Tracy Emin’s 5 E
Where the art is
Edinburgh Art Festival has Emin and more for August Words: Anna Millar
nother week, another festival
launches. Hot on the heels of the
Fringe, the EIF and the Edinburgh lntemational Book Festival, relative newbie the Edinburgh Art Festival last week laid its stall, boasting a roster of art glitterati from a 20-year Tracy Emin retrospective at the Scottish National Gallery of Modem to an array of works from such established artists as Alexander Heim, Kay Rosen and Richard Wilson.
Other highlights of the month long art fest include Frances Richardson, who returns to the Corn Exchange Gallery and Japanese artist Takaya Fujii, who exhibits at the Scottish Poetry Library.
This year‘s line-up boasts over 50 exhibitions spanning public and private galleries, long-established spaces and new galleries, with over l2() associated events added to the mix for good measure.
The Festival is also set to expand its creative reach out with the city centre to both Portobello, with the continued participation of Big Things in the Beach, and Musselburgh where Eskmills shows work for the first time.
Last night organizers said the growth of
the Festival in such a short space of time showed its long-term potential.
‘Creating a focus for the visual arts during Festival time was the motivating force behind the galleries’ desire to establish an annual Art Festival,’ said Tessa Jackson, Chair of the EAF Board. “Now, five years
after the inaugural event the Edinburgh Art
Festival can truly be said to have come of
age as an increasing number of the city’s galleries commission and curate exhibitions specially for the Festival. and the programme of associated events attracts an ever larger and broader audience.‘
Amanda Catto, Head of Visual Arts at the Scottish Arts Council said she hoped that the EAF would, helped by Edinburgh’s popularity over the month of August, attract audiences to the full range of the city’s artistic potential.
“The Edinburgh Art Festival provides the opportunity for audiences in the City and visitors alike to experience a wide range of exciting exhibitions and events featuring work from some of the world's most imaginative visual artists.’
EAF runs from 31 Jul-31 Aug
continues that Scottish actor James McAvoy is set to take the lead role in the new movie version of Lord Of The Rings prequel The Hobbit.
The Tolkien adaptation will be directed by Guillermo del Toro and begin filming in New Zealand later this year.
SCOTS TRIBUTE band The Complete Stone Roses have joined forces with former Joy Division bassist Peter Hook to record a version of the classic ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’, with an accompanying video. All profits from this release will be given directly to Cancer Research UK. See the video at www.stoneroses. net.
been shortlisted in the Best Large Unusual Venue category, at the inaugural Scottish Event Awards 2008. The winners will be announced during a gala dinner on 4 Sep at Glasgow Science Centre.
MORE ROCK NESS
l MANY may still be reveling form this year’s Rock Ness festival but the event organizers have set up an Early Bird ‘buy now, pay later’ scheme for 2009 tickets. For a deposit of £30+booking fee, festival lovers can eliminate any worry about not getting their hands on a ticket for next year’s shindig. The scheme will run as a limited offer until the end of September. 35,000 fans descend on Rock Ness to see headlining acts, such as Razorlight, Fatboy Slim, Editors, Underworld and The Wew. Early Bird tickets are on sale now at www.ticketline.co.uk, www.ticketmaster.co.uk and www.seetickets.com. For more info see www.rockness.co.uk.
DEGREE FOR DENCH
St Andrews University has honoured actress Dame Judi Dench with an honorary degree for her work on stage and screen. Dench said she was ‘delighted and surprised’ to be made a doctor of letters.
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