Edinburgh Art Festival

The Edinburgh Art Festival returns to Scotland from 1 August, immersing the city in cultural explorations of art. Running until 1 September, the festival features no less than 50 exhibitions across 30 venues. Celebrating the location of Edinburgh and the many gallery spaces across the city, the event is the UK’s largest annual festival dedicated to visual art. Alongside the many exhibitions and events there is an ambitious commissioning programme that takes art out onto the streets. Looking at the theme Parley, the commissioned works explore communication either with the city or with audiences.

Featured within the commissioned series will be a variety of practioners including Peter Liversidge, Robert Montgomery and Ross Sinclair. Named after the way public art often encourages debate and polarises opinion, the pieces included interact with audiences in public spaces. The works also ask visitors to consider the potential art caries to instigate social change.

Aside from the specifically commissioned programme, there are many other exhibitions on display. Incorporating locations such as the City Art Centre, Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh College of Art, The Fruitmarket Gallery, Scottish National Gallery and many more, the festival spans many genres and generations of art. Running from fashion photography to geometric prints, the Edinburgh Art Festival covers art from every angle.

Read an interview with director Sorcha Carey in the current issue of Aesthetica, in stores now and available here www.aestheticamagazine.com/shop.

Edinburgh Art Festival, 1 August – 1 September, across the city.