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Fun for all the Family at Holyrood’s Festival of Politics
News release issued 31 July 2006
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Families from across Scotland will get the chance to sing, dance and even play snakes and ladders in the Scottish Parliament, thanks to this summer’s Festival of Politics (23-26 Aug) which culminates in a Family Day on Saturday 26 August.
The award-winning four-day festival as a whole has something for visitors of all ages – from storytelling workshops filled with fairies and giants to cutting-edge political debates. It is also packed full of talks from famous faces, like newsreader George Alagiah, TV historian Dan Snow and comedian and writer Armando Iannucci.
Building on the success of the inaugural programme in 2005, this year the Festival has doubled the number of events to almost 50, and includes a dedicated family-friendly day on Saturday 26 August.
From 11am to 4pm , families can drop into Holyrood to take part in a whole range of fun and games, many of which are free. These include, political snakes and ladders, dance and music from Malawi and even the chance to create a designer politician in the unique ‘Build Your Own MSP’ game.
A free crèche is available for children aged 0-5 years and provides up to four hours free child care for members of the public visiting parliament.
On their way to and from events, festival goers will be able to view the World Press Photo exhibition – one of the world's largest and most prestigious photographic exhibitions. It contains more than 200 striking images taken by leading photojournalists and depicting dramatic, life-changing events in 2005.
Presiding Officer, George Reid MSP said:
“Thousands of people from all over Scotland attended our first ever Festival last year and now, with our additional Family Day on Saturday, there are even more events to entertain and inform.
“Drama, music, famous faces and a world class exhibition – they’re all here at the Festival of Politics – so come along and get involved!”
Bill and Carol Wyse from Dunfermline attended the Changing Face of British Democracy event during last year’s festival which featured Shirley Williams, Professor Sir Neil MacCormick and Peter Duncan. Bill Wyse said of the event: “I thought it was marvellous. I love live debate and it was very relaxed, very friendly and very stimulating.”
Student Darryl Hutcheon from Uddingston, Lanarkshire, watched the same debate with fellow members of the Debating Club of Uddingston Grammar School. He said: “I found this event much more interesting than the parliamentary debates you see on television. It really got me to engage with the subject.”
Top names speaking at the Festival of Politics 2006 include:
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Tam Dalyell, leading parliamentarian and arch devolutionary critic will talk about his life in politics and revisit the West Lothian Question;
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Rachel Elnaugh, star of BBC TV's Dragons' Den, will be among the entrepreneurs listening to leading politicians pitch their vision for the Scottish economy;
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George Alagiah, the internationally acclaimed journalist and news presenter will talk about his experiences reporting events from around the world;
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Dan Snow , historian and star of BBC TV's Battlefield Britain , analysing the significance of the battle of Culloden;
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Karine Polwart, multiple winner at the 2005 Folk on 2 Awards, will perform with her band; and
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Menzies Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrats, who will talk informally about his life in politics, his vision for the party, for Scotland and beyond.
Discussion topics include conflict in the Middle East , Culloden, Scottish Identity and the health of political democracy and entrepreneurship. Some of the Parliament's leading politicians have agreed to field questions from the public during a special edition of Parliamentary question time.
Background information
Holyrood's Festival of Politics was introduced last year to Edinburgh 's festival season and received an Editors' Top Ten Award from Threeweeks – the Edinburgh festivals' premier review publication.
Full programme details for the Festival of Politics are available at most major Edinburgh Festival Venues, from the Scottish Parliament or from our website (www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk). The Festival takes places 23-26 August and includes, for the first time in Scotland , the World Press Photo Exhibition.
Tickets can be obtained :
- Online from: www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk. Online booking is available 24 hours up to 4pm on the day before the event.
- By telephone: 0131 473 2000 (calls via RNID Typetalk: 018001 0131 473 2000). Fax: 0131 473 2003.
- By post: to the Festival of Politics, Hub Tickets, The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh , EH1 2NE .
- In person at the Scottish Parliament or at the Hub.
While most events are free, a small number of events will charge £5.00 (£3.00 concession) with those wishing to attend advised to book in advance.
Visitors to the Festival will be able to use the free crèche. The crèche opened in 2004 for members of the public visiting Parliament and provides up to four hours free child care for 0-5 year olds. For information call: 0131 348 6192.
To ensure Festival of Politics events are as accessible as possible, please specify requirements when booking tickets. While British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation is provided automatically at some events, it can be requested for any of the others. Assistance dogs are welcome and all venues are accessible for wheelchair users.
For further information contact: [email protected]
Telephone: 0131 348 6852.
For public information/general enquiries, telephone 0131 348 500 or 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
E-mail: [email protected]
More Festival of Politics news
The Festival of Politics is an initiative of the Scottish Parliament.
The Festival of Politics 2006 Partners are:
Standard Life; BAA Scotland; and ScottishPower.
