Porty's ghost pier celebrated at Art Walk

NOTHING beats a day at the beach and a walk along the seafront as anyone who has daundered along Portobello's prom with the family will tell you.

Families at Portobello Beach

Building on that tradition, Art Walk Porty returns on Friday, 30 August, running until 9 September.

This year’s theme is Pleasure Ground, which looks at the seaside entertainment history of Portobello, and as always there will be plenty of events to drop in on as you explore the area.

Highlights include a project drawing together eight locations of lost bandstands across the city, a series of outdoor ‘Film & Fish n’Chip’ nights on the prom showing old and new films and a live-art walking project that links Hastings Pier with Porty’s old pier space.

The Bandstand Project aims to get people walking in public parks and boasts a performance by Portobello Community Choir on Saturday, 3pm, at the site of the old beach bandstand by John Street.

Pier to Pier, meanwhile, sees a series of performance walks by Hastings artist Greig Burgoyne link the two ‘piers’.

His live performance on Friday, 31 August, will see him digging and working the sand all day, then on Saturday and Sunday lead performances in which the public can take part.

Rosy Naylor, Art Walk Porty founder and curator says, “It’s really exciting to see how the Art Walk Festival is growing and expanding into new territories, particularly with the Bandstand Project, linking up eight locations across the city.

“We hope this will increase awareness even more so of Edinburgh’s seaside.”

Other events taking place include regular Art Walk programme staples such as Art Houses, Art in Shops, the Prom Parade on Saturday, 3pm, and a Maker’s Market, all of which see around 80 artists taking part in the nine day festival.

Enjoy a fun-filled walk.

For full programme of events can be found at www.artwalkporty.co.uk