Capital unveils programme for festival sites

Capital unveils programme for festival sites

Edinburgh Art Festival (EAF), which runs in the capital from July 31 to August 31, has announced its 2014 city-wide commissions programme and further details of off-site projects.

Among the more unusual locations for commissions are Trinity Apse, a gothic kirk just off the Royal Mile, where Craig Coulthard, above, will present his new video work The Drummer And The Drone (which explores the evolution of military drone technology and the act of remembrance), and an old police box on Easter Road, which will house Yann Seznec's sound installation Currents and a series of performances.

Elsewhere, the Where Do I End And You Begin exhibition (which also forms part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme and Homecoming Scotland 2014) will feature more than 20 artists selected by curators from across the Commonwealth.

Examining the notion of "the Commonwealth" - its history and its future - this exhibition will take over four floors of the City Arts Centre but also include a major off-site presentation of Indian artist Amar Kanwar's film installation The Sovereign Forest in the debating chamber of Edinburgh's Old Royal High School, presenting a rare opportunity for the public to enter the building that was famously redeveloped for political purposes ahead of the 1979 devolution referendum.

l www.edinburghartfestival.com

Search is on for young stars

Entrants are being sought for the Young Scottish Traditional Musician of the Year 2015 competition. Since its inception the competition has proved a stepping stone to further success for winners including Emily Smith, Ewan Robertson (of Braebach), Shona Mooney (of The Shee), Rona Wilkie, pictured, and Paddy Callaghan.

Musicians aged 16-27 inclusive can apply by sending a completed application form, which can be obtained online or by phoning 0141 942 2616, along with a 10-minute CD recording of their playing and/or singing, a short biography, and a paragraph explaining their commitment to a career in traditional music.

The closing date is Friday July 4 and the semi-finals will be held at Wiston Lodge, South Lanarkshire over the weekend of October 3-5. Six finalists will then go forward to the Grand Final, during Celtic Connections at City Halls, Glasgow on Sunday February 1.

l scottishcultureonline.com

Town gears up for folk event

Moniaive Folk Festival goes ahead this weekend from Friday to Sunday. Appearing in various venues in the Dumfriesshire town are singer-songwriter Karine Polwart, Northern Ireland's Craobh Rua, English rising stars the Old Dance School, Swedish song and dance music specialists Svanevit, and the current Young Scottish Traditional Musician of the Year, Scots singer Robyn Stapleton.

There's dancing to local favourites, Caper Ceilidh Band and Cera Impala and the New Prohibition, children's events and piping competitions.

l moniaivefolkfestival.co.uk