Art, theatre, festivals and fun this summer in Scotland

By: Ruth Wilkinson
Date: 5 June 2018

Looking for something to inspire you this summer? Every year, thousands flock to Edinburgh for the Fringe. But the Edinburgh Festivals are just a fraction of the fun on offer north of the border. Art, theatre, festivals and fun are everywhere in the Scottish summertime, and there’s plenty out there to make you laugh, cry and think.

We’d hate for you to miss out, so here are our top Scottish events to keep you busy and inspire your activism while the sun shines (and when it doesn’t).

Explore Scotland’s diversity through art

Head over to the Scotland Street Museum in Glasgow for GlaswegAsians (12 July-31 December), a glimpse into the past and present lives of the thriving local South Asian community, explored through documents, artefacts and photographs from the past century.

Or if you’re a bit further north, check out Moving Minds in Inverness (5 July – 6 August), a funny, often moving exploration of identity, culture and prejudice by artists from Scotland’s Traveller community.

Over in Dundee, catch the end of illustrator Laura Darling’s stunning Patterns of Migration exhibit (ends 24 June). Based on the artist’s time working in the International Women’s Centre, the collection tells fictionalised stories based on real women’s experiences of migration through print, pattern design and hand-lettering, highlighting what it means to be an immigrant in Scotland.

March in the footsteps of Scottish suffragettes

Take up your banners and march –thousands of women and girls will be marching through the streets to commemorate 100 years of women’s right to vote. Join the Processions march (10 June) in Edinburgh, with matching events in Cardiff, London, and Belfast.

Afterwards, spend some time at the National Museum of Scotland browsing their commemorative exhibition Their Work Is Not Forgotten (8 June – 14 October), showcasing art, banners and materials by Scottish suffragettes, and telling the story of these indomitable women’s tireless work for change.

Celebrate LGBTQ Scots

After 30 years of LGBT events in Scotland, Pride is huge and getting bigger and better year on year. The main events are in Edinburgh (16 June) and Glasgow (15-16 July), both seeing thousands fill the streets to celebrate, but for the first time this year, there are also festivals in Aberdeen (sadly, it’s passed, but it was amazing!) and Dundee (22 September). Come along and wave your rainbow flag high (and if you’re in Glasgow, we’ll see you there. Don’t forget to stop by our stall and say hi!)

Catch a show to make you think

In summer, Edinburgh is the place to be for performances. But you don’t have to hit the Fringe to find great shows – from buzzing basements to vibrant festivals, theatre is an essential part of your Scottish summer.

Check out Woke, a new play by Edinburgh regular Apphia Campbell now touring around the UK, hitting Dumfries & Galloway (2-3 June), Paisley (14 June), and Birnam (26 July).

Or if you’re feeling adventurous, head down to the Bungo Club basement in Glasgow for The Sinister Wink (24 June), a blackly hilarious cabaret poking fun at the horrors of modern politics.

Watch a film (and change the world)

Edinburgh (3 June), Aberdeen (9 June), Dundee (10 June), Glasgow (16 June), Inverness (17 June), Irvine (23 June), Dumfries (23 June), Stirling (24 June)

Our friends at Take One Action are touring Not Without Us around Scotland this summer. This brilliant documentary follows seven grassroots activists around the world, connecting the dots between economic injustice, ecological disaster, and government’s refusal to act. Guaranteed to rouse you to change!

And to help you harness that energy, join Stop Climate Chaos Scotland before your local screening for an exciting interactive workshop. Hone your campaign skills, and bring the Scottish Government to task on climate change together.