EDUCATION

The Edinburgh International Festival runs a year round programme of education and outreach work. It's a chance for us to share the Festival with others and explore the ideas and issues it raises. It helps us reach those who might not otherwise connect with the Festival and gives existing audiences opportunities to get more out of their Festival experience.


GETTING TO GRIPS WITH FESTIVAL 09

Want to hear artists talk about what inspires them, or explore some of the ideas behind this year's Festival theme? Use the search function at the top of this page to select ‘Talks & Workshops'. You'll find an array of opportunities to get beneath the skin of some of Festival 09's leading artists. You can also engage with key thinkers as they discuss and debate the Scottish Enlightenment and its impact.

DURING FESTIVAL 09 & THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Bank of Scotland Connecting to Culture 2009
Bank of Scotland Connecting to Culture explores themes of the 2009 Festival in a year-round programme of projects working with 40 Scottish primary and secondary schools.

Inspired by the TheatreWorks production Diaspora, artists are working in two primary schools creating a multicultural garden of reflection and a permanent mural. These artists are supported by the National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council.

In August a project exploring ideas from The Enlightenments exhibition culminates in an exhibition of students' work at The Hub. For the second year running we are joining forces with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh where an interactive installation will be staged in the Glasshouses, offering adults and young people alike the chance to experience the transformational effects of letter writing.

Dance workshops in schools with Scottish Ballet form part of our wider arts education programme with leading teaching artists Charles McNeal, Anne Bogart and Heiner Goebbels working in Edinburgh. In the autumn, music workshops at The Hub encourage engagement with classical music by developing listening skills, concluding with live performance.

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OTHER EDUCATION WORK

Summer School
As part of our activity schedule we are hosting an Arts Practitioner Summer School in August 09 for arts educators led by several of the world's leading creative pedagogues. The Summer School, which is non-residential and free to participants, gives unparalleled access to Festival 09 performances, events, workshops, practitioners and seminars. An enlightening and educational opportunity not to be missed!
Applications for Summer School 2009 have now closed.

Directors School
In August 09 we will be hosting the EIF/NToS/FST Leverhulme Theatre School for theatre directors and practitioners. In addition to engaging with the world class Festival 09 theatre programme and meeting the creators who produce the work, participants will attend seminars and workshops led by several of the world's leading creative pedagogues, including theatre director Anne Bogart, composer Heiner Goebbels, dance director Charles McNeal.
Applications for Directors School 2009 have now closed.

Herald Young Critics
The Edinburgh International Festival and The Herald newspaper continue to work together on Young Critics, introducing school students to the process of arts criticism. The project culminates in the opportunity to review performances at the Festival, with selected reviews printed in The Herald.

Bank of Scotland Connecting to Music Website
The Bank of Scotland Connecting to Music website is an extensive and creative online resource for schoolteachers and those interested in exploring ideas about music and art. There are exercises for you to try and downloadable lesson plans for use in your classroom.

This website can make a significant contribution to a teacher's role as they build the Curriculum for Excellence in schools.

To find out more about how your school or group could become involved with the Festival's education programme, contact Sally Hobson education@eif.co.uk