Just Festival
The Just Festival creates a space for dialogue and platforms for engagement in local, national and international questions of social justice, equality and identity, both from the religious and non-religious perspectives. In line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it celebrates humanity in all its differences, promoting the exploration of new perspectives with the aim of reducing religious, political and social intolerance.
This year we continue our partnership with Live Music Now Scotland to offer a series of free lunchtime concerts which focus on themes of individual spirituality. We’ve also two very exciting new partnerships.
We’re delighted to be working with Museums & Galleries Edinburgh to programme a weekend long Festival of Faiths as part of the official Edinburgh 900 celebrations, as our city marks its 900th birthday. Over a weekend in August, we’ve a range of events from members of our city’s Jewish, Pagan, Christian, Baha’i and Hindu communities in the stunning surroundings of Lauriston Castle. We’re also looking forward to hosting Bethany Christian Trust in St John’s for a run of the play Insiders, which focuses on the lives and stories of three male prisoners as they grapple with issues surrounding identity, religion, and faith in the hardest of times.
Here is the programme for this year:
1 August: Mary Reid – Harp (St John’s, Princes Street, 1pm). More details
8 August: Amy Strachan and Daniel Silcock – Soprano and Piano (St John’s, Princes Street, 1pm). More details
13–16 August: Insiders, Bethany Christian Trust (five performances at St John’s, Princes Street). More details
15 August: Edinburgh’s Jewish Heritage (Lecture Room, Lauriston Castle, 1pm). More details
15 August: Reviving the Ancient: Exploring the links between Heathenry and Shinto (Lauriston Castle Gardens, 3pm). More details
16 August: Introduction to Iconography (Lecture Room, Lauriston Castle, 2pm). More details
16 August: Rakhi Bracelet Making (Lecture Room, Lauriston Castle, 3pm). More details
16 August: Henna Art (Lecture Room, Lauriston Castle, 3pm). More details
16 August: Expressing the Elements: Nature-inspired Poetry Workshop (Lecture Room, Lauriston Castle, 4pm). More details
17 August: The Mystic Ring – String Quartet Open Workshop (Lecture Room, Lauriston Castle, 2pm). More details
17 August: Inside Insiders (Lecture Room, Lauriston Castle, 4pm). More details
18 August: The Mystic Ring (St John’s, Princes Street, 1pm). More details
22 August: Katie Bell – Cello (St John’s, Princes Street, 1pm). More details