This year, we are hosting a specially programmed Art Early for families and children of all ages. A family-fun arts event inspired by our Art Late programme, join us for a morning of activities at venues across the city, culminating in a summer picnic.

This Art Early will include visits to 3 of our partner galleries’ exhibitions. We will meet at Fruitmarket Gallery at 10am for a reading of Miroslav Sasek’s This is Edinburgh followed by a session making small sculptures inspired by the Damian Ortegaexhibition. All actvities will be led by trained young people from their youth programme, Fresh Fruit. We will then continue on to Dovecot gallery for an activity tour of their exhibition The Scottish Endarkenment, Art and Unreason, 1945 to the Present. This will include a torchlit treasure hunt, using UV torches you will need to find secret and invisible codes hidden around the whole gallery. Find the secret message, crack the code and learn all about the exhibition. The morning will conclude at Talbot Rice Gallery with a viewing of Alice Neel: The Subject and Me and a picnic in the courtyard of the Old College buildings.

This is a free event including all activities and materials. You are invited to bring your own lunches and picnic rugs and we will provide an array of kid friendly tasty snacks from Manna House Bakery.

FREE, Booking essential

These events are extrememly popular so please let us know if you are no longer able to make it. If you would like to be added to a waiting list please email Helena@edinburghartfestival.com