Arcadia Scotland

Art and Culture

The Great Tapestry of Scotland: Throughout the Beginning of August, Scottish Parliament

Potentially the longest tapestry in the world (beating the Kieskamma tapestry in the South African parliament by a cool 23 meters), the artwork has been worked on by people from all across the country since 2012. It tells the story of Scotland's history from the formation of the land in the prehistoric era to the re-convention of the Scottish Parliament in 1998, in 160 panels and 143 meters of stitching.

Edinburgh Jews: Throughout the Beginning of August, National Library of Scotland

Situated in what was the heart of Edinburgh’s once thriving Jewish community, this free exhibition reveals for the first time the little known history of Jews in Edinburgh. Detailed research has discovered stories of immigration, world wars, local conflict and daily life interpreted through visually rich, informative displays. Spanning 300 years, this unique history is contextualized through mapping homes, businesses, places of worship and burial onto historic city maps from the 19th century to the 1960s. Visitors reading these maps can still walk the same streets in Edinburgh’s Old Town where this once important community lived and thrived.

Counterpoint: Throughout the Beginning of August, Talbot Rice Gallery

Non-thematic group show featuring work by eight artists, including Ross Birrell, Keith Farquhar, Alec Finlay and Craig Mulholland.

A-Z: An AlphabeticalTour of Scottish Art: Throughout the Beginning of August, City Art Centre

An overview of Scottish art from the 17th century to the present day, featuring artists from William Allan to Aleksander Zyw.

The Age of Improvement: Throughout the Beginning of August, Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Portraits from the century of Scotland's great transformation, 1750–1850, including Nasmyth's deliberately and stylishly unfinished picture of Robert Burns, Danloux's all-action portrait of Admiral Duncan keeping a cool head in the middle of a sea battle, Raeburn's picture of Walter Scott as king of the hill, before bankruptcy forced him to work himself to death, and Richard Dadd's unnerving, hyper-detailed picture of Sir Alexander Morison, the 'alienist' who was consultant to the Bethlem psychiatric hospital where Dadd was confined.

Alt-w: Throughout the Beginning of August, Edinburgh College of Art Evolution House

Work by Scottish artists who are developing artworks that expand the idea of what new media creativity can be. Featured artists include ~ in the fields, Chris Helson and Sarah Jackets, Hadi Mehrpouya and Robert Powell, Donna Leishman and Calum Stirling.

Art-late Central: 7 August, Various Venues, 6-10:30pm

Get guided around the art festival exhibitions in the center of the city with music, drinking and merrymaking thrown in for good measure. With performances from Craig Coulthard and Chris Devotion & the Expectations, and a look at the work at the Old Royal High School, Trinity Apse and City Art Center. Presented in partnership with The List.

The Art of Golf: The Story of Scotland's National Sport: Throughout the Beginning of August, Scottish National Gallery

A major overview of the role of golf in Scotland's national life, which by a complete coincidence is on view before, during and immediately after the 2014 Ryder Cup tournament in Gleneagles. Many classic images of the game are present, including Charles Lees' The Golfers (1847), and pictures by Rembrandt, Sir Henry Raeburn and John Lavery, among others.

Edinburgh Art Festival: Throughout the Beginning of August, Various Venues

40+ exhibitions at leading galleries, museums and artist-run spaces.

Music, Comedy and Dance

Edinburgh International Festival: Beginning 8 August, Various Venues and Times

Every August, the Edinburgh International Festival transforms one of the world's most beautiful cities, presenting three exhilarating weeks of the finest creators and performers from the worlds of the arts - for everyone.

Daniel Padden and Wounded Knee: And Blithely Spend the Gowden Day: 12-14 August, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 5pm

A new song cycle celebrating the seasons, inspired by Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills. The musicians draw on diverse influences including African guitar minimalism, cosmic jazz and folk traditions.

Best of Edinburgh Showcase: Throughout the Beginning of August, Pleasance Courtyard, 1.10pm

The best and brightest of this year's Fringe comics and with a new line up every day, the Showcase Show is the longest running and best loved lunchtime comedy show, popular amongst comics and comedy fans alike. Whipping up a selection of top comedy acts into a delicious lunchtime feast and held in the best comedy room in town. Perfect for comedy fans looking for some early afternoon laughs. ‘A perfect bite-size flavor of the festival – a must-see’ ★★★★ (ThreeWeeks, 2009). ‘A brilliant way to discover new talent’ ★★★★ (ThreeWeeks, 2011).

Dougie MacLean: 1 August, The Queen's Hall, 7.30pm

Scotland's foremost folk/roots troubadour, renowned for his meaningful, haunting music.

Sleep Sound: 12-14 August, Summerhall, 10.30pm

Fiona Rutherford New genre-crossing music by Fiona Rutherford. Originally a Celtic Connections commission, Sleep Sound is inspired by the structure of a night's sleep. Lose yourself in this beautifully vivid soundtrack, featuring some of Scotland's top musicians in both the traditional and contemporary fields.

Lectures, Sports and Local Festivals

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival: Throughout the Beginning of August, Various Venues and Times

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world and takes place every August for three weeks in Scotland’s capital city. Come and join us in the celebration of arts and entertainment!

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo: Throughout the Beginning of August, Edinburgh Castle Esplanade

This unique event draws crowds (and performers) from all over the world with massed pipes and drums, massed military bands, display teams, dancers and the haunting lament of the Lone Piper set against the magnificent backcloth of Edinburgh Castle.