Festival of Politics opens for fifth year

An inspiring programme of debate and drama starts today as the Scottish Parliament’s fifth Festival of Politics opens today for an extended five-day run. From famous singers to political movers and shakers, activists and journalists, the Festival is the place where politics truly meets the people.

Annie Lennox and The SING campaign is among this year’s Festival highlights. Annie will discuss her personal experience of witnessing the HIV/AIDS disease in Africa and the action we can all take in fighting the pandemic.

This event will be chaired by Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP, who later in the day takes part in "The Scottish Parliament - Past, Present and Future". He will be joined by former presiding officers Sir David Steel and the Right Honourable George Reid to discuss the Parliament’s achievements, challenges and the path devolution may take in the future.

Other events today include “From Petition to Action: Yesterday’s Children”, motivated by the legal success of the Cross Party Group on Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse in producing a national strategy on the subject. The event seeks to show how the public can influence the political process in Scotland and improve the lives of its citizens.

Also happening this afternoon is “From Darwin to Dolly – and Beyond!” Professor Ian Wilmut is among the panellists examining the past, present and future of cutting-edge life-science research in Scotland. While the co-operative movement’s history and future in face of the credit crunch is debated in “Scotland: A Co-operative Past and a Co-operative Future”.

Sessions take place throughout the day and members of the public and the media are invited to attend in the Main Chamber and committee rooms. Events in the Main Chamber will be webcast live at www.holyrood.tv.

Background
Last year’s critically acclaimed event proved so popular that the programme has been extended to five days, running from 18-22 August. The Festival presents a diverse programme of events bringing together politics, media and the arts through performance, discussion and debate.

On their way to and from events, visitors will be able to view one of the largest and most prestigious photographic exhibitions - the 52nd World Press Photo exhibition. Striking images taken by the world’s leading photojournalists, that depict dramatic, life-changing worlds events in 2008, will line the public entrance. Photographic events for the public will take place alongside this year’s Festival sessions.

Programme availability and tickets

Online from www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk

By telephone: 0131 473 2000 (calls via RNID Typetalk: 18001 0131 473 2000)

By post: to the Festival of Politics, Hub Tickets, The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE.

In person: The Scottish Parliament or The Hub.

While most events are free, a small number of events will charge £6 (£3.50 concession) with those wishing to attend advised to book in advance.

Full details of the festival programme.

Festival Partners

This year’s Festival of Politics is delivered in formal partnership with:

Carnegie UK Trust and the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust
The Law Society of Scotland
The Scotsman
EAE Leaflet Marketing Specialists
The Lighthouse, Scotland’s Centre for Architecture, Design and the City

The contact for members of the media is:
Sally Coyne: 0131 348 6265
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
Email: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk

Isla Mair: 0131 348 6269
RNID TypeTalk calls welcome
Email: isla.mair@scottish.parliament.uk

For public information enquiries, contact:
Telephone: 0131 348 5000 / 0800 092 7500 (Public Enquiries) / 0131 348 5395 (Gàidhlig)
Textphone users can contact us on 0800 092 7100. We also welcome calls using the RNID Typetalk service. Email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

You can now get in touch with the Parliament by text message. Our interactive service enables you to get the name of your MSP by sending your postcode, lets you ask questions about the Parliament and its work, and enables you to request a selection of free leaflets. The number to take advantage of is 07786 209888. Texts are charged at standard network rates. More details can be found on our Text Service page.