The art of campaigning – don’t give up. Save The Forest are nearly half-way towards raising the cash they need to buy back their iconic arts cafe. Their next big fundraiser is at Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith on Friday 23 September from 6.30pm when 30 local and international artists donate original works for a silent art auction to help bridge the gap.
Continue reading “Art of successful campaigning: Save The Forest”
The tram story continues to defy understanding. Leith Open Space is not attempting to repeat arguments for and against we simply thought we would collect some of the informative and constructive comments made on different city blogs. Not least because the question of repairing the damage to Leith remains unanswered.
In the end it wasn’t a complete surprise. Cathy Macnaughton got wind of the leaving party which allowed her to dress up and bring a surprise present of her own. After five years in the voluntary sector she knew just what the staff would find useful.
Just about to sign off for a couple of weeks break so here’s a post in the holiday spirit. Vic Galloway meets Scottish bands at SxSW the legendary rock festival in Austin Texas. Ok, it’s a long way from Leith, but local bands often play there – not least our very own FOUND in 2009. Woodenbox were invited this year but other commitments kept them at home (never mind they are playing all around Scotland). No doubt about local talent but wouldn’t it be great to have more live music venues for them to play outside the festival?
Make no mistake. Welcome Home is a wholehearted celebration of diversity. The migrant-collective deliberately sets out to honour the rich contribution migrants make to life in Edinburgh and Refugee Week is a perfect opportunity to do it in style. On Monday 20th June Fort Community Wing fills with colour, music and food representing the wonderful mix of cultures in Edinburgh.
Continue reading “Welcome Home celebrates humankind in Refugee Week”
Sony’s workshop on drugs. Pictures by Nick Gardner
So, what’s like to be young in Leith? Drugs, drink, gang culture and nowhere to go were main topics of discussion in The Citadel that Friday afternoon. At first sight all the media stereotypes of youth are there on flipcharts at our Open Space event for young people. Listen to workshop discussions and you find plenty of surprises. Here’s some for starters:
Is Leith a good place to be young? This is a question for our community and we hope you will join us on Friday 20th May at The Citadel to explore other questions, opportunities and challenges facing young people in our neighbourhood. Continue reading “What’s it Like to be Young in Leith?”
Saturday’s art auction in Leith gallery AXO is the latest step in The Forrest artists’ collective’s energetic campaign to raise £50,000 by the end of May. “Ambitious,” says the Save the Forrest website, “but definitely achievable”. Continue reading “Art for art’s sake: Forrest fundraising auction”
“You have to be so cautious. I have boys and they are 12…sometimes they will say something, like, about a bomber jacket and I say ‘don’t call it that’ and they are like ‘but mum it’s called a bomber jacket’ and I’m like ‘call it something else’
It might almost be funny if it wasn’t so sad. Of all the findings in a new Scottish Government report that image of the bomber jacket sticks in the mind. With one poignantly simple description a young mother gives a vivid glimpse of what it is like to be a Scottish Muslim in an age of fear and suspicion.
