🪩 Edinburgh Culture Minute: 12 - 18 Feb 2025
Tributes to Leanne Ross, Fruitmarket Artists’ Bookmarket this weekend + comedians Daniel Sloss, Craig Hill & Connor Burns team up
Welcome to the 77th weekly edition of the Culture Minute, a round-up of Edinburgh’s local creative news, events, jobs and opportunities.
Last week’s edition had 21,000+ views and I had some interesting email replies about the culture funding. The top point/question that came in was about whether the newly announced Creative Scotland cash is being spread more thinly across more orgs than before. There’s a good debate there and my inbox isn’t really the place for it - I’m not an expert, merely a messenger. But many people reading this are experts; you seriously are Edinburgh’s culture leaders and lovers. Artists, politicians, decision-makers, venue owners and festival organisers all got in touch. My inbox has been buzzing with debate on this topic! I appreciate the input from everyone. Instead of replying to me, please use the comments section below so everyone can join in.
As always, if I’ve missed anything please get in touch.
The five most-viewed links from the last Edinburgh Culture Minute:
- 🎨 This year’s programme of adult craft workshops at Lauriston Castle.
- 🍿 Cinetopia’s weekcily events, screening and film industry opportunities.
- 💰 Creative Scotland doubles multi-year funded organisations.
- 💰 Summerhall Arts launches ‘New Meadows Award’.
- 🎤 Comedian Fern Brady to join Michael Pedersen for a chat, and you’re invited.
News:
🎨 Tributes have been paid to local artist Leanne Ross, who lost her battle with a long illness last week. She was known for her bold posters, paintings, sculpture and poetry. - Edinburgh charity Artlink and Glasgow’s Tramway (where an exhibition of her work is currently on show until 23 March) shared tributes.
⮑ Artlink said: “Leanne’s art was a true reflection of who she was – bright, colourful, and full of life. As one of the founders of the KMA art group, she brought people together through creativity, laughter, and a deep love for making something beautiful. She poured her soul and humour into everything she created, leaving behind not just stunning works of art but also an incredible sense of warmth, kindness, and wit.”
📚 The Artists’ Bookmarket, Edinburgh's annual celebration of art publishing returns to Fruitmarket this weekend. There are stalls, talks and workshops on Saturday and Sunday featuring dozens of publishing industry experts. Workshops include Eco-printed Zines, Japanese Bookbinding and ‘Hidden Worlds: the possibilities of small folded books’. - The programme is here.
🖼️ The Scottish Portrait Awards are moving to the National Galleries of Scotland Portrait (aka the portrait gallery) next year. Awards include thousands of pounds in cash and commissions from the National Galleries of Scotland. - Scottish Arts Trust.
🔊 This year’s Off The Record festival is on Saturday 22 February. It’s a day of insights into digital releasing structures, how promoters and venues work with artists, securing funding for your work and how to pitch your music for sync placements.. Connect with industry pros, meet fellow creatives, and get feedback on your music. - Tickets are £5 here.
📆 There are many more local creative events listed in the latest Good Egg Project newsletter:
🎧 This month’s EHFM Culture Show is here:
🎭 What's on Edinburgh's stages this week?
Here’s All Edinburgh Theatre’s Thom Dibdin:
There's plenty to see this half-term weekend with the good news that if you want to catch either of the big five-star shows finishing on Saturday, there is reasonable availability.
For family entertainment, Mary Poppins at the Festival Theatre (ends Sat: tickets) has briefs up in the gods for most performances, although the Saturday matinee only has a few single seats left.
For big ideas, brilliantly told in a cracking Shakespeare, the like which we rarely see in Edinburgh, The Merchant of Venice at the Lyceum (ends Sat: tickets) has a smattering of great single stalls seats with good availability in the Grand Circle and Upper Circle.
For romantics Big Band Does turn their attention to Valentines at the Church Hill (Thurs/Fri: tickets). This should be a hot slice, with a 10 piece big band, joined by a cast of professional and talented youngsters from Captivate Theatre School.
Elsewhere there is plenty to chew on, thanks to the local amateur and student companies.
At the Pleasance, the EU Footlights have an ambitious production of Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 The Musical (ends Sat: tickets). Press night was marred by technical issues, but there is no doubting the talent on stage.
At the Bedlam, Edinburgh's coldest theatre so wrap up warm, the EUTC have a production of Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood (ends Sat: tickets). Here's hoping they get their Welsh accents down as well as the Footlights got their American tones in place.
Out at the Loretto School in Musselburgh, where the Brunton has temporarily relocated, local company MAMA are doing Shrek the Musical (ends Sat: tickets). MAMA are always a good watch, with a strong and dedicated team.
In Portobello Town Hall, Stage Door’s talented youth company are putting on Frozen Jr (ends Sat: tickets), which should be a real treat and an affordable one too.
The Playhouse has a series of one-off shows; while the brilliant Manipulate festival is at the Studio and the Traverse. Most of the latter are sold out, but the details, as always, are on Æ's various listings pages, all linked here.
📌 Edinburgh Culture Minute Community Noticeboard:
⮑ Get in touch using this form.
📌 “Edinburgh-based comedy producers MZA have announced a "My Funny Valentine" early ticket release of several Fringe shows by local artists at Just the Tonic’s "Nucleus" venue. On sale at 10am on Friday 14th February is a limited season of "New Work in Progress" shows by the internationally renown Daniel Sloss plus world premieres from fringe alumni Craig Hill (with another of his fabulous show titles - "Wait 'Til You See My Entrance!") as well as the break-through comedy star of 2024, Connor Burns with his 4th solo show "GALLUS". Celebrate the very best of Scottish comedy right here on your doorstep, and cinch your tickets early. ” - From the coffee machine queue at MZA.
📌 “Are you a creative who wants to work on table top games? Local game designer Robert Gelb has launched a (free) directory to showcase creatives who want to work on board games, card games, and table top RPGs. Artists, marketers, writers, cartographers, world-builders, etc who are interested can submit their details and their work and info will be shared with game designers, publishers, and studios around the world.” - Thanks to Gelb, Game Designer, Midnight Trading Co, for sharing this.
📌 “On for the duration of February, a planned exhibition by Jane Murray 1952-2024. 'Starting with a Line' Edinburgh Central Library Dept. Art & Design. Works can be bought by donation and all proceeds go to St. Columbas Hospice. This is a rare opportunity to view and acquire a piece of brutally honest and direct work that has sprung from years of practice and life experience.” - Thanks to Ingrid Bell, Curator of current show 'Starting with a Line', for sharing this.
📌 “Take a closer look at the beautiful murals by Phoebe Anna Traquair at the Mansfield Traquair Centre. Come to our open day on Sunday 9 February from 1.00 pm until 4pm close. Free entry, tours available from our friendly guides, donations welcome to maintain 'Edinburgh's Sistine Chapel'.” - Thanks to a friend of Mansfield Traquair Centre for sharing this.
📌 “The Fringe Society is looking for a Scotland-based artist and an artist assistant to deliver a co-creative project with Oaklands School, situated in the north-west of Edinburgh, who provides a significantly adapted and supportive learning environment for learners with profound and multiple learning disabilities and often associated health care needs, aged 3 to 18 years old. In offering this funding, we hope to offer an opportunity to an artist to engage with wider demographics, develop their practice and engage meaningfully with a local community in Edinburgh. The application deadline is 09:00 GMT on Wednesday 19 March 2025.” - Thanks to the Fringe team for sharing this.
📌 “Are you a would-be children's author or illustrator? The 2025 Kelpies Prizes for Writing and Illustration close to entries on Friday 28 February! You could win a mentorship with the editorial and design teams at Edinburgh indie publisher Floris Books, consideration for publication plus £500.” - Thanks to Floris Books for sharing this.
📌 “Desire Paths: Reading Queer Edinburgh is an exhibition by Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive which maps Edinburgh's LGBTQ+ history. 19th-25th February 2025, 11am-4pm, Edinburgh Palette/St Margaret's House. The events programme also includes evening events with Harry Josephine Giles (19th Feb) and Jo Clifford (20th Feb).” - Thanks to Anna for sharing this.
📌 “IT'S NOT DEAD, IT'S JUST RESTING: Art in a time of global crisis. A group show of six contemporary artists from Scotland and beyond. Opening Event at Scott Lawrie Gallery Thurs 13 Feb 5-7pm. All welcome.” - Thanks to the Scott Lawrie Gallery (2 Chuckie Pend (Lane behind the Filmhouse)) for sharing this.
📌 “The Poetry & Pints open mic is back tomorrow, at the Bowlers' Rest in Leith. Arrive from 6:30pm to hear exciting, innovative poetry and music, and drink a few pints (or soft ones). Message Poetry & Pints on Instagram to enquire about reading slot availability.” - Thanks to Poetry & Pints Leith for sharing this.
📌 “boom saloon is gathering with friends for an in-person pop-up shop to raise funds for the finale of their work to rewrite the story of dementia. 22nd February, Round the World Studios, Leith, 10-4pm. Sign up to their newsletter for 10% off on the day.” - Thanks to the Boom Saloon team for sharing this.
⮑ There are some incredible local artists participating, including: Alex of Diabetes By Design, Anna Gormezano Marks, Kenneth Gray, Antony Sojka and more.