The task of navigating Edinburgh’s art scene can be daunting and dizzy. It’s easy to fall under the alluring trap of the National Galleries over and over again, only to stare at The Monarch of the Glen for the thousandth time. But Edinburgh hosts a plethora of incredible emerging artists as well as the classics—this guide hopes to shine a light on the wide variety of art the city has to offer.
In the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, we have Stills Photography Centre. More than just a gallery, Stills gives visitors access to a library, events, and courses. With previous exhibitions featuring work by photographers like Martin Parr, Johny Pitts, and Markéta Luskačová, Stills always ensures to feature the work of local talents and younger creatives without a strong voice in the industry yet. Their upcoming exhibition, Stills Salon, will spotlight over 80 contributing artists, all linked to the gallery in some way, from the Stills School alumni to international artists. The exhibition showcases the community that is created through the gallery’s darkrooms while also inspiring you to join. Stills has also recently opened Scotland’s only analogue photobooth, allowing you to immortalise your visit by dabbling in the art of film photography.
Just down the road from Stills, you can make a stop by the City Art Centre. Coming from Sweden and the Netherlands is Euan Gray and Witte Wartena’s POP LIFE exhibition. The exhibition aims to highlight all the cultural influences that make up popular culture and its intersection with different drawing practices. This leg of the traveling exhibition features Scottish artists and will also be showcasing work by those who have never been shown in Scotland before. For those interested in understanding the curatorial process for this exhibition more deeply, there is also a curator’s tour which you can attend.
For the art lover enslaved to their 9 to 5, it can be more difficult to find the time to visit these events. The Fruitmarket have commissioned an artwork by Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller that can be downloaded on your phone. The hour-long immersive experience starts at the bottom of Advocate’s Close and guides you through the winding streets of Edinburgh after dark. Creating a surreal audio-visual work, you can discover the city through the artist’s magical storytelling. Fruitmarket also offers evening events ranging from book talks and album launches; the “Fresh Fruit” workshops are highly recommended for those interested in art writing.
In the old city observatory at the top of Calton Hill, you will find Collective tucked behind the dynamic views. An artist-run initiative, Collective ensures to support emerging creative voices through their Satellites Programme. Their latest exhibition features varied media works from the six artists chosen for this year’s programme: Clarinda Tse, Emelia Kerr Beale, Hannan Jones, Josie KO, Katherine Fay Allan, and Rowan Markson. The title pass shadow, whisper shade is inspired by the irish proverb “Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine,” which roughly translates as “people live in each other’s shadows.” This exhibition hopes to explore concepts of inheritance and how generational legacies affect present-day identities.
Though Edinburgh is a hub for Scottish creativity, it can be easy to forget this when looking at the art scene. If we want to see this space continually grow, then we must support local artists and experimental collectives. The galleries which have been highlighted champion these ideas, and seek to inspire you to find out more.
“‘Everything is going to be alright’ light installation on Edinburgh’s Gallery of Modern Art” by Karen V Bryan is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.
