Organisers reveal more about new six-day festival in Edinburgh for Burns Night
Burns & Beyond will kick off on January 22
Organisers of a new festival to mark Burns Night in Edinburgh have confirmed its first event.
Funded by City of Edinburgh Council, Essential Edinburgh, Scotland’s Winter Festivals and Marketing Edinburgh, Burns & Beyond will run from Tuesday January 22 through to Sunday January 27.
It's being organised by Unique Events, the team behind Edinburgh's Hogmanay.
The centrepiece of the festival is the installation of the touring Museum of the Moon at St. Giles’ Cathedral.
The work by UK artist Luke Jerram measures seven metres in diameter and features detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface - and will host performances on each night of the festival.
Alan Thomson from Unique Events said: “We are thrilled to announce the Museum of the Moon events programme as the first part of the new Burns & Beyond festival.
"Having wowed audiences around the world, the Moon will finally land in Edinburgh and promises to transform St Giles’ Cathedral, welcoming thousands of visitors and presenting some very special live performances to celebrate Burns Night.”
Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development Ben Macpherson, said: “Burns Night is one of Scotland’s most well-known and best loved national days, celebrated by millions around the world.
"Our national bard is one of our favourite icons, and each year Burns Night is a chance for us to come together, celebrate his poetry, enjoy the occasion and affirm some of our country’s most important values - fairness, equality and internationalism.”
Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “Edinburgh is famed for its fascination with the skies above and has been since the age of the Enlightenment.
"For centuries, the moon and the stars have inspired Scottish thinkers, artists and, of course, poets. It feels fitting to bring this incredible Museum of the Moon to Edinburgh as part of the new Burns & Beyond Festival.
"Commemorating the life and legacy of Scotland’s Bard, I’m pleased the Council’s funding has helped to secure this new event. The full programme will rightly celebrate the considerable achievements of Rabbie Burns and I’m sure Luke Jerram’s lunar-inspired showpiece in the Old Town will be a glowing highlight.
"Coming as it does so soon after the reopening of the Calton Hill Observatory, this is a timely reminder of Edinburgh’s significant contribution to astronomy and literature.”
Tickets for all Museum of the Moon St Giles Cathedral events go on-sale on 10am on Thursday November 29.