Edinburgh Art Festival’s event for World AIDS Day 2025 (1 Dec) celebrated the ongoing work of Ally Van Tillo: Leith resident, and pioneering activist in the Scottish fight against the AIDS crisis. People gathered to watch There Is A Light That Never Goes Out, a 1995 documentary about the Hyde Park display of the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt: an immense community arts project founded by Van Tillo. As well as a discussion on the legacy of HIV/AIDS activism and the chance to see part of the Quilt itself, visitors were treated to a performance of 80s hits from a community choir, before congregating outside to light up the night with a torchlit gathering.

The Generation Fringe project (formerly Fringe Young Ambassadors) helps a group of 12-15 year-olds from high schools around Edinburgh to explore career pathways in the arts. They meet with arts professionals to gain insights into the various aspects of the industry, such as technical theatre, performance, hair and makeup, costume design, artist services, customer services, marketing, programming and more.

Paper Trails is Edinburgh International Book Festival’s multi-year communities project working to tackle literacy inequality and social isolation in partnership with Edinburgh Libraries. Over Autumn 2025, the Book Festival worked with the Mobile Libraries team to deliver five-week poetry residencies in eight care homes across the city. The project provided a space for the residents to listen to and create their own poetry, as well as bringing the joy of the Book Festival to people who may not be able to attend in person anymore.

Creative Encounters was Imaginate’s landmark project, placing children’s voices at the heart of the creative process. For three years, children participated in weekly artist-led activities that fostered creative expression, built self-confidence, and created joyful experiences in a supportive environment. Election by Bishop May Down, commissioned by North Edinburgh Youth Arts Collective, imagined children as bigwig decision-makers with the power to make real change. Three eleven-year-olds in oversized suits and fake moustaches delivered a political manifesto, offering a child’s perspective on what is valuable in the world.

The values of discovery and connection guide the work of Edinburgh International Festival both on and off stage. Their multi-year Community Connections Hub partnership with Space @ The Broomhouse Hub works year-round to build co-created programmes rooted in the local community’s ideas.

The Welcome to the International Festival course was tailored for international residents of Edinburgh, inviting group members to explore how experiencing different cultures connects us. Developing conversational skills through engaging with creativity, participants took part in workshops with International Festival artists and found out more about the different job roles involved in welcoming audiences to the Festival. This all culminated in August, with course participants helping to organise an international community meal which featured dishes from their cultures and welcomed International Festival musicians to perform. Working together, this project created a shared space celebrating culture and connection.

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF)’s dynamic programme offers audiences the opportunity to engage directly with filmmakers and creative talent. In Conversation events and post-screening Q&As provide deeper insight into the craft of filmmaking while strengthening the connection between artists and audiences, reinforcing our commitment to supporting emerging voices and fostering meaningful dialogue around independent film.

Run by Latin dance specialist Albi Mendoza, from Bolivia, Latin Dance Inclusive is a community-based project that introduces young people with disabilities, alongside their parents, carers and families, to the joy of dance in a fun, friendly and inclusive environment.

The weekly sessions with the Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival allow participants to follow or create their own movements through choreographies inspired by different Latin rhythms. Friends, family members, and support workers are all warmly welcomed to join in, helping to create a supportive, joyful atmosphere where everyone feels included. Young people who initially observed from the doorway have gradually grown in confidence, moving into the space, participating fully, and eventually leading dances with their own favourite moves. Alongside this growth, strong and meaningful friendships have formed among the young people, and also between parents and carers.

Storytelling is an important part of Deaf culture. The Scottish International Storytelling Festival set up the BSL storytelling workshops at the Blackwood Bar, to provide a welcoming space where the Deaf community can come together to share stories, humour, memories or anything they feel inspired to perform in BSL.

Just as people share music or poetry in bars, this is a space for visual storytelling, connection and creativity. The workshops are open, relaxed and community-led, encouraging people to build confidence, develop storytelling skills and celebrate Deaf culture together. Everyone is welcome, whether they want to perform, learn or simply enjoy the stories.