Edinburgh is a world stage for performance and visual art and a home to a culturally diverse community of city residents. With its pristine beauty, Edinburgh has been home to many artists over the centuries. There is inspiration to be discovered all over the city.
We encourage you to start exploring the cultural offer on your doorstep. This includes Edinburgh’s world-renowned
- festivals
- heritage sites
- scenic views
- parks
- community arts spaces.
2024 marks 900 years of Edinburgh as a royal borough and so it’s no surprise that you are surrounded by historic landscapes and architecture. From the Old Town to the New Town and recently developed neighbourhoods, you will discover stories that have shaped and continue to shape the city and its people.
This capital city has been a centre for creativity in arts and science for centuries. We invite you to explore your opportunities of developing your practice and sharing your work across Edinburgh.
Read this guide learn more about
- Edinburgh’s cultural life
- work and networking opportunities for artists and creatives
- finance and funding information
- wellbeing support.
Culture and Wellbeing Service and Creative Edinburgh partnership
This guide has been developed in partnership between Culture and Wellbeing Service and Creative Edinburgh as part of Diversity Programme.
Culture and Wellbeing Service support the local creative sector by
- managing funds
- developing projects
- making connections.
We work with multiple partners, including
- independent artists
- cultural organisations
- community groups
- community and arts-based hubs
- educational institutions
- funders
- government departments.
We promote and contribute to the delivery of the Citywide Culture Strategy 2023 to 2030 which aims to ensure that
- All Edinburgh residents can easily access cultural experiences that they find meaningful in their local area, and everyone has the opportunity to contribute to shaping local cultural provision
- Edinburgh is a welcoming and supportive city in which a broad spectrum of creative and cultural practitioners choose to develop their careers
- Edinburgh is a world leading cultural capital, an environmentally responsible host city where ideas are exchanged freely, and the diversity of its residents is celebrated.
This guide is endorsed by the Culture and Communities Committee who oversee cultural activity across the city delivered and financed by the Council.
Creative Edinburgh
Creative Edinburgh is a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation that supports and fosters the city's creative community.
Working directly with local authorities and the Scottish Government, Creative Edinburgh
- provides opportunities for creatives to connect through events and networking sessions
- encourages professional development through skills learning programmes and dedicated creative mentoring, and
- advocates for policy change and rights for freelancers
Further information
- Forever Edinburgh
- Edinburgh 900
- Citywide Culture Strategy
- Culture and Wellbeing Service
- Getting to Edinburgh
- Moving to Edinburgh
- Student advice
View our Edinburgh multilingual cultural guide for artists and creatives on Canva.
