraiser' to raise vital funds for the leading cause of death in the UK.
READ MOREDobbies, the UK's leading garden centre, is inviting children aged four to 10 to a free workshop in May to learn more about trees and how to protect them.
READ MOREIt's just days until the opening of the Homebuilding & Renovating Show, which is back SEC, Glasgow on 11-12 May 2024.
READ MORE