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BRIEFS Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens gets a festive makeover, while The Noisettes (below) prepare for Hogmanay
CONGRATULATIONS to Scotland-based artist Craig Coulthard who has won a £460,000 (Lottery funded) commission for Artists Taking the Lead, one of the major projects for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The winning commissions will be developed across 2010 and 2011 in close collaboration with local communities.
GRAHAM COXON is set to play one Scottish show, based on his seventh solo album, The Spinning Top, on Thu 12 Nov at the Queen’s Hall. The Scottish date will form part of a trio of shows that will assemble many of the musicians who featured on his album. THE 2009 RGI Annual Open Exhibition opens on Fri 6 Nov, running until Sun 29 Nov, at The Mitchell in Glasgow. One of the largest contemporary art events of its kind, this year’s line-up includes work by two of this year’s Aspect Prize shortlisted artists – Paul Kennedy and Patricia Cain.
FOLLOWER OF FASHION ■ TV retail advisor and Save the Children ambassador, Mary Portas is set to open her first boutique- style charity shop, in Stockbridge, on 21 Nov. High profile names such as Jamie Oliver and Peaches Geldof have donated stock to the enterprise, which promises to include a range of designer bargains and top notch high street gear. Look out for Mary’s Living and Giving Shop for Save the Children at 34 Raeburn Place.
CHAMBERS SHUTS ITS DOORS Scotland’s oldest publishing house, Chambers Harrap, will close its Edinburgh headquarters this Hogmanay. One of the largest English language publishers in the world, the company has enjoyed over 200 years of success. Publishing will move to Paris and London.
WWW.LIST.CO.UK Visit us daily for arts & entertainment news 5–19 Nov 2009 THE LIST 7
Bring in the bells Yes yes, we know. It’s still early days, but if you want to get tickets for some of this year’s festive fun, it’s time to get your skates on Words: Anna Millar
images of the capital are to be beamed across English locations around Christmas time. In Glasgow, things are equally gregarious, with tickets for the Glasgow Christmas lights switch-on selling out in record time. Those who haven’t managed to get tickets should find themselves prime positioning around the city on Sun 15 Nov, for the annual pre-Christmas lights and fireworks display. Tickets for the Big Stage in George Square for Hogmanay will be released from 7 Nov, so get in line.
For a full line-up of Christmas and Hogmanay information, as well as the very best for Christmas shopping, check out our indispensable Christmas Guide. See www. edinburghshogmanay.com and www.winterfest glasgow.com for more.
I t’s been all go for the last few weeks, as those in the know ponder how to bring you the best of times this Christmas and Hogmanay. In the capital, Edinburgh City Council is reportedly already looking to shindigs in 2010 and beyond, with early proposals to scrap the barriers and tickets for the Street Party, making it free.
Back in 2009, this year’s line-ups continue to grow. The Noisettes have been announced as the support act for headliners, Madness. Mylo will headline the West End DJ Stage, while Gary Lightbody and Tom Simpson from Snow Patrol and Belle & Sebastian’s Richard Colburn DJ at the main street party. More acts are set to be announced in the coming weeks.
Pre-Hogmanay festivities are also expanding this year, with the Homecoming Art Car Parade (28 Nov), adding to the usual Edinburgh Wheel and German Market jamboree. Other highlights include the Great Scottish Santa Run and The Royal Blind Children’s Lantern Parade – alongside acrobatic displays and life-size animatronics polar bears in Princes Street Gardens. The celebrations around Hogmanay will include Off Kilter, a new dance show at the Festival Theatre, featuring Mark Morris’s dance group, flying in from Brooklyn on Christmas day to prepare.
Elsewhere, in a bid to showcase our Scottish wares beyond our borders, a huge projection of Edinburgh Castle and iconic