In summer the whole of Edinburgh becomes one enormous stage; with music, dance, theatre, literature and more, much more.
Tatiana Lozano Moskowictz
For the last 66 years, thousands of culture-hungry eyes turn to the capital of Scotland in August, where every form of cultural expression imaginable comes to life at the International Summer Festival.
The festival was established in 1947 by Rudolf Bing, an Austrian arts entrepreneur, as a means of enriching a population depressed by the gloomy post war years.
Select acts come together to form the diverse programme of events: music, opera, dance and theatre. And for those artists who don’t fit the mould for the ‘main’ festival, a festival for the margins was created: the Fringe.
Although the name is often taken to mean the main festival, the Fringe is just one of the twelve festivals which together, as a whole, form the largest cultural event in the world: “The International Edinburgh Festival”.
There is a vast array of acts to see at the festival, from the performing arts to book readings, and the prestigious event is now firmly stamped on the UK’s cultural map; especially in Edinburgh of course, where the population triples during the time the Fringe, Arts Festival and the International Summer Festival are on.
With such varied offerings a multitude of people with different interests, tastes, and cultures come together in the city’s venues to enjoy the often daring and novel acts put on by participants.
The twelve festivals that make up the great International Edinburgh Festival which take place throughout the year are listed below:
Bank of Scotland Imaginate, from 5th to 12th May (performing arts for children and young people).
Edinburgh Art Festival, from 1st August to 1st September (bringing together the best of the visual arts).
The Fringe, from 2nd to 26th August (various acts, the Fringe also has counterparts in Madrid, Dublin, Vancouver, New York and other cities).
Edinburgh´s Hogmanay and New Year Party, from 30th December to 1st January (especially interesting to tourists: the typical New Year celebration, with dance and theatre, unfolds over three days).
Book Festival, from 10th to 26th August (with over 800 writers from across the world).
International Festival (offering opera, music, dance and theatre from the 9th August to the 1st September).
International Film Festival, from 19th to 30th June (showing a selection of the best films from across the globe).
International Science Festival, from 5th to 20th April (with hundreds of scientific exhibitions and conferences tailored to a novice audience).
International Jazz and Blues Festival, from 19th to 28th July (an exploration of jazz music through the ages, with shows from top acts representing all the different trends of the genre).
Edinburgh Mela, from 31st August to 1st September (dance, fashion, music and food from different parts of the world).
Edinburgh Military Tattoo, from 2nd to 24th August (music and military marches).
Scottish International Storytelling Festival 18th to 27th October (traditional and contemporary storytelling).
The city plays host to actors, singers, dancers, writers, cinematographers, storytellers, comedians, directors, musicians, not forgetting the parades of bag-pipers and marching bands from across the world: all are on hand each day to delight the audience and public.
The majority of the activities are paid for but there is also a huge variety of street performers so there’s little time to sleep for the three weeks of the Summer Festival.
This year the festival is inspired by the part technology has played in culture and the relationship between technology and artists over 500 years of history. Now, the city is preparing itself for 20 full days of sun and culture. When September comes, there’ll be time to sleep.
(Translated by Claudia Rennie)
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