For the past thirteen years, the Edinburgh Festival of Spirituality and Peace has attracted thousands of people to hundreds of events. But when this year’s Festival programme is launched next week, it will be under a new, and as yet unrevealed ‘mystery’ name. However, it promises to unveil a “vibrant and engaging programme of culture and conversation”.
Katherine Newbigging
Director at Festival of Spirituality and Peace
At the launch, there will be music from harpist Mio Shapley; a blend of Balkan folk, Classical Arabic and Medieval Italian music from Duo Hyperborea, and high energy township gospel from an acapella five-piece group, Africa Entsha, who were discovered busking in Johannesburg. Representatives from the festival’s two nominated charities for 2013, Mary’s Meals and Waverly Care, will speak at the launch, as well as Edinburgh Muslim women’s organisation, Beyond the Veil.
Twelve faith and non-faith participants will symbolically launch the programme with a blessing. These include representatives from Church of Scotland, Muslim, Sikh, Baha’i, Buddhist, Jewish, Pagan, Humanist and Hindu communities. The festival, which runs from 2-26 August, will included a huge variety of performances, conversations, film screenings, talks, workshops, family events and exhibitions. It amounts to annual celebration of culture, faith, philosophy and ideas, seeking to foster understanding and mutual respect for each other as individuals and as communities on a local and global scale.
The launch event on the 18th of June is free but ticketed: book for ‘just the beginning’ via Eventbrite. It will take place at St John’s Church, on the junction of Princes Street and Lothian Road, from 7-9pm.