Archive for August, 2007
Here’s an invitation to a feast with a difference.
The FEAST celebrates Chinese food through film and music at a free public performance in Castle Street, Edinburgh on August 30 when Edinburgh band FOUND join forces with Chinese composer Kimho Ip to create music inspired by the sounds of preparing and cooking Dim Sum.
The idea comes from Kimho Ip, artistic director of iMAP (intercultural music and arts project) who has supported Leith Open Space events. Kimho uses music performance and workshops to create links between Chinese and Scottish communities. Now he is turning to food. “Food is fundamental to all of us,” he says, “Even if we speak different languages we all have to eat. Sharing a meal together is probably the best way people can begin to understand one another.”
That’s how Kimho came to be playing the traditional Chinese yang-chin alongside the artist/musicians FOUND while Alan Stockdale the drummer and film-maker captured images of Eric the chef cooking up Dim Sum in front of a hungry audience at Out of the Blue in the Old Drill Hall off Leith walk at the end of July.
The musicians were gathering raw material for the FEAST, sampling sounds, sights (and tastes) to turn into a street theatre event at The Eating Place market in Castle Street on August 30 at 6pm when Chinese cooking implements will magically turn into musical instruments. All for free.
FEAST is sponsored by Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian and supported by Edinburgh City Centre Management Company. For more information see the FEAST website.
Thanks to Michelle from New Media Scotland for use of one of her pictures of the FEAST filming session at Out of the Blue – see more on Flickr
August 19th, 2007
If you want to find out what’s happening in Leith and North Edinburgh, look no further than a new community website celebrating Leith and North.
Congratulations to Nick Gardner, a member of Leith Open Space Group, who designed the website with local news as well as a lively what’s on section and links to the huge range of community groups in our part of town.
“My model is to combine the free newspaper approach and the yellow pages approach.” he says, “I hope we can raise revenue in various ways, but I also want to enjoy the site, myself and create something positive that people will want to be associated with, advertise on, sponsor, have pages on etc.”
Nick will be looking for news and ideas so don’t hesitate to get in touch. Click on the link for Leith and North.
August 15th, 2007
On Saturday July 26 Nahid Aslam attended the Black and Ethnic Women’s Network meeting on behalf of Leith Open Space Group. The purpose was to share with the Network the work of Open Space and gather support for future events.
The BME Women’s Network is made up of Leith based organisations that work to support women from a migrant background and their families. Organisations include the YWCA Roundabout Centre, Sikh Sanjog, Multicultural Family Base, etc. The Network is supported by the City of Edinburgh Council.
The Network meets at least four times a year usually in McDonald Road Library’s Nelson Hall. It is an opportunity created to share knowledge and learn what
others are doing in the local Leith area and indeed wider. Often there is a keynote speaker. In July it was the turn of Heather Muchamore from ‘Family Learning’ who talked about the support ‘Community Learning and Development’ at CEC can provide parents with young children.
Network meetings are open to anyone interested in Women and Race issues. To find out more contact the Community Learning and Development Worker at City of Edinburgh Council. Tel: 0131 664 5101.
August 13th, 2007
Nahid Aslam, of Leith Open Space Group, was one of many community participants who took part in workshops at Stockbridge Theatre Workshop exploring the lives of refugees in Edinburgh. They were working on the script for a film seen through the eyes of five refugees.
Trouble Sleeping, directed by Robert Rae and edited by Tina Hetherington will soon be released. Watch this space as Leith Open Space Group hope to organise an outing to see the film.
For more information see www.trouble-sleeping.co.uk
August 11th, 2007
