Just Festival celebrates its 21st year with an exciting programme
Edinburgh’s social justice and human rights festival is coming of age this summer with its biggest event yet.
Article Source: Just Festival
First Published: 19 July 2021 9:56
Updated: 19 July 2021 9:57
Edinburgh’s Just Festival Celebrates 21st Year With Bumper Programme
Free to attend programme online and at St. John’s Church, Princes Street from 6th – 30th August.
Edinburgh’s social justice and human rights festival is coming of age this summer with its biggest event yet.
Among the headline offerings are a poignant new choral work, No Alleluias: A Requiem for 2020, specially commissioned to celebrate the festival’s 21st birthday and an online appearance by former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen who spent several weeks in intensive care after contracting Covid-19.
Both reflect on the extraordinary experiences faced during the past year and Rosen – “not dead yet,” he says – considers how we can emerge from the pandemic with a more equal future.
Originally established as the Festival of Spirituality and Peace, Just Festival celebrates humanity in all its differences and encourages the exploration of new perspectives in the hope of reducing religious, political and social intolerance.
Festival director Helen Trew says: “The last year has shattered many illusions and laid bare the inequality at the heart of our society. So, as we come of age, it is time to put our shoulder to the wheel of a better, fairer, inclusive future for us all.”
Running from August 6-30, the festival features a range of innovative events and art installations presented, through a blend of digital discussion and performance plus live audience event, in St John's Church and the surrounding area.
The No Alleluias requiem, a mix of live and virtual choir, was inspired by preacher and theologian Rev Dr Karen George Thompson and describes her experience of last Easter Sunday. Having lost her father to Covid and been infected with the virus herself, she also saw her community suffer and found the uplifting Easter message replaced with melancholy. The resulting choral work, composed by Anthony Hammond with lyrics by Robert Rae, is an extraordinarily moving piece and will help close this year’s festival.
The programme also includes: a live installation of Peace Cranes when 140,000 origami birds will be positioned throughout St John's Church as symbols of hope for inter-generational justice and a call for a solution to the nuclear and climate emergencies; Photography under Siege, an exhibition of photographer Mahmoud al Khurd’s images of life in Gaza today and an evening of music and conversation with Northern Irish peace activist Tommy Sands.
And the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas returns this year, looking at issues including children’s access to nature and outdoor play, debating whether we need to-re-wild youngsters.
With the exception of the No Alleluias performance, all events are free to attend, although a donation is suggested to support the festival whose main sponsors this year are Elephants in Action, a part of ELE Global, with support from EventScotland, Scotland's Events Recovery Fund and the Culture & Business Fund Scotland, managed by Arts & Business Scotland.
Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events, said: “The Just Festival is a timely event that I am sure will spark engaging debate while offering a welcome return to in-person experiences for audiences alongside its impressive virtual programme and I am delighted that EventScotland has been able to support it through Scotland’s Events Recovery Fund.”
Helen Foord, CEO and founder of ELE Global comments: “The team is delighted to be supporting Just Festival again, helping to celebrate 21 fantastic years. And we’re proud to be associated with an event whose values of tolerance and encouraging new ways of looking at the world are ever more important in these challenging times.”
For more information visit https://www.just-festival.org/
Latest Edinburgh News
St James Quarter announces partnership with two Edinburgh charities
Today, 24th September, St James Quarter is proud to announce its partnership with two Edinburgh charities, Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids and Deaf Action.
Edinburgh volunteer clocks up the miles on fundraising tour of iconic Scottish locations
Rosemary Laird is in the midst of a personal grand tour of Scotland, with the aim of visiting 61 iconic Scottish landmarks and locations on an epic fundraiser for the National Trust for Scotland.
Watch Scotland come to light with new film for Scotland Year of Coasts and Waters
Light Waves is a multilingual short film by Historic Environment Scotland which showcases Scotland’s coasts and waters and its links to Gaelic and Scots culture.
Tea blending returns to Leith, Edinburgh as PekoeTea launches new Tea Studio
Renowned Edinburgh tea blenders, PekoeTea will open a new Tea Studio this Friday, 24th September, which will provide a world-class venue for bespoke tea tasting and blending sessions.
Tall ask as artists wanted to transform Edinburgh with Giraffe About Town
Edinburgh Zoo is calling for artist submissions for its Giraffe About Town sculpture trail, set to transform the streets of the capital in summer 2022.
Adventure Park Bounces Back Bigger and Better
Conifox Adventure Park in Edinburgh is preparing to welcome back fun seekers with an even bigger and better offering that will quadruple business and boost local employment.
Sloths spotted across Edinburgh
Lothian’s first ever sloth bus will take to the streets this week in partnership with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo.
James Bond will screen from midnight at Vue Edinburgh Ocean and Omni on 30th September
007 finally returns to the big screen for 'No Time To Die' and shows begin from a minute past midnight at Vue Edinburgh Ocean and Omni – with tickets available now.
Underbelly submits planning application for Edinburgh Christmas 2021
Underbelly, the producers of Edinburgh’s Christmas on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, have officially submitted planning applications for the Capital’s 2021 Winter Festival.
Adorable red panda kit named at Edinburgh Zoo
An endangered red panda kit born at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo in July has been given her first health check and named Ruby.
Scottish Album of the Year Award announced Longlist
Scotland's national music prize, the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, has officially announced the twenty outstanding Scottish albums which have made it onto this year's coveted Longlist!
Edinburgh care home chef makes the finals of national competition
Iain Young, Head Chef at Care UK’s Murrayside, off Corstophine Road, has been named as a finalist in the National Association of Care Catering’s ‘Care Chef of the Year’ competition.
BBC Scotland Debate Night TV programme welcomes back studio audiences
We are excited to let you know that BBC Scotland's Debate Night is welcoming audiences back into the studio for their third series and are looking for people from across Scotland to join them!
John Lewis sponsor first Giraffe About Town sculpture
John Lewis Edinburgh has been announced as the first sculpture sponsor of Giraffe About Town, a large-scale public art event taking to the streets of Edinburgh in Summer 2022 in support of RZSS.
Edinburgh piper fills the walls of care home with Scottish tunes
A local Edinburgh bagpiper has been moving care home residents to tears with nostalgic melodies!
Second Hand September month at Oxfam
Consumers across Scotland are being urged to only buy pre-loved clothing for 30 days or more in order to tackle a throwaway culture that Oxfam Scotland says is making climate change worse.
Help save the planet in just 6 minutes during Recycle Week
Local businesses, artists, and makers are invited to share sustainability hacks at The Leith Collective’s ‘Let’s Talk Waste’ event on 23rd September.
World of Football Edinburgh Marine Drive to remain
Edinburgh’s World of Football Marine Drive to remain, plus additional sports facilities in discussion.
Visit Edinburgh Zoo after dark this Halloween
For the first time ever the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is hosting a family friendly Halloween trail at Edinburgh Zoo.
5 spots to enjoy delicious seafood in Edinburgh
Love Seafood has rounded up some of the best Edinburgh restaurants where locals can tuck into tempting white fish which will have you coming back for more.
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 8th edition in person and online to the worlD
The Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival welcomes film fans to its 8th Edition. The festival is delighted to be back in the cinema and offer audiences a new hybrid event of in-person and online.
Edinburgh Zoo welcomes the only sloths in Scotland
Scotland’s only sloths have been revealed for the first time at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo today, Monday 13 September.
Wondrous Woods launches Charity Partnership with Maggies
Scotland’s dazzling lighting trail Wondrous Woods is proud to announce its charity partner for 2021 is the inspirational cancer support organisation Maggie’s.
Bond tickets go on sale at Vue sites in Edinburgh
Tickets for the long-awaited new James Bond spectacular, No Time To Die, are on sale today (13th September) at Vue sites in Edinburgh.
Lynne Halfpenny appointed Chair of Imaginate Board
We're delighted to announce the appointment of Lynne Halfpenny as Imaginate's new Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Koala tea donation for Edinburgh Zoo
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has received a koala-tea £8,394 donation, raised by guests of Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh’s limited edition Edinburgh Zoo Afternoon Tea.
Edinburgh chippy hosts a beach clean to tackle waste
St Andrews Takeaway in Portobello teams up with Love Seafood and community group, Keep Porty Tidy, to help combat beach plastic pollution by offering free portions of fish and chips on 4th September.
A year of Transition and Experimentation as Edinburgh International Book Festival draws to a close
Organisers expressed their gratitude to authors, audiences & staff for having the courage to travel with them into unknown territory as Edinburgh International Book Festival closed last night.
Tiny endangered red panda born at Edinburgh Zoo
Keepers at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) have captured the first pictures of an eight-week-old endangered red panda kit at Edinburgh Zoo.
Academy Music Group expands in Scotland and announces new 3000 capacity venue in Edinburgh
Academy Music Group Limited (AMG) has today confirmed its expansion in Scotland with the announcement of O2 Academy Edinburgh, following the acquisition of the Edinburgh Corn Exchange.
Sponsored Links
