The University's involvement with this year's summer festivals in the city is showcased in Edit's 2018 photo gallery.
Every August, Edinburgh becomes the stage for artists, comedians, actors and creatives from all over the world. Visitors are drawn to the city in their thousands to enjoy performances, shows and exhibitions by an eclectic range of well-known and up-and-coming talent.
The University has a special relationship with the city's many festivals, offering its buildings as venues and sharing the expertise of staff and students to give people a memorable experience. This year has been no exception. Here are some of the University's highlights from 2018's Edinburgh International Festival, Festival Fringe, Edinburgh Art Festival and Edinburgh Book Festival.
It was the fourth year that the University was an official partner of the Edinburgh International Festival’s opening ceremony. During the epic sound and light event, Five Telegrams, huge projections illuminated the front of the city’s Usher Hall, while a choir of young people sang among the crowd. More than 15,000 people gathered for the outdoor digital and live performance.
The theme of the event was inspired by the centenary of the end of the First World War. Performance costume students from the University's Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) created capes for the Five Telegrams choir. The students were invited to co-design the costumes as part of the Year of Young People 2018 and undertook extensive research into how soldiers sent messages home.
Researchers from the University took part in this year’s Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas at the Festival Fringe. Academics explored a range of topics, blending research with comedy to engage audiences in discussions about important issues.
A pop-up pavilion showcasing prototypes and interactive installations from the University’s Centre for Design Informatics was installed on George Street. Data Pipe Dreams: Glimpse of a Near Future, which investigated the possibilities of designing with data, was the outcome of work from researchers, Masters students and a partnership with Tesco Bank.
Masters students showcased their artwork at the ECA's annual Festival Exhibition. Pictured are students Huai Ya Lin and Stephanie McGowan with a piece they worked on together.
A number of ECA’s studios and spaces also featured work as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival. Graduate and Artist-in-Residence Siobhan Healy’s Biodiversity exhibition of more than 30 intricate glass artworks is the result of research into endangered plants and animals in collaboration with artist and writer Alisdair Gray.
The University's Centre for Research Collections partnered up with Edinburgh's Ingleby Gallery to put on two festival shows: Astronomy Victorious at the University Main Library and Jacob’s Ladder
at Ingleby Gallery. Running until 27 October, special pieces from the University's collections feature alongside contemporary artists including alumna Katie
Paterson. Her Timepieces installation shows a series of nine clocks that tell the time on the planets in our solar system.
The University once again took part in the Edinburgh Book Festival with its prestigious James Tait Black Prizes. Tanika Gupta won the prize for drama with Lions and Tigers, pictured centre with the Principal of the University Peter Mathieson and television and radio presenter Shereen Nanjiani who hosted the event. Craig Brown won the biography prize and Eley Williams won the fiction prize. The James Tait Black Prizes are the UK’s longest-running literary awards.
Alumna author, journalist and critic Kaite Welsh appeared on the panel of a special live recording of BBC Radio 4's Open Book programme hosted by Mariella Frostrup at the Edinburgh Book Festival in Charlotte Square.
The recently refurbished McEwan Hall made a stunning Fringe show venue while Bristo Square was transformed into a lush garden for festival-goers to soak up the atmosphere.
The pop-up stalls and outdoor seating in George Square Gardens were busy as ever this year, offering a welcome break in between festival shows.
Potterrow, home to student services including the Advice Place and Activities Office, was transformed into a colourful festival venue.
