EDINBURGH's Festival has issues a call to young people to be part of its opening event.

Five Telegrams is a free, outdoor performance comprising large-scale illuminations and projections on the Usher Hall, and a new work for orchestra and chorus, which will open the EIF on the 3 August this year.

It is sponsored by Standard Life Aberdeen, and marks both 100 years since the end of the First World War.

Young performers are invited to participate in bringing to life the artistic vision of event creators Anna Meredith and 59 Productions.

In total 250 young people are being sought to form a youth chorus which will perform live during the event.

The youth chorus will be led by Stephen Deazley, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Love Music Community Choir.

No previous singing experience is required.

www.eif.co.uk

A CALL is being made to artists, curators, artistic directors, festival leaders and writers to apply for money to enable joint project with Quebec and the UK.

Quebec is asking for ideas to be submitted for projects to take place in 2019 and 2020.

The program aims to "encourage new cultural exchanges and develop partnerships between Québec and UK organisations and artists over the next two years."

The application deadline is September 30 this year.

www.britishcouncil.org

RARELY-shown portraits of famous actors, writers and other celebrities will soon be on show in an exhibition in the Borders.

Running during the Baillie Gifford Borders Book Festival 2018 in Melrose, from 11 - 24 June the exhibition at Marmions will feature portraits of stars including Richard E Grant, Ewan McGregor, Irvine Welsh, Muhammad Ali, John Byrne and Jennifer Saunders, among others.

Shot by Lloyd Smith over a period of 20 years, whilst he worked for organisations such as Edinburgh’s Film Festival and International Festival and The Herald, all the photographs will be for sale.

The money raised will go to support the work of The Margaret Kerr palliative care unit at the Borders General Hospital in Melrose.

www.lloydsmithphotography.com