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August 6-29 Finding the Sacred - Art Exhibition (admission free)

Featuring works by Graham Barbour, Rai Barbour, Jean Bell, Joe Boyle, Rachel Cowan, Alan Dawson, Richard Demarco, Frank Docherty, Frank J. Docherty, Andrew Fitzpatrick, Ronnie Ford, Robert Gould, Charles Hynes, Martin Kane, Peter MacKenna, Joe McLaughlin, Jack McLean, Craig McMaster, Don McNeil, Shahin Memishi, Paul Murray, Boyd McNicol, Terry Ann Newman, Avril Paton, Valentine Petrov, Paul Raine, Paul Reeves, Jim Rankin, Yvonne Smith, Leo Stevenson, Ally Thompson, George Wyllie, and others.

August 24-27 Finding the Sacred - Speakers (admission free)

Including Andrew Green, Lizanne Henderson, Alastair Hulbert, David Lorimer, Murdo MacDonald, Alastair McIntosh, Karen Ralls, Tessa Ransford, Richard Roberts, Gordon Strachan, Karen-Claire Voss, and others.

August 24-27 Finding the Sacred - Musical Offerings (nominal charge)

Featuring Flauti Animati Scotica, Frank O’Hagan’s Blues Band Hapax, the Glasgow Phoenix Choir, and Quodlibet.

In some circles in contemporary Scotland the word ‘sacred’ is apparently problematic, usually because it is thought to entail something having to do with religion.  However, the ‘sacred’ has little or nothing to do with dogma or doctrine.  As human beings we are continually involved in the process of trying to locate our finite selves within infinitude.  The process of finding the sacred simply means to be in the process of attempting to gather up the fragments, to bind together the finite with the infinite, so both form one great whole; thus, finding the sacred is a process that touches everyone, whether believer or atheist. Unlike many of the events on offer at a cultural endeavour like the Edinburgh Arts Festival, it is hoped that this event will actively and explicitly function to help people re-connect with the sacred.  All of the talks, images, poetry and music presented will be geared toward forging a connection with what poet Adrienne Rich referred to as “the rockshelf furthering all that is.”  

 Karen-Claire Voss