The Annuale, organised by the Embassy Gallery, is now in its fifth year. Running throughout August parallel to the Edinburgh Festivals, it’s an opportunity for local artists and instigators to remind ourselves, the city and its visitors, that we are here. In a range of permanent and temporary venues such as: vacant shop and office units; tenement flats; underground passageways; indoor and outdoor stairwells; public and private gardens; as well as regular and irregular publications, a huge spectrum of creativity is given an extra boost. This year there will be an emphasis on further galvanizing these disparate collectives with a series of salons, artist talks and a symposium highlighting the context of Edinburgh and its complex relationship with contemporary art. We want to highlight the local at a time when the emphasis tends to be on the international. It’s a motivational support network built upon the grassroots foundations that actually function here all year round. A practical and pragmatic camaraderie that says, perhaps we’ll be the bridesmaids, but at least we can have nice frocks.

BAND TOGETHER - WWW.ANNUALE.ORG