More than 50 exhibitions in venues and galleries across the capital will form the fifth Edinburgh Art Festival (EAF) in August.

More than 50 exhibitions in venues and galleries across the capital will form the fifth Edinburgh Art Festival (EAF) in August.

This year the festival will feature all the major city- centre galleries, including the National Galleries of Scotland and their major summer show, featuring works by Tracey Emin.

But it will also involve exhibitions outside the city's centre, including Portobello and Musselburgh.

"This year it is an eclectic festival," said its director, Joanne Brown.

"I think you can see from the programme, which is published on Monday, that the festival is now becoming a catalyst for new ideas, and is encouraging artists and curators in the city to put their art - just as Glasgow has done for some time - in temporary and non-permanent places.

"Using those kind of spaces is something that has been very popular in Glasgow over the years but for some reason has never been done here in Edinburgh - but now I think the city is opening up to it."

There will be several new exhibitions in public spaces in Edinburgh, including Close Up at the Advocates Close, Big Things on the Beach on Portobello Promenade, and "camera", a series of works shown in a small glass cabinet attached to the side of the Museum of Edinburgh in the Canongate.

Ms Brown said: "I don't know why these kind of things have not been done often before in Edinburgh. Perhaps it is because it is a city with lots of venerable spaces, a lot of listed buildings, which sometimes gives a hands off' feeling to public spaces.

"Also, the city council has not been in that way of thinking over the years - but that is also changing."

Highlights of the festival's programme include the 20-year retrospective of Emin's work at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art; Richard Hamilton's exhibition at Inverleith House; Dame Elizabeth Blackadder at the Scottish Gallery; Chad McCail at Edinburgh Print Makers; and Richard Wilson's show in a derelict warehouse.

One of the city's leading galleries, the Ingleby, will also be opening its new premises - the largest private gallery outside London - with works by Mark Wallinger, Kay Rosen and Susan Collis in the former site of the noted Venue music club.

The EAF runs from July31 to August 31.