We’ve been really busy here at the Edinburgh Mela…
The Edinburgh Mela Festival returned to Pilrig Park in 2009 for most events, but also saw a new cricket event take place at Academy Park in collaboration with Culture and Sport and ActivCity.
We had a jam packed performance programme for the festival at Pilrig Park spread across our Big Top and Garden Stages. Highlights included our second commission for ‘Yatra’, as part of Homecoming 2009 celebrations, which brought together Taiko drumming, South Asian music and dance, with Scottish Traditional Music. Current global events were reflected in a music and film commission from GOL that explored the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. International talent was well represented with artists from Hon Kong, Ghana, Uganda, and a 13 strong dance ensemble from India who were supported by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
The Asian music scene was out in force with Mona Singh, Tigertsyle, Imran Khan, Surinder Rattan and Panjabi Hit Squad all getting the Big Top jumping.
Along with many of the other summer festivals in Edinburgh we formed part of the Singapore Arts showcase with two performances by New Asia and there was once again an extensive programme of activities for children and their families as well as the popular food, craft and charities market.
For a full festival breakdown please click on either Festival 2009 or Festival Image Gallery links for more information. You can read our Four Star Festival Review in our Latest News section.
We would like to extend our warmest thanks and appreciation to all those who funded, supported and contributed to such a fantastic festival. But we’re not stopping there…
As well as plans being underway for the 2010 festival we have a number of strands of work throughout the year.
Outlandish – our quarterly pre-club events in collaboration with Wave Theatre showcasing Scotland’s diverse creative talent
CARGO – a show we have been developing about stories of migration
Engage – our programme of work for schools and communities
New Work New Directions – our residency programme for artists from minority background
Have a look at the links on the left for more information.
