The Edinburgh Mela Festival 2008

Monday 25th to Sunday 31st August

A carnival atmosphere with a vibrant and exciting mix of theatre, dance and music,
The Edinburgh Mela Festival is a lively event for all the family.

Supported by the City of Edinburgh Council, the Scottish Arts Council and sponsored by Forth Ports the Mela has grown in recent years to a bigger and bolder week-long Festival based in Leith, Edinburgh.

Welcome to the Edinburgh Mela Festival 2008

…a celebration and exploration of the people, places and identities that reflect the many diverse communities found in Scotland, the UK and the rest of the world. We present this to you in the form of a Mela, meaning 'Gathering' in the ancient language of Sanskrit; an event where the arts combine with (endless) opportunities to sample food and crafts from a range of cultures.

We have a passionate commitment to showcase some of the best work created in the UK by minority ethnic artists, or those who choose to work in a culturally diverse way; innovative work that engages with important themes or that pushes at artistic boundaries to create new possibilities.

Alongside our UK artists, you will find some hugely talented international artists, who we are delighted to welcome to Edinburgh this August.

Our Mela Festival is evolving, with a new location and a range of new venues, each programmed in different ways. There are now weekday ticketed events and a strengthened weekend programme. We look forward to welcoming you to our world of creativity.

Councillor Steve Cardownie
Chair of the Board

Liam Sinclair
Festival Director