The Edinburgh Minute ⏰: Weekend edition 15-17 September 2023
Famous faces back Filmhouse revival, Holyrood Park cairn renamed, Bikefest in Porty, Climate march, Colony of Artists begins + Freshers Weekend events
☀️ Good morning Edinburgh. Here’s your weekend Edinburgh Minute.
🎞 A crowdfunder supporting efforts to reopen the Filmhouse as a cinema has gone live. As of this morning it’s raised £24,600 of its £250,000 target with 55 days to go.
⮑ 🎭 Actors including Brian Cox, Ewan Bremner, Harmony Rose Bremner and Jack Lowden shared video messages of their support for the ‘Open The Doors’ Filmhouse campaign. Trainspotting star Ewan Bremner said:
“Personally, as somebody with no formal education, the Filmhouse was vital in expanding my horizons and developing my understanding of the language of cinema. I would not be the same actor without it, honestly. Please support the campaign.”
⮑ There is debate on Twitter about whether those aiming to reopen the FIlmhouse should be allowed to. Conservative councillor Iain White shared the administrators’ report from December 2022.
⮑ 🗣 Former staff behind the new bid to reopen the Filmhouse speak to The Edinburgh Reporter in this audio chat.
🗣 Council leader Cammy Day says he will refer himself to a standards watchdog over a ‘rule-breaking party’ in the City Chambers. - Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter, Edinburgh Live.
🎾 Newly refurbished tennis courts at Leith Links, Inverleith Park and Victoria park have opened. - Neil Johnstone, Evening News.
🚔 Following yesterday’s report that police are looking to leave their Fettes HQ, there are reports this morning that the site could be used for a Gaelic high school. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.
🪦 A cairn in Holyrood Park linked to an 18th-century wife-murderer has been officially renamed to commemorate his victim - Margaret Hall - after a campaign. Credit to historians Sara Sheridan and Andy Arthur, who have been working with Historic Environment Scotland to raise awareness of the story behind the cairn. - Emma Taggart, The Times (subscription required).
⮑ Andy wrote about in detail about the cairn on Threadinburgh.
⚽️ Football fans can help tackle the cost of living crisis by donating to a foodbank collection before this weekend’s Hearts v Aberdeen match. This year’s Heart of Midlothian Foodbank Collection, run by Big Hearts in association with the club and Jambos Kickback, is on Saturday afternoon. Drop-off points will be at the Foundation Plaza (McLeod Street) and Wheatfield Street. Big Hearts and Community One Stop Shop Volunteers will be on hand from 12.30pm until kick-off at 3pm. Items urgently needed: tinned items (meals, fruits, vegetables and puddings) pasta sauce and curry sauce. - More info on the Hearts site.
🌎 An ‘End Fossil Fuels March’ begins at the Mound at 11am on Saturday. - Details via Climate Fringe.
✍️ There’s an interview with Broughton Spurtle editor Alan McIntosh in The Scottish Beacon. Alan talks about the publication’s army of volunteers, its nearly 30-year history and how he finds stories by walking an hour most days:
“I’m proudest about how the paper, alongside well-run local community councils, has helped make this part of Edinburgh unusually self-aware and good at standing up for itself.”
🚗 A bid by Edinburgh’s transport chief to put the breaks on plans to introduce workplace parking charges in the city has been outvoted. - Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter, Midlothian View.
🎓 Town is heaving with new students. To prepare them for Freshers Weekend, Maina Flintham Hjelde has published ’10 culture shocks you’ll defo experience during Edi Freshers’ Week if you went to state school’ in The Tab.
📆 Things to do this weekend:
🎨 A unique hyperlocal arts event - Colony of Artists - is on all weekend in Abbeyhill. There are 82 artists across 41 home-venues celebrating a ‘glorious weekend of arts, crafts and community spirit in the homes, gardens and locale of the Abbeyhill Colonies’. There’s also a pop-up bar, food and live music.- The map and programme are here.
