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News release 21 August 2007
Free family fun at Festival of Politics
This year’s Festival of Politics (24-26 August) offers a free fun-packed day for all the family on Sunday 26 August.
'Open Parliament' provides an exciting opportunity for visitors young and old to peek behind the scenes of Scotland ’s iconic parliament building and join in a range of fun activities and events.
Families will have the chance to visit the Debating Chamber, see Michael Lloyd's silver Mace and make a rubbing of its design and follow the treasure trail to win a prize.
They can form a Parliament Committee, give evidence or even chair the meeting. The Parliament's hidden garden at the rear of Queensberry House will be open to visitors.
After a stroll around the garden they can then beat the trail to our Political Café to debate hot topics of the day.
The award-winning Festival of Politics is now in its third year and over its three days offers something for visitors of all ages, including theatre performance, stimulating discussion and child-friendly events.
On Sunday 26, from 10am until 3.30pm, visitors can drop into Holyrood at any time to take part in a whole range of fun and educational games, all of which are free. Events include Political Snakes and Ladders, the Constituency Jigsaw and If I Ruled the World (or even Scotland!).
A free crèche is available for children aged 0-5 years and provides up to four hours free child care for families visiting the Parliament.
Visitors to 'Open Parliament' may take in the last day of the World Press Photo exhibition - one of the world's largest and most prestigious photographic exhibitions. It contains 180 striking images taken by leading photojournalists and depicting dramatic, life-changing events in 2006 and has already attracted over 30,000 visitors to Parliament this month.
‘Open Parliament’ visitors can also look back at the celebrations marking the Third Session of Parliament earlier this summer. A new exhibition in Holyrood’s Garden Lobby will showcase the results of a public photography competition. Fifteen winning images of the Riding down the Royal Mile and the Picnic at the Parliament concert which took place on Saturday 30 June will be displayed alongside official parliamentary photographs of the day.
Open Parliament day is free and unticketed.
Key speakers at this year’s Festival of Politics include:
- Charles Kennedy MP will give an insight into his political career from 1983 to present day.
- Kate Adie, one of the UK's most respected journalists will reflect upon a career which has taken her to some of the world's most dangerous locations reporting major conflicts and events.
- Harry Benson, the internationally acclaimed and award-winning photojournalist will explore the impact of modern technology on the profession and speculate on future developments.
Tickets available for ticketed events:
- Online at www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk
- In person or by post:
Hub Tickets
The Hub, Castlehill
Edinburgh, EH21 2NE
- By telephone: 0131 473 2000. Calls via RNID Typetalk: 18001 0131 473 2000
- In person at the Scottish Parliament.
Full details of the Festival programme are available from
http://www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk
Media Accreditation - Media interested in covering any of the Festival of Politics events should send an email detailing their name, publication, contact details and which event they would like to cover to:
The media contact is:
Susan Gray: 0131 348 6245 RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
email: [email protected]
For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000 or 0845 278 1999
(local call rate)
Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: [email protected]
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk