Collective Gala returns this weekend
Collective is delighted to announce the return of the Collective Gala, offering a free and vibrant celebration of art, music, food and tours across Calton Hill this Sunday.
Article Source: Collective
Last Updated: 3 September 2025 9:41
Following the success of Collective’s inaugural Gala Day in 2023, the contemporary art gallery is delighted to announce the return of the Collective Gala that will take place on Sunday 7 September 2025, from 11am - 5pm.
Now in its second edition, the Collective Gala invites audiences of all ages to experience Collective’s unique site on Calton Hill and engage with the organisation’s wide-ranging programmes.
This year’s event offers the opportunity to explore newly commissioned artworks by Scottish artists, join behind-the-scenes tours, shop with local makers, sample Edinburgh’s new Cafe Calton, and enjoy creative play sessions for children.
The day will culminate in a celebratory procession inspired by Gala traditions – led by multi-disciplinary artist and singer Quinie and visual artist Seamus Killick.
The procession will be followed by a live music performance by Scottish artist and performer Quinie, also known as Josie Vallely, whose multi-disciplinary practice blends folk traditions, walking, song, storytelling and visual art to explore Scots language, memory, land and belonging.
For the Collective Gala, Quinie explores how to celebrate local communities through remembered and imagined traditions. She will unveil an artwork inspired by the panoramic view from Calton Hill, collaging together the Gala traditions of the towns and communities seen from the top of the hill - a tie to the current Panorama exhibition on display at Collective.
Since reopening the restored City Observatory complex in 2018, Collective has welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors to Calton Hill. In that time, it has established itself as a dynamic home for contemporary art, connecting audiences with the Observatory’s rich scientific and architectural heritage while offering a platform for bold new artistic voices.
Schedule for Collective Gala
The Collective Gala will include a full day of activities designed to celebrate everything that makes Collective.
All day activities will include the opportunity to see and buy work from local makers, enjoy food from Cafe Calton, view a series of new commissioned prints by artist Quinie inspired by her research into Scottish Galas and the view from Calton Hill, explore the architecture of the site, check out the exhibition Panorama: New Views of a City and immerse within Mercedes Azpilicueta’s Fire on the Mountain, Light on the Hill before it closes.
Scheduled activities include creative play sessions for families led by artist Seamus Killick, Edinburgh Astronomical Society tours of the historic Cooke Telescope, a Black history walking tour of Collective and Calton Hill by author, poet and founder of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association Lisa Williams, a democracy walking tour of Collective and Calton Hill by local guide, researcher and writer Jean Bareham and a talk from Collective’s team about their summer exhibition Fire on the Mountain, Light on the Hill.
The day will culminate in a celebratory procession on Collective’s site and a live music performance by local artist Quinie accompanied by her band. The procession, featuring two ponies, is inspired by the Scottish traditions of gala days and Common Ridings.
Sorcha Carey, Director of Collective, said:
“Our second Gala is a moment to reflect on all we’ve achieved and share the spirit of Collective with friends old and new. Through art, play, food and conversation, we’re inviting everyone to discover new perspectives on Calton Hill, the city and beyond.”
The programme of activities can be booked at Collective on the Gala Day, however booking for the walking tours is encouraged ahead of time due to limited capacity.
For the full schedule, visit: www.collective-edinburgh.art/programme/gala-2025
For more information about Collective visit www.collective-edinburgh.art
Image credit: Sally Jubb
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