Edinburgh People's Festival
Encyclopedia
The Edinburgh People's Festival is inspired by the 1945 Labour Government which established the Edinburgh Festival
to be a celebration of the arts 'for the people, by the people'. It looks to showcase indigenous talent and provide high quality cultural entertainment at venues across the city, especially in the outer schemes at prices everyone can afford.
It carries on the tradition of the original Edinburgh People's Festival 1951–54 and acknowledge the cultural contribution made by Hamish Henderson
, Ewan MacColl
, Joan Littlewood
, Norman Buchan
, Joe Corrie
and Councillor Jack Kane.
The festival was re-established in 2002 by the Scottish Socialist Party
MSP
, Colin Fox
who still heads up the organising committee.
Since 2002 the People's Festival has presented shows in Saughton Prison, Edinburgh's Royal Infrimary, the Scottish Parliament, The Stand Comedy Club, Woodburn Miners Welfare, the BMC Club in Gorgie, Artspace in Craigmillar and the North Edinburgh Arts Centre as well as community centres in the North, South, East and West of the city.
The People's Festivals award winning exhibition was constructed by the inmates of HMP Edinburgh and tells the story of the organisation from its origins in 1951 to the present day and was the centrepiece of last years Radical Book Fair.
The 2009 August programme included the Hamish Henderson Memorial lecture, the launch of a new book entitled 'What Robert Burns means to me' to celebrate the bards 250th anniversary, a walking tour of 'Radical Edinburgh', a concert 'Songs of the People' and a tour of Rebus' Edinburgh endorsed by Ian Rankin himself.
The Edinburgh People's Festival website is www.edinburghpeoplesfestival.org
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
to be a celebration of the arts 'for the people, by the people'. It looks to showcase indigenous talent and provide high quality cultural entertainment at venues across the city, especially in the outer schemes at prices everyone can afford.
It carries on the tradition of the original Edinburgh People's Festival 1951–54 and acknowledge the cultural contribution made by Hamish Henderson
Hamish Henderson
Hamish Scott Henderson, was a Scottish poet, songwriter, soldier, and intellectual....
, Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl was an English folk singer, songwriter, socialist, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. He was married to theatre director Joan Littlewood, and later to American folksinger Peggy Seeger. He collaborated with Littlewood in the theatre and with Seeger in folk music...
, Joan Littlewood
Joan Littlewood
Joan Maud Littlewood was a British theatre director, noted for her work in developing the left-wing Theatre Workshop...
, Norman Buchan
Norman Buchan
Norman Findlay Buchan was a Labour politician, who represented the West Renfrewshire seat from 1964 until 1983 and the Paisley South seat from 1983 to 1990....
, Joe Corrie
Joe Corrie
Joe Corrie was a Scottish miner, poet and playwright.He was born in Slamannan, Stirlingshire in 1894. His family moved to Cardenden in the Fife coalfield when Corrie was still an infant and he started work at the pits in 1908....
and Councillor Jack Kane.
The festival was re-established in 2002 by the Scottish Socialist Party
Scottish Socialist Party
The Scottish Socialist Party is a left-wing Scottish political party. Positioning itself significantly to the left of Scotland's centre-left parties, the SSP campaigns on a socialist economic platform and for Scottish independence....
MSP
Member of the Scottish Parliament
Member of the Scottish Parliament is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament.-Methods of Election:MSPs are elected in one of two ways:...
, Colin Fox
Colin Fox
Colin Fox is the national spokesperson of the Scottish Socialist Party, and a former member for Lothian in the Scottish Parliament...
who still heads up the organising committee.
Since 2002 the People's Festival has presented shows in Saughton Prison, Edinburgh's Royal Infrimary, the Scottish Parliament, The Stand Comedy Club, Woodburn Miners Welfare, the BMC Club in Gorgie, Artspace in Craigmillar and the North Edinburgh Arts Centre as well as community centres in the North, South, East and West of the city.
The People's Festivals award winning exhibition was constructed by the inmates of HMP Edinburgh and tells the story of the organisation from its origins in 1951 to the present day and was the centrepiece of last years Radical Book Fair.
The 2009 August programme included the Hamish Henderson Memorial lecture, the launch of a new book entitled 'What Robert Burns means to me' to celebrate the bards 250th anniversary, a walking tour of 'Radical Edinburgh', a concert 'Songs of the People' and a tour of Rebus' Edinburgh endorsed by Ian Rankin himself.
The Edinburgh People's Festival website is www.edinburghpeoplesfestival.org