My Edinburgh
A series of invited personal perspectives on the festival and city, from artists, creatives and curators.
Suzy Glass, Producer
I have something to admit. I live on the other side of town. Or more accurately in the other town. A typical festival day for me starts in Glasgow. Perhaps in the Merchant City at Cafe Gandolfi for a good strong coffee, a bite to eat, and a look at the John Byrne etchings and mono prints hanging on the walls there at the moment.
After a quick train journey across Scotland, I'll head up the hill to grab an Edinburgh Art Festival Guide and Map from the Pavilion. I can't wait to see this - a futuristic glass chamber designed by Karen Forbes ( in the heart of St Andrew Square Gardens). Guide in hand, I'll take a seat in the sun on the Harvey Nichols balcony, order an inordinately sophisticated orange juice, enjoy a bird's eye view of the folk strolling up and down George Street.
From there, it's a lovely walk down to Inverleith House to take in the Rauschenberg. I was lucky enough to see it mid-install while planning for Detours, and it looks to be an incredible exhibition: urban junk versus botanic calm. Have a quick stroll around the gardens too, be sure to drop into the glasshouses to soak up the tropical warmth.
A spot to eat round the corner on Broughton Street. There are cafes and restaurants a-plenty, something new to try every time I'm down that way. And if I've got the time perhaps I'll run up the road to Assembly George Square for a spot of lunchtime theatre - Lu Kemp's incredibly touching One Thousand Paper Cranes is on there at 1.10pm.
Inspace is just round the corner, it's a great space, really flexible. The exhibition there is called Left to My Own Devices: I'm looking forward to this one, it sounds eclectic to say the least. It's worth swinging by just to see marvellous Cybraphon in action. Plus I hear there are some massage chairs on offer too, courtesy of brilliant British artist Ellie Harrison.
After grabbing some falafel from one of the takeaways North Bridge, I'll probably find some more live stuff to round off the day. There's a great programme this year at the Forest Fringe. And I'm really looking forward to hearing artist filmmaker Matt Hulse and friends talk about Dummy Jim: A Monumental Effort on 19th August as part of Unbound at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Stuart Delves
Copywriter and Brand consultant
Now, here's a day's art circuit I'd recommend to friends visiting Edinburgh during the festival. Arrive at Waverley Station and head for Market Street (Exit 3 on the Edinburgh Art Festival Map). Look up and around you to get an immediate sense of Edinburgh's Babylonian planes and elevations. Then fortify yourself with a strong coffee at the Fruitmarket Cafe before doing the Market Street double whammy - Fruitmarket and City Arts. David Mach's Precious Light must be a must-see for anyone remotely affected by the language of the King James Bible. Can't wait. An hour or so later, up Martin Creed's marble steps , turn left, right and right again onto the Royal Mile for a bit of a retail break at Royal Mile Whiskies. An elemental island malt will help you wax lyrical (come the late dusk) about the next gallery destination. But first I'd recommend a scrumptious bowl of soup and half sandwich at The Edinburgh Larder on Blackfriars Street before crossing the Cowgate (down then up as J. Maizlish's map so rightly charts - with a slight swing right en route to see Chris Moore's decoding site specific) to the Dovecot on Infirmary Street to see Land, Water and Language. Plenty of good restaurants there to end the day like Mother India with its sub-continent tapas or the famous Mosque Kitchen for a cheap and yummy curry. Call me and I'll join you, I'm just round the corner.
Many worlds, just round the corner
Daniel Warren
Film-maker
My Ideal Festival Day
I live north of Princes Street, which means it’s quite easy to miss the festival completely, especially with so many venues having disappeared from this part of town over the past few years. On the up side, if you are looking for a less intense but no less rewarding festival experience, there are still things happening - you just need to get walking or work out the buses. Use Gordon Christie’s free Edinbus app
I would start the day with a swim at Glenogle Baths with my wee daughter and while she sleeps that off, go for breakfast at Hamiltons for good strong coffee with a veggie fry-up. Then maybe nip round the corner to see what’s on at Patriot Hall.
I’m really looking forward to the Collective Tatham and O'Sullivan project at Fettes College. On my way, I will no doubt pop in to the excellent Oxfam Music Shop on Raeburn Place for a wee flick through someone’s recently donated record collection… lots of Thin Lizzy in there today! You can then cut through Inverleith Park, feed ducks on the pond and bump into the Edinburgh Model Boat Club if it’s a Sunday. I’m pretty sure I saw a U-Boat there once.
On to The Botanical Gardens and Inverleith House to see the Rauschenberg. You can lose an hour just looking at the view, and there’s usually a good ice cream van outside the West Gate. If it’s normal August weather then dive into the visitor centre to find the tiny tree frogs or head up Inverleith Row to The Circle Café and take a punt on the specials board.
When the rain stops, try some of Edinburgh’s new virtual festival (g)Host City. You can use your smartphone or mp3 player to experience new performances by folk like Momus and Alan Bisset, anywhere and at any time. Get lost, but in a good way.
After all that art and walking I would probably head towards Leith, even further away from the festival, and sit in The Tourmalet on the corner of Buchanan and Iona Street drinking German beer and talking about all the amazing comedy and theatre that I’ve missed as usual. Unless it’s the 28th when I’m going to Love’s Rebellious Joy: A party for Paul Reekie at the Book Festival’s Spiegeltent.