Demarco’s Festival of Thought

 

We hoped the internet would open new horizons –  and it does – but it also the internet means ideas go down dark, narrow rabbit holes and echo chambers. Our Scots bard was a free thinker – because he was well read and informed. A Man O Independent mind.

Edinburgh festival promoter, Richard Demarco advocates for a new – ‘Festival of Thought’ – to bring together the best minds and creative thinkers to counter this crushing of ideas by blind right wing dictatorships that aim to shut down open debate and silence creativity. Edinburgh was the home fo the Scottish enlightenment 1750 to 1790. 

 

*Freedom to be Creative 

 - Scottish cultural icon Richard Demarco, and long time Edinburgh festival supporter, has attended every festival since 1947. He advocates we need informed debate to counter the rise of the right across Europe and the world. 

 

He wants to see Edinburgh host an annual “Festival of Thought”. His idea is to bring to the city the world’s finest liberal thinkers from the humanities, from the Arts and culture, from all the sciences and technologies. “There should be no separation between science and the Arts. Leonardo Da Vinci, perhaps the greatest artist ever to live, was a great scientist, an engineer and artist.”

He calls for ‘a Festival of Thought’ to help save liberal democracy. The Freedom to find Truth and Light. “Truth is the foundation stone for all creativity, for all the unlocking of great culture, in any genre, in any society, in any land.

*Its about Truth -  To remind the world of the role of culture in love, in peace and in liberal thought and liberal society. 

Demarco see the rise of the far right and Reform as a threat to the freedom that necessary for creativity. A Scots Italian who sees himself as a European and Reform as the enemy of the beliefs that he has held dear throughout his life. 

“Reform is a danger to the Edinburgh Festivals” he says.

 

Demarco fears the world is on the edge of a new dark age. There is the rise of the authoritarian right and with that the capacity of humankind to dim the flame of enlightenment, “to quench the human spirit.” ….Ukraine is more than a fight for territory and national sovereignty: it is essentially a fight for democracy, for freedom of the mind, the heart and the soul. He profoundly believes in liberal democracy as the only civilized way of managing society so that human beings are truly free.  

The Far Right - is trying to shut down freedom thought

“The rise of the far right is a threat to the freedoms needed for creativity”. 

 

How much does the media truly reflect truth today, and not simply meaningless Soundbites and Clickbaits - and the lack of informed debate. How is impartiality possible when one side peddle obvious lies. Politicians speak of growth or austerity (or both) while following policies that are the opposite – there’s been no growth. Many countries are in crisis, which allows the views of the Far Right. We can’t sit on the fence. 

Demarco calls for his friend Robert Sturus to come to Scotland for the festivals 80^th birthday in 2026. Sturus is the director of the Rustaveli state Theatre of Georgia. In 1979 he brought Shakespeare’s Richard III to Edinburgh. 

II  **The First Festival:  The origins of the Edinburgh Festivals, from the geopolitics of the past 80 years and his travels across the globe carrying a torch for culture. For decades he has been a central figure in Scottish cultural life and an early shaper of the Festival. He was a pioneer of the Fringe and a lifelong champion of the power of the Arts to improve lives and promote the benefits of culture. He’s been critical of the Festivals, arguing that the city has become a theme park and have declined into parochialism……

Out of the darkness of the war and the crushing of democracy, human rights and freedoms came a world in desperate need of unity.,,, the first Edinburgh Festival. “It was an expression of the flowering of the best instincts of the human spirit.”

He’d like to see Edinburgh rediscover that spirit and its idealism…..“When the Festival started in 1947, I thought that the city could be the cultural capital of the world. It brought the world’s greatest musicians, actors, singers, dancers, playwrights, poets, authors and artists to my home” says Demarco.…when hope was in the air and the post-war world of Edinburgh and Europe was alive with optimism and possibilities.”  

“We must bring Sturus to Edinburgh in 2026. To reaffirm the roots of the festival, as a celebration of European culture and art every form. To hear him speak freely.” 

III    Richard Demarco is near his 95^th birthday and he still burns with urgent intellectual intensity and his passion for the civilizing qualities of culture and human creativity still burns strong.  Demarco says that out of the darkness of the war and the crushing of democracy, human rights and freedoms came a world in desperate need of unity.,,, the first Edinburgh Festival. “It was an expression of the flowering of the best instincts of the human spirit.”    

*      *      *       * 

**Martin Roche interviewed Richard Demarco – artist, author, organiser and cultural innovator – on the eve of his 95^th birthday. Fiercely pro-European, Demarco proposed a new “Festival of Thought”. 14^th July 2025  -  “A Reform government is a danger to the Edinburgh Festivals,” says Richard Demarco  He calls for ‘a Festival of Thought’ to help save liberal democracy. 

 

Extracts from.

**Article From a Perthshire Castle, Gauntlet of Truth is thrown down to Authoritarianism

Sunday National 31.8.25, Martin Roche

Voices of Hope Edinburgh Book festival 2025

Edinburgh International Book Festival at the Futures Institute

I travel on warm sunny days and with heightened senses and high anticipation for new insights and inspirations. The Edinburgh festivals offer HOPE in a present world often torn apart. A place for shared, diverse voices from across the world. The theme of this years Edinburgh International book festival was ‘How do we Repair’- looking for positives and connections, “to repair and reconcile in culture, politics and environment, through improving balance, resilience and hope”.   

 

The book festival is now hosted behind and on the ground floor of the impressive newly renovated Edinburgh Futures Institute near the Meadows walkway and Edinburgh university. The book festival aims to offer a safe place to challenge and to question – with over 600 writers from 35 countries offered differing perspectives on personal, social and global significance.100+ talks were live streamed. 

EIBF hosted workshops, school events, music and poetry, young adult and children’s talks. The children’s events included over 100 talks and included renowned authors Michael Rosen, Jacqueline Wilson and Cressida Cowell.

Nicola Sturgeon with Kirsty Wark

Jenny Nelson & Mark Kermode

Resilience: Renowned author Hanif Kureishi gave a talk about his recovery from a devastating accident which left him paralysed. Shattered But Unbroken. There were several book talks on books on the war in Gaza, which has turned into such destruction. Israeli writer Ilan Pappe and Israeli historian Avi Shlaim discussed the conflict in the Middle East and whether peace can exist.

Ivo Graham

Alexander McCall Smith

Brian Cox

Kate Dickie

Paula Hawkins

**TALKS

Foreign correspondent Lindsey Hilsum came with her book of war poetry, I Brought the War with me’

And spoke of how we remember poetry more than journalists stories of war. She always carries a book of poems with her to help make sense of the destruction. It’s the spaces between, the forgotten.

 

I enjoyed a talk by larger than life and popular film critic Mark Kermode, along with Radio producer Jenny Niven on their book on film music Surround Sound. This has interviews with film music composers – Johnny Greenwood and many more.  

The festival included prominent Front list talks at McEwan hall -

Former Scotland first minister Nicola Sturgeon held a positive chat with Kirsty Wark, about her new book Frankly. Mark Kermode talked all things film and acting with well kent Scots actors – Brian Cox, Kate Dickie and Michelle Gomez.

There were protests during a The Front List chat with: Yulia Navalnaya, about her husband the late

Alexei Navalnaya, over Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

 

There were Podcasts, live cabaret, and exclusive talks. Young adult program, Children’s program. Something for everyone. Edinburgh book festival is supported by Creative Scotland, Edinburgh city council, Lottery funds. 

The festival promotes vision, resilience and a safe place IN PERSON to debate! To encourage liberal thought – To remind the world of the role of freedom, truth, culture and the arts. We should find out what unites us, and what we have in common rather than what divides us. 

Sam Heughan

Naga Munchetty

Michael Pedersen

Maggie O'Farrell

What can Scots do!

Some talks feel like English voices with a few Scots asking questions. The narrative here is Scotland needs to change – to what can Scots do! And NOT, we have business brought to us! We must do for ourselves. We’ve had 3 big figures of the devolution government. Now the baton needs to pass to a new generation. 

 *An academic from Dublin suggests that “America should never have united," under its centralised control. Trump attempts to take control. The Maga movement for instance, appears to be culture wars between the extreme left and the extreme right. And the toxic online culture, which can’t differentiate between healthy debate and saying I dislike you, because of your views. Many in today politics seem shallow and thin, with no moral backbone or hinterland - the opposite of a an informed debate. We need Citizens Assemblies. Use your time wisely and don’t get sucked into ignorant, sensationalistic echo chambers. Look wider and broader for ideas – for innovation, diverse views and creative freedoms. 

I met a young German book researcher at the talk on film music, who was there at the book festival for the week. She had studied at Edinburgh university (before the Brexit  Scotland did not vote for). We chatted and I asked her whether there must be plenty of excellent book festivals in Germany. To which she replied, oh no, not like the Edinburgh book festival!  I was surprised certainly. 

We should find out what unites us, what we have in common rather than what divides us. Hopefully Edinburgh festivals can continue to be a place for hope, voices form many places, to celebrate all the arts and that cross over. To celebrate the endurance of the human spirit.

 

**QUOTES from the festival:

Brian Cox, We need good people. 

Kate Dickie, “I love England as a neighbour, but if you’re roof is leaking, you don’t ask your neighbour to fix it.”   Tariq Ali, Fighting the empire

Edinburgh festival cultural icon Richard Demarco - “Reform is a danger to the Edinburgh Festivals”, 

He calls for “a Festival of Thought” to help save liberal democracy - with no politicians.

Some celebrity faces attend EIBF - 

 

**BOOKS & TALKS

Surround Sound – Mark Kermode and Jenny Niven

I Brought the War with me – Lindsey Hilsum

After Gaza – Pankaj Mishra

Frankly – Nicola Sturgeon 

Shattered but Unbroken – Hanif Kureishi 

A Truce that is not Peace – Miriam Toews

 

I would prefer not to see “History” books in the EIBF Bookshop by the archaeologist Neil Oliver or by the Canadian historical fiction writer John Prebble – of the Scotland lost and gone forever. Please stock more of Tom Devine’s well informed and articulate books. Also the excellent critiques of polticla theoristsTom Nairn. 

**Two competing Narratives 

Pakistani author Pankaj Mishra was writing about the two totally opposing narratives in the middle east – one of the Israelis (from the river to the sea) and the other of Palestinians (our Homelands) in his book After Gaza. It all made me think in Scotland we also have two opposing, irreconcilable narratives. In 2025 Scotland is stuck, so how can we move forward in love, in peace and in liberal thought?

 

Indy for Scotland’s self determination and improving democracy. Scots need a say over our own energy resources, immigration, climate, and infrastructure. We can still unite for good trade and security together. Unionism is for strength by being run by London, and being ‘together’ with the high centralization in London. Westminster refuses Scotland another vote.  

 

“Nationalism is both good and bad” wrote politician historian Tom Nairn. All Nationalisms are different. He claims Scotland’s nationalism is unique as Scotland jumped ahead to a modern state 1700s. By contrast European states moved to modern states 1800s, due to the uneven nature of capitalism. Scots nationalism is about our self determination. 

All I hear is depressive negatives and an SNP Bad message by the dominant mainstream unionist media. But indy isn’t all about the SNP. Its about democracy, accountability and how our democracy works or doesn’t work. Is devolution simply a trap? Someone at Westminster said recently – “Oh I forgot you’ve got that pretend government in Scotland.” After decades – the SNP Party was begun in 1934 - I’ve heard many reasons for Scottish indy, but so far I’m still searching for a positive reasons for the union.

STRANDS: Brilliant Fiction. Fascinating Non-Fiction will explore everything from moving memoirs to scientific excavations, family odysseys to travelogues. Good Information brings together a host of trustworthy experts well versed in sifting out hard fact and cutting through murky algorithms to give you an honest account of a diverse range of topics. New World Orders gathers the most authoritative voices across international and domestic politics, conflict, economics, and law to engage with and dissect current affairs, and Brainwaves holds up a magnifying glass to all things cranial, including mental health, neuroscience, and psychology. How to Live a Meaningful Life, guiding audiences new and deeper ways of creating connection, resilience and hope, amongst the chaos, and an expanded Table Talks series, with top chefs and food writers taking to the stage – or rather around the table – in intimate gatherings with audiences to enjoy delicious food and make memories together. Music, Poetry and Performance

 

Black & White festival images

 Black and white festival images from last year. #edfest

Edinburgh festival 2025 Opens

 

 

The whirr of excitement to be back on the celebrated cobbled streets of Edinburgh festival in August – as it comes to life with the world's biggest Arts gathering together. To encourage innovation and creative thinking in the world of books, art, music, drama and dance. Also to offer the cross over between the Arts. 

 

The searching to hold a spotlight on the world of today, with many wars and climate crisis. The festival was begun after the great war to offer hope of reconciliations and our shared humanity through the arts.  

There’s a dark shadow today: we live in a world of crises – from the destruction of Gaza and people starving – with people turning to simplistic answers. 

The festival opens this weekend with Dougie MacLean’s Singalong of Caledonia, and a family ceilidh and a family concert. The Hub with Kathryn Joseph and the Usher Hall will host a variety of musical concerts, with Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Puccinni’s opera. The Festival theatre, Mary Queen of Scots ballet and Brian Cox in a new theatre production Make It Happen. Cox will play the ghost of Adam Smith and Sandy Grierson will play Fred, the Shred, Goodwin - 17 years since the banking crisis has led to our present cost of living crisis.

With new theatre productions at the Traverse theatre, the festival theatre, and the Lyceum.  

Consumed at the Traverse, July 31 to Aug 24

The Nature of Forgetting at the Pleasance, Aug 9 to Aug 25

https://www.eif.co.uk

 

It encompasses several festivals – Edinburgh Arts festival, Edinburgh International book festival, Edinburgh film festival and The Fringe. 

THE TRUTH WE SEEK

Repair at Edinburgh book festival 2025

EIBF at Futures Institute

'Together We Repair' at Edinburgh International book festival EIBF 2025. The question now is – to repair what path must we follow. We are mostly confused. 

**EIBF 2025

Edinburgh international book festival 2025 program has been announced, 

Runs from 9^th August to 24^th August. This year our program features over 600 writers and artists from 35 countries, who have a wide range of perspectives on topics of personal, social and global importance.

 

And will included famous names such as Nicola Sturgeon, Irvine Welsh and Diane Abbott

Authors Maggie O’Farrell and Alexander McCall Smith, actors Brian Cox, Viggo Mortensen, Sam Heughan, and Vanessa Redgrave. The Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers band will perform, with novelists Chris Brookmyre and Val McDermid. 

Sturgeon will launch her memoir, Frankly, and will be in conversation with journalist Kirsty Wark as part of the Front List series. While Welsh will discuss his new novel Men In Love, which features the characters from Trainspotting as they experience the heyday of rave culture in the late 80s and early 90s.

*Plus workshops. Bookbinder Rachel Hazell will lead a workshop, Junk Journals Workshop, where old books will be re-fashioned into journals.

This year’s children’s program will include more than 100 events for young readers, including from renowned authors Michael Rosen, Jacqueline Wilson and Cressida Cowell. 

*Words from the Wards - With Illustrations by art students

We believe that everyone has a story to tell and that stories help us make sense of our world. We’ve challenged local writers and poets, this year, to respond to 2025’s Festival theme: Repair. Join us as we bring them together to perform their work: a patchwork of ideas on how to make the world a better place.

 

“We invite you to come and learn something new, feed your curiosity and to broaden your horizons.”

PLUS illustrations for Words from the Wards, the festivals Children’s program. 

Festival director Jenny Niven said: “This year’s key theme of Repair starts from the belief that the brilliant ideas of writers and thinkers can help us repair a host of seemingly ‘broken’ things in our society, from the cycle of fast fashion and our relationship with the environment, to cultural reparations and the state of our politics. It’s a statement of hope and resilience, and an invitation for our audiences to think about what ‘repair’ might mean for them.

“At a time when important conversations can feel impossible to have without igniting conflict and anger, we want the Edinburgh International Book Festival to provide a safe place for challenging but considered discussions. This year our program features over 600 writers and artists from 35 countries, who have a wide range of perspectives on topics of personal, social and global importance. We invite you to come and learn something new, feed your curiosity and to broaden your horizons.”

 

Ian McEwan – Sunday August 13:30 – 14:30 

 

Sam Haeughan: on the Rocks – Saturday 23 August 18:15 – 19:15

 

AC Grayling: Disagreeing Agreeably – Friday 22 August 17:00 – 18:00

 

Sometimes it feels like we can’t talk about anything without further polarising opinions. Join author and philosopher A C Grayling as he seeks the middle-ground in an incendiary debate. Drawing from his new book, Discriminations: Making Peace in the Culture Wars, Grayling shares a fresh take on how we might navigate the messy politics of cultural conflict by recognising the nuance between competing rights and interests.

Some famous names – speak up!  The People Speak – Sunday 24 August 17:00- 18:00

Acclaimed writers and actors, including Viggo Mortensen (The Lord of the Rings, Captain Fantastic) and iconic Vanessa Redgrave (The Devils, Atonement, Mrs Dalloway), for powerful performances of stories, speeches, and songs of protest and rebellion from around the world, and across history. Inspired by the work of people’s historian Howard Zinn and directed by Anthony Arnove (co-editor with Colin Firth of The People Speak), their words shimmer with strength, inspiration, and a vision for a better future. Hosted by Anthony Arnove.

 

*Together We repair Edinburgh International book festival EIBF 2025 

The question now is – to repair what path must we follow.

Half of Scots want independence. Would federalism work? Does Labour work? A big white hope their limited business plan. While Reeves believes in tight reins and her fiscal rules. Scotland is stuck under City of London rules.

 

An economic policy for best outcomes for the people of Scotland. 

'Scotland is a land laden with opportunity,' writes economist Richard Murphy.

We are not small at all – Why are Scots politicians afraid when there is only fear of fear itself.

 

I hear a Drunk man looks at a Thistle,

Parcel of Rogues bought and sold

I hear freedoms sword will strongly draw. 

I hear Scotland is stuck, 

Certainly we must Repair - The big question is -

How much disrepair, crisis, emergency is Britain in?

It seems to be a lot. We can’t ignore. Years of a tough austerity and lack of investment – 

followed by Covid, the damage of Brexit, cost of living crisis, 

with crumbling infrastructure and lack of funding. 

New Labour offer a few crumbs.

 

Repair? Is it possible, in our stuck, fake, out-dated systems here in Britain? Stuck in its 1688 British Constitution?

We must ask how serious is Britain’s crisis? Political debate has become like a meaningless ping pong ball that no one believes anymore. We’re all lied to. But when Consultants feel disillusioned we must surely worry. And when politicians these days are not serious people. 

 

Edinburgh International Festival 2025 announced

 

This years theme is “the Truth We Seek”

Now for the first time in its 75 year history run by both a scot and a woman. 

 

In our present world of chaos and uncertainties, Edinburgh festival cultural celebrations bring offerings of light and hopes. The festival offers several Scottish premiers. 

 

 Succession actor Brian Cox appears in theatre show, Make it Happen. 

 

Shakespeare’s As You Like is a Radical Retelling

 

Scottish ballet’s Mary Queen of Scots

 

Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito, opera in concert

 

Our 2025 Edinburgh International Festival invites you to explore The Truth We Seek — a journey into the elusive nature of truth, in our personal and public lives.      Nicola Benedetti, Festival Director

 

TICKETS on sale - https://www.eif.co.uk/