The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Thursday 23 April 2026
Artists criticise Leith Festival over AI-'art' posters, UoE marking boycott & QMU staff to strike, calls for more action on homelessness + join the Wardie Bay beach clean
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. A busy one today. Here’s today's Edinburgh Minute.
🎓 Some University of Edinburgh staff are planning a marking and assessment boycott from from 1 May, amid an ongoing dispute over budget cuts. - Kitty Messer, The Edinburgh Tab.
- Some students are concerned about a repeat of 2023's boycott which saw some students graduating without a degree certificate. - Maryse Bots & Lucy Frewin, Edinburgh Dot.
EdinburghDot
Kitty Messer
- Uni Principal Peter Mathieson responded: "We are profoundly disappointed, disheartened and frustrated that UCU Edinburgh members have again voted in favour of purposefully targeting our students with a marking and assessment boycott."
- Meanwhile, UCU members at Queen Margaret University are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over jobs, working conditions and changes to working practices. - The union published this statement.
- A QMU spokesperson told the East Lothian Courier it was 'committed to ensuring that all consultation with trade unions and staff is genuine and meaningful and can reassure current and prospective students that the proposed changes would not affect the student experience.'
🤖 A row has broken out after the volunteer-run Leith Festival used AI as part of its designs to promote this year's events. Organisers published a statement yesterday defending its decision. The festival has faced months of pressure from local artists who are annoyed that the controversial technology was used on multiple designs. It started in January when the festival was questioned in its social media comments sections for publishing a graphic of an accordion player with three hands (Instagram / Facebook).
- The Minute contacted Leith Festival, and designer 'Sweet', earlier this year but had no response.
- Yesterday the festival said: "We strongly believe that arts/design/creatives can never be replaced, but also feel that with modern technology, there can be room for a little creative technological innovation too - i.e. the basis for our fun wee characters."
- The statement sparked another flurry of angry responses in the comments section here, with critics calling on the festival to use local artists instead of AI technology which, in some cases, derives its output from stolen artwork.
- The festival says it welcomes volunteers.
🛏️ It's reported that 56 homeless people in Edinburgh died last year. Housing charity Shelter blamed 'homelessness services fail[ing] to meet legal duties', while the council said it will continue investing in housing and support partnership working. - Joe Sullivan, Local Democracy Reporter, STV News.
⚽️ A 40-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with an alleged assault on a 12-year-old boy at the Powerleague football pitches in Portobello on Friday, reports Chloe Goodall in Edinburgh Live.
🚔 The council has had to remove 'racist' graffiti six times in the last five months at locations in South Queensferry. - Rachel Fergusson, Evening News.
🏫 St Cuthbert’s Primary School in Slateford will be closed for the rest of the school year after structural issues were uncovered last month. - BBC Scotland News.
🪩 In this week's Edinburgh Culture Minute:
- 🍽️ Ottolenghi opening on George Street
- 🔊 Boards Of Canada confirm new album
- 🎭 Hidden Door festival line-up revealed,
- 📚 First Date romance festival
- 💰 A big batch of new local creative jobs - All in the bonus weekly edition here.
Michael MacLeod
🍻 The Stockbridge Tap is due to reopen at midday today after a major refurb. Have a look inside in this video.
📰 A newspaper from 1888 has been uncovered during building work beneath floorboards at 7 Charlotte Square during conservation work. - Rose Moncur, The Herald.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard
⮑ Please get in touch using this form. < It’s the only way to get something featured in the newsletter.
🏖️ Inside a Victorian Seaside Home in North Berwick - 'Jane McMinn has lived beside the North Berwick sea for most of her life: as a child, a sailor, and now a grandmother. A look inside her eclectic Victorian home right on the beach. YouTube film.' - More details here, shared by Ilya, NOSTALGIA.
🧗♂️ Fundraising abseil for Cyrenians - 'I am abseiling the 131ft Port of Leith distillery in support of Cyrenians to mark me leaving after 12 happy years as CEO. Cyrenians works upstream to prevent Homelessness so people get the help they need quickly and compassionately.' - More details here, shared by Ewan, Aitken.
🐕 Tailo.dog Beta: Call for dog owners (especially - with anxious or reactive dogs) for Beta testing - 'Understand your dog's stress signals using frame-by-frame analysis, log episodes, uncover triggers. Share reports with your dog trainer. I've built this Android app out of my own struggles with my rescues. Now I would like to know what others think.' - More details here, shared by Maria Makarova, Tailo.dog.
🌊 Join our Wardie Bay beach clean Sunday 26 April 10am - 'Sunday Assembly Edinburgh, the city's 'secular congregation', is organising a beach clean at Wardie Bay beach this Sunday at 10am. Meet opposide Wardie Steps EH5 1ES at 10am. All welcome for an outdoor hour. Gear provided, bring some if you can.' - More details here, shared by Mark McKergow, Sunday Assembly Edinburgh.
🎻 Armenian Day Concert
Tomorrow, Fri 24 April - 'A concert of violin and piano music to commemorate the 111th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. Gina McCormack - violin Marianna Abrahamyan - piano.'
7.30pm to 9.30pm | Stockbridge Parish Church, EH3 5BN | £15/£10 concessions - More details here, shared by Clea Friend, Stockbridge Music Hub.
📸 Mindful Photography Workshop
Sat 25 April - 'Mindful photography invites a deeper appreciation of nature while fostering relaxation and clarity. This gentle, meditative practice offers a chance to rest the thinking mind and reconnect with the present moment through photography.'
11am to 1pm | Bridgend Inspiring Growth, EH16 4TE | £16.96/£11.50/£9.00 - More details here, shared by Seeing The Now.
📝 The Shape of Stories: Storytelling 101 Workshop
Sat 25 April - 'Got a story to tell? Whether you're preparing for your first stand-up set, a full solo hour, or writing something totally different, writer/editor Heather Kondak Ross is here to help you understand the Shape of Stories.'
2pm to 4pm | The Gilded Saloon, EH1 1HB | £20, some PWYW avail - More details here, shared by Heather Kondak Ross, Humor Mill.
🎶 Edinburgh Scandi Session
Sun 26 April - 'Our monthly music session where we play trad folk tunes from Denmark, Finland, Norway & Sweden. Instead of jigs & reels expect polskas & hallings. Open to all (indoor) acoustic instruments. Over 18s per pub rules. We have use of the upstairs room.'
2pm to 5pm | The Outhouse, EH1 3LY | FREE - More details here, shared by Philip Lyon.
🧘♀️ Roll & Release Yoga Workshop [Monthly]
Sun 26 April - 'Join experienced yoga teacher & international weightlifter Emma for a total body reset using massage balls. Expect breathwork, targeted releases for your feet, neck, and back, and plenty of time for total relaxation.'
3pm to 5pm | Ashtanga Yoga Edinburgh & Hillside Collective, EH7 5JT | £45 - More details here, shared by Emma McCready.
📚 Publishing Scotland's Silent Reading Group [Monthly]
Mon 27 April - 'Come along to our Silent Reading Group on the last Monday of every month throughout 2026! We'll provide an hour of solid reading time - there's no assigned book - and a chance to chat with fellow friendly readers. Free drink with every ticket.'
6pm to 8pm | Fruitmarket Cafe, EH1 1DF | £4.00 - More details here, shared by Vikki Reilly, Publishing Scotland.
🎲 Community boardgames in Oxgangs every Monday night [Weekly]
Mon 27 April - 'Come and play some boardgames, every Monday night! Whether you're a cardboard veteran, or struggle to roll dice, we play a range of games together. Under 16s are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult.'
6pm to 9pm | Oxgangs Community Church Hub, EH13 9BQ | FREE - More details here, shared by Caleb, Oxgangs Community Church.
🔥 Powderhall Bronze Foundry Tour
Tue 28 April - 'Join us for a tour of our fine art foundry in Granton, learning how we use the ancient lost wax casting process to create bronze sculptures. Gleam insight into our current foundry projects and past well-known public artworks along the way.'
6pm to 7.30pm | Powderhall Bronze, EH5 1PN | £20 - More details here, shared by Lucy Caster, Powderhall Bronze.
Powderhall Bronze Editions
🏢 SWURF Co-Working Club
Tue 28 April - 'Tired of the home office grind but not ready for the daily commute? Say goodbye to crowded coffee shops and the endless search for a quiet Zoom spot. We've got the solution: Welcome to Co-Work Club @ YOTEL Hotel, Edinburgh.'
11am to 4pm | YOTEL Edinburgh, EH2 4NA | £10 - More details here, shared by SWURF.
🗨️ Baptist History Project in Conversation
Tue 28 April - 'This talk on Baptist history in Scotland will feature the stories of churches in North Edinburgh and Leith by Baptist History Project members Rev Garry Ketchen and Jenny Duncan, who are well-versed in engrossing audiences with this historic topic.'
2.30pm to 4pm | Canonmills Church, EH3 5LH | FREE - More details here, shared by a Minute reader.
🕵️♂️ Spotlight: Wax Moulages
Wed 29 April - 'On the last Wednesday of every month the Physicians' Gallery is hosting a free short lunchtime curator talk. Each time we'll explore a different object on display in the museum. This time we're looking at the history of medical wax models.'
12.30pm to 12.50pm | Physicians' Gallery, EH2 1JQ | FREE - More details here, shared by Daisy Cunynghame, Physicians' Gallery.
💰 Women's Financial Wellness Webinar
Wed 29 April - 'Join our free 'Lunch & Learn' webinar, where we'll explore financial planning with a special focus on areas most relevant to women. Hosted by Mearns & Company Chartered Financial Planners. Register here https://shorturl.at/tDTHq.'
12.30pm to 1.30pm | Mearns & Company Limited, EH6 6NF | FREE - More details here, shared by Mearns & Company.
🎸 The Herons + Thrush + Sofia Scalia
Wed 29 April - 'The Herons bring their 'punk for undergraduates' to the best venue in Edinburgh. For fans of... Ramones, The Velvet Underground, Flight of the Conchords, The Moldy Peaches.'
7pm to 10pm | Sneaky Pete's, EH1 1JW | £8 (+bf) - More details here, shared by The Herons.
🍷 Vinyl Club #6 "Dreamer Awake" with special guest Rachel Sermanni
Wed 29 April - 'A wildly special edition of our monthly club featuring Rachel Sermanni's beautiful 2023 record "Dreamer Awake." We'll pair it with 2 wines, talk, listen, and get into the communal spirit with Rachel present to offer the insight only she can.'
7.30pm to 10pm | Smith & Gertrude, EH15 2AT | 28.00 - More details here, shared by Todd Henkin.
Smith & Gertrude
🎷 An Evening with John Burgess - Live at the Juniper Green Note
Thu 30 April - 'An intimate night of high-level jazz in a room that listens. Saxophonist John Burgess leads a top-tier quintet through a set of swinging, lyrical, and deeply engaging music - the kind that works best up close, with a great audience.'
7.30pm to 9.30pm | Baberton Golf Club, EH14 5DU | £12-15 - More details here, shared by John Elliott, The Juniper Green Note grassroots jazz club.
🎥 Das Deutsche Volk + discussion
Thu 30 April - 'Das Deutsche Volk was described as one of the most significant films about modern Germany. Developed in 4 years, it traces the journey of families affected by the Hanau massacre (2020), their fight for accountability and rejected call for a memorial.'
8pm to 10.30pm | Filmhouse, EH3 9BZ | £5 - £12 - More details here, shared by Scottish Documentary Institute.
🎨 British Sign Language Tour
Fri 01 May - 'Join us for a British Sign Language tour of the exhibition 'The dead don't go into we do' at Talbot Rice Gallery, led by Trudi Collier.'
1pm to 2pm | Talbot Rice Gallery, EH8 9YL | FREE - More details here, shared by Sarah Leal, Talbot Rice Gallery.
🌍 People's Emergency Briefing
Fri 01 May - 'Based on the National Emergency Briefing in Westminster (featured by ITV, Channel 4 and The Times) with appearances from Chris Packham and Deborah Meaden. There will be a discussion afterwards about what it means for our community.'
7pm to 9pm | St Cuthbert's Church Hall, EH13 0BD | FREE - More details here, shared by Greenpeace.
🎥 Screening + Q&A: Edinburgh and 1926 General Strike
Fri 01 May - 'Unite Community Edinburgh Branch are hosting a free screening of a film looking at the 1926 General Strike with specific reference to Edinburgh and surrounding locale. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session led by Dr Stuart Moir.'
7pm to 8pm | Lister Learning and Teaching Centre, EH8 9SU | FREE - More details here, shared by Unite trade union.
⭐ The Taoist Practice of Harmonic Alignment With Dorian [Weekly]
Fri 01 May - 'How do you decide what's your best life? Discover intentional living through Harmonic Alignment with Dorian Pyle, 50-year practitioner, certified meditation instructor, and trauma survivor.'
7.30pm to 9pm | Art and Spirituality :Yoga, EH11 2RH | FREE - More details here, shared by Dorian Pyle.
📮 What's missing from the Minute? Got an event to share? Nothing's too local! Please share your local news and events here.
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- 🔊 Mum forces thief to change tune as stolen VoxBox amp is returned.
- 🤝 Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network jobs round-up.
- 🚐 Newbridge locals annoyed by return of illegal camp.
- 💰 Have your say on changes to council Community Grants Fund.
- 🎮 Union workers take legal action against Build A Rocket Boy over alleged privacy violations.
⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 896.
📬 Free subscribers: 30,000+.
📲 Visits generated for local news sources: 2,500,000+.
👍 The Edinburgh Minute only exists thanks to voluntary subscribers. Please consider chipping in for a fiver a month to ensure it continues. The community spirit behind this newsletter is real. Your support makes Edinburgh a better place.
Don’t want to subscribe but still keen to show your support? Please like this post or put a coin/note into the tip jar below. It all helps keep the Minute ticking over. Thanks again.
