Cultural guide for artists and creatives in Edinburgh

Cultural life in Edinburgh

Getting to know Edinburgh’s diverse arts and culture sector will help you to identify which spaces and opportunities could support your career as an established artist, emerging talent and or community arts practitioner.

Arts and heritage venues

Most mainstream arts and heritage venues are based in the city centre. This includes

museums
galleries
theatres
exhibition spaces.

However, there are many grassroot arts organisations, community hubs, libraries and artist studios in locations across the city. Understanding the vibrant cultural life in Edinburgh will benefit your career and process. It may even provide sources of inspiration.

View our map to help get you started with navigating the city centre and neighbouring areas. Find information about visual and performance arts organisations based in Edinburgh to help with planning your next steps.

Explore our Edinburgh cultural venues map

View full sized cultural venues map (opens in new window)

Culture and Wellbeing Strategic Partners

We support multiple Strategic Partners across the city to deliver its Citywide Culture Strategy and provide cultural experience year round. The current list of Strategic Partners and City Venues includes

Creative community hubs

Festivals

Sector support organisations

Venues and creative practice support organisations

In addition to the list above, there are many more organisations promoting cultural diversity through art across the city including