Professor Gary West, Chair of TRACS, has also been appointed Chair in Scottish Ethnology at the University of Edinburgh. The appointment began in August 2015 and Gary has spent his entire career to date at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1988 with MA (Hons) in Scottish Ethnology and Scottish Historical Studies, being appointed as … Continued

With Hallowe’en just around the corner, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival has been getting into the spooky spirit with a photoshoot in one of Edinburgh’s most haunted and horrifying locations, the underground vaults. This year, the Festival is championing a return to traditional guising with the Guisers Trail & Family Samhuinn, an afternoon of free … Continued

TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) are now accepting proposals for events to be held as part of TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann 2016, which will take place throughout Edinburgh between Wednesday 27th April and Sunday 8th May 2016. TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann is a vibrant celebration of folk arts in Edinburgh, celebrating music, … Continued

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival is the world’s largest celebration of live, traditional storytelling, taking place as the seasons change in Scotland’s stunning capital city and reaching out across the nation as Scottish tellers merge with guests from the Middle East, North Africa and Europe, in a fantastic, ten-day celebration of oral traditions and cultural … Continued

Storyteller and musician Bob Pegg presents Long Strider, an exploration of the life and times of one of Scotland’s most intrepid explorers, John Rae. Part of the Dingwall Word on the Street Festival, Long Strider blends traditional tales, folk song, extracts of letters and more in a spirited yet moving tribute to the Orkney-born Arctic … Continued

The Scottish Storytelling Centre invites tenders from suitably qualified and experienced catering companies or individuals for the opportunity to operate the café within the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile. Download the invitation to tender document which fully explains what the Scottish Storytelling Centre does, the expectations for the future of the café and … Continued

Festivals Edinburgh has appointed Julia Amour as its new Director, succeeding Faith Liddell who is stepping down from the role in November. Julia brings significant experience to the position developed across the cultural, economic development and education sectors, having previously held senior positions with the British Council, Scottish Development International and the Scottish Higher Education … Continued

The Scottish Poetry Library is soon to bring some of Scotland’s finest writing to the streets of Edinburgh with BIG WORDS, a new project created in collaboration with the New Waverley development. Launching on the morning of National Poetry Day, 8 October, BIG WORDS will see the Sailor’s Ark building on Canongate adorned with a … Continued

It’s fitting that while the Queen officially launches the reinstated Borders-to-Edinburgh train line after nearly a fifty year wait, James Spence is getting ready to launch his curated collection of Border folk tales, which is the first in over 20 years. Sir Walter Scott – whom Waverley Station is named in honour of – was … Continued

The staff of the Scottish Storytelling Centre and Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (TRACS) were saddened to hear the news of the death of Scottish poet Tessa Ransford, OBE. Tessa, aged 77, was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, and died in hospice, with members of her family at her side. She will be remembered … Continued