Just Festival

Edinburgh’s social justice and human rights festival

Author Archives: Lindsay Snedden

Virajita Singh

Virajita Singh

Virajita SinghVirajita Singh is Associate Vice Provost in the Office of Equity and Diversity (OED) where she brings her expertise in design thinking, and partnership studies to catalyze and support equity and diversity work of colleges and other academic units at the University of Minnesota.  learn more

Ranee Ramaswamy

Ranee Ramaswamy

Ranee RamaswamyRanee Ramaswamy is Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Ragamala Dance Company with her choreographic partner (and daughter) Aparna Ramaswamy. learn more

Pádraig Ó Tuama

Pádraig Ó Tuama

Pádraig Ó TuamaPádraig Ó Tuama is an Irish poet and theologian. His work has been published widely — in Harvard Review, the Academy of American Poets, Poetry Ireland and many others. learn more

Mary Ann Kennedy

Mary Ann Kennedy

Mary Ann KennedyMary Ann Kennedy is a Scottish Gael brought up in the urban diaspora of Glasgow, with roots in the islands of Skye and Tiree. learn more

Test

Tricia Imrie

Tricia Imrie

Tricia ImrieTricia Imrie is Chief Executive of Impact Funding Partners, a national fund management charity and consultancy, and has held leadership roles in Scottish and UK national charities for 13 years.  learn more

Iain Macfarlane

Iain Macfarlane is the CEO of Blue Triangle a homelessness organisation who support over 400 people every day, in 35 services, across 9 local authorities in Scotland. learn more

Stefan-ivanov

Stefan Ivanov

Stefan-ivanovStefan Ivanov (b. 1986) is the author of four collections of poetry – “4 Seconds Violet” (2003), “Ginsbеrg vs. Bukowski in the Audience” (2004), “Lists” (2009) and “Inwards” (2014). learn more

Jim Mackintosh

Jim Mackintosh

Jim MackintoshJim Mackintosh is a Perth-based poet and has authored six collections of poetry, most recently Flipstones (Tippermuire Books, 2018). learn more

Debra Salem

Debra Salem

Debra SalemDebra’s career is diverse, dividing her time between singing, composing, arranging, leading choirs, teaching, facilitation, and the artistic direction and production of creative arts projects. learn more

Dr Anthony Hammond

Dr Anthony Hammond

Dr Anthony HammondDr. Anthony Hammond is a critically acclaimed English concert organist, composer and musicologist. learn more

Robert Rae

Robert Rae is one of Scotland’s leading theatre and film director and writers. He chooses to develop his work through socially engaged practice that aligns with his own political and activist commitments. His expertise has taken him all over the world sharing and developing his methodology. His career spans over 30 years during which time he was Producer for 7:84 England, Artistic Director and CEO of Theatre Workshop Scotland for 18yrs which changed the landscape in Scotland for disabled artists in  particular, International Artist in Residence for The Playhouse, Derry, Director for his own theatre company OurLand Productions and is Co-Director of Art27scotland which is part of the national Culture Collective programme focussing specifically on arts and human rights.

https://www.robertrae.co.uk/

Heather Kiernan

Co-curator – Heather Kiernan

Heather KiernanA retired epidemiologist with degrees in medicine and public health from the University of Toronto and Cambridge, Heather began a second career as a free -lance writer and editor of intellectual and cultural history. learn more

Terry Flaxton

Terry Flaxton

Terry FlaxtonBritish artist Terry Flaxton (b. 1953) has worked with sound composition, photography and film, developing a particular interest in analogue video during the 1970s. learn more

Dr Alice Tarbuck

Dr Alice Tarbuck

Dr Alice TarbuckAlice Tarbuck is an award-winning poet and writer. learn more

Leila Bright

Leila Sinclair-Bright

Leila BrightLeila Sinclair-Bright is an artist and a social anthropologist. Born in the UK and raised in Zimbabwe she has always moved between cultures and places. learn more

Jeni Reddi

Jini Reddy

Jeni ReddiJini Reddy is the author of Wanderland, shortlisted for the Stanford Dolman Travel Award and for the Wainwright Prize. learn more

Peter Kennard

Peter Kennard

Peter KennardWith a career spanning fifty years, Peter Kennard (born 1949) is without a doubt Britain’s most important political artist and its leading practitioner of photomontage. learn more

Kte Hudson

Kate Hudson

Kte HudsonKate Hudson (born 1958) by profession a historian, Kate has been the General Secretary of CND since 2010, having served as its chair since 2003. learn more

Damon Bridge

Damon Bridge

Damon BridgeDamon Bridge is a Conservation Officer at the RSPB and was project Manager of the Great Crane Project from 2009-2016. learn more

RSPB Scotland

Hywel Maggs

RSPB ScotlandHywel Maggs is based in Aberdeen and has worked for the RSPB since 2002. learn more

Susan Morrison

Susan Morrison

Susan MorrisonSusan Morrison is a comedy volcano, erupting with an endless flow of scorching hot gags, spewing forth at a blistering pace. learn more

Dr Imad Faruque

Dr. Imad Faruque

Dr Imad FaruqueImad grew up in Dhaka, Bangladesh and has been trained as an Electrical and Electronic Engineer (EEE) during his BSc (2009) from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). learn more

Jared Robinson Brown

The Revd. Jarel Robinson-Brown

Jared Robinson BrownJarel is a British-Born Jamaican and grew up in West London where, with his elder sister he was raised by his Grandmother. Sensing an early call to ordained ministry, Jarel began preaching in the Ealing Trinity Circuit of the Methodist Church in 2006 and later trained for ordination at Wesley House, Cambridge from 2010-2013. learn more

Dr Nina Morris

Dr Nina Morris

Dr Nina MorrisMy research interests fall into three categories: (i) human-nature relationships, (ii) sensory perception, and, (iii) pedagogy and continuing professional development. learn more

Michael Rosen

Michael Rosen

Michael RosenMichael Rosen was born in 1946 in North London. One of the best-known figures in the children’s book world, he is renowned for his work as a poet, performer, broadcaster and scriptwriter. As an author and by selecting other writers’ works for anthologies he has been involved with over 140 books. He lectures and teaches in universities on children’s literature, reading and writing. learn more

Nadezhda Radulova

Nadezhda Radulova

Nadezhda RadulovaNadezhda Radulova (b. 1975) is a poet, writer, editor and literary translator. She is the author of six poetry books learn more

Alec Finlay

Alec Finlay

Alec FinlayAlec Finlay (b. 1966) is a poet, publisher and artist based in Edinburgh. In recent years Finlay’s work has been primarily concerned with contemporary visions of nature and landscape. learn more

Albena Azmanova

Albena Azmanova

Albena AzmanovaAlbena Azmanova (b. 1968) is a writer, scholar and political commentator based in Brussels, who is interested in judgment and justice, ideologies, democracy’s troubles with capitalism and capitalism’s devious talent for survival. learn more

Irini Tzortzoglou

Irini Tzortzoglou

Irini Tzortzoglou

Irini Tzortzoglou is UK’s MasterChef Champion 2019.

Born on the island of Crete, Irini grew up in Athens where she and her brothers were educated. In 1980 Irini moved to London where she enjoyed a banking career in the City for over 30 years. Irini combined her work with professional (Banking Diploma) and academic (History of Art, Architecture & Design degree) studies as well as hobbies such as interior design and theatre, being both a legal director and leading lady of a London based Greek theatre company.

In 2010, Irini and her husband John left the financial world and moved to the sleepy but foodie village of Cartmel in the Lake District. In January 2020, Irini trained as an Olive Oil Sommelier and in July 2020, her debut book Under The Olive Tree (recipes from my Greek kitchen) was published to high acclaim.

Irini and her husband John have made over 40 visits to whisky distilleries, attended a weekly whisky school and love spending time on Islay and Speyside during their whisky festivals. Her dream is to visit the whisky distilleries of Japan.

Her favourite whisky is matured in sherry, sauternes or madeira casks.

Becky Paskin

Becky Paskin

Becky PaskinBecky Paskin is a UK-based spirits journalist, whisky specialist and consultant who has been writing about drinks for over 12 years. Most recently she was editor of leading online magazine Scotchwhisky.com and global trade title The Spirits Business.

She became the first journalist to gain a General Certificate in Distillation with the Institute of Brewing and Distilling – a qualification usually reserved for distillery operators, is also a judge for the IWSC and member of exclusive society Keepers of the Quaich. She was also named 2020 Icons of Whisky Communicator of the Year and listed in About Time Magazine’s Top 10 Women to Watch in Drinks 2020.

Becky is an advocate for breaking down cultural misconceptions about whisky, and in 2018 co-founded the OurWhisky movement to promote whisky as a diverse and widely accessible drink.

She regularly presents educational seminars at global drinks festivals including Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans and The Whisky Show in London.

 

 

Meeghan Murdoch

Meeghan Murdoch

Meeghan MurdochMeeghan has over 25 years in the drinks industry. During this time, she has travelled the world working in the business that she is passionate about: the production of spirits, wine and beer.

Leaving her homeland Canada in 1990, she travelled to Japan – it was there that she was introduced to the world of drinks when she landed a job learning to make Sake.

Following this, Meeghan gained a wide range of experience within the wine and spirits trade in the UK by working in retail, import/export, and buying. At this time, she was also invited to join the highly esteemed IWSC & IWC judging panels.

In 2011 she obtained her degree in viticulture in and oenology at Plumpton College, which lead her to travel again – this time to the Mosel region of Germany, as well as France and New Zealand – to put her studies into practice as a winemaker.

After mastering the grape, she trained in the grain – becoming first a brewer, then a distiller and consultant within the beer and spirits industries. Meeghan received merit in the General Certificate in Distilling with the IBD concentrating on the production of Whisky and is currently the Head of Distilling and Operations at Glenrinnes Distillery in Speyside.

Steph Murray

Steph Murray

Steph MurraySteph is a founding member of Shawfern Group Limited, a family organisation which operates a growing collection of boutique hotels such as The Dowans Hotel and Hotel 1881 in Speyside. As General Manager, she has overseen the significant growth and development of the business which, despite the impact of Covid-19 on the world of hospitality, continues to demonstrate resilient strength in a sincerely weakened market; evidence of its standing in a national and international context. Her knowledge of and passion for whisky were solidified by her attendance at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky School in 2014 and she continues to make it of pivotal importance to the business via regular events, whisky paired meals and continued marketing of The Still, the Dowans’ whisky snug, as a destination of choice. Prior to making hospitality her chosen career, she pursued a Postgraduate degree in Human Rights and International Politics from Glasgow University. Despite the move away from that field, she continues to champion the elements of her degree that were of the most pressing importance to her: equality, diversity and the pursuit of a world where the importance placed on the masculine heteronormative ‘ideal’ ceases to exist.

Ian Millar

Ian Milllar

Ian MillarPrestige Whiskies Specialist, William Grant & Sons Ltd.

Born in Pitlochry Perthshire in the Highlands of Scotland in 1953, Ian Millar joined independent family distillers William Grant & Sons Ltd in 1998 as Distilleries Manager for the company’s flagship Glenfiddich and Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky distilleries.

Ian started working in the whisky business in 1971 where he worked at Blair Athol Distillery, having worked in various parts of production he was promoted into the Production Manager role in 1982.

He was also previously Distillery Manager at the Bladnoch, Mortlach, Blair Athol, Dalwhinnie, Linkwood and Glen Elgin Distilleries before joining William Grant & Sons to manage their Malt Distilleries.

Ian was an active member of Dufftown 2000 who were responsible for setting up the Dufftown Whisky Festivals now happily absorbed into the very successful Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

In 2006 Ian moved into the role of Global Ambassador for Glenfiddich where the ambassador team increased progressively to 20, he retired from this role in 2016.

Ian was invited to become a Keeper of the Quaich in 2008, an organisation created to promote the long term global success of Scotch Whisky.

In 2019 Ian was invited to join the Keepers of the Quaich Society as a Master of the Quaich.

In 2014 Ian was invited to sit in the panel of the HKIWSC as their International and head judge for the Spirits section.

In 2015 Ian was awarded the title of International Whisky Ambassador of the year from the International Whisky Competition.

In 2016 Ian was inducted into the Icons of Whisky Hall of Fame.

Ian is married to Anneke and has two grown up children and seven grandchildren, he currently lives in Pitlochry, deep in the heart of Scotland.

Thanks to the growing success of Glenfiddich and Balvenie, Ian is spending an increasing amount of time dealing with our HNW guests at Glenfiddich Distillery in his new role as Prestige Whiskies Specialist.

When not nosing and tasting Glenfiddich, or working on his numerous community projects, Ian likes to spend his precious free time playing golf at his favourite courses around Scotland and walking his dogs in the beautiful Highland countryside that surrounds his home.

Michael Mears at Just Festival

Michael Mears

2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Japan. This catastrophic event is referred to as ‘the mistake’ on the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima. learn more

Of All The People In All The World

Tue 18 – Sat 22

12noon – 5pm, plus 6pm – 8pm on Thu 20

DROP-IN – visit us at Cornerstone Centre, St Johns Church, Princes St

This is a free event

Covid* we will limit numbers at any one time to enable social distancing, masks must be worn.

Access for larger or vulnerable groups and schools available by appointment. Contact director@just-festival.org

For this beautifully simple performance installation, the artists build small and large mounds of rice representing the political and social realities in the world: one grain of rice for the Queen, twelve grains for people who have walked on the moon, a pile for teachers in the UK, a heap for millionaires in Europe, and a mountain for people fleeing from war and disaster.
Stan’s Cafe are delighted to bring the internationally acclaimed Of All The People In All The World back to Edinburgh, where visitors are invited to put their questions and suggestions to the artists, ensuring an ever-changing rice landscape. By making normally abstract statistics tangible and placing them in thoughtful relation to each other, this powerful work of art is witty, shocking and ultimately moving.
Come and find yourself.

Stan’s Cafe has been making and touring work from their base in Birmingham, UK since 1991. The company uses theatre to boldly address timeless and contemporary themes and is happy to twist theatre out of shape in order to do so. They are regularly invited to perform at venues around the world.

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCnfCw2PWc2KWeKHcI6jxAkw

This event is subject to Scot Gov phased relaxation of Covid restrictions. Please check details before attendance. Masks must be worn during visiting the installation – hand sanitisers will be available at entrance and exit.
If you have any access requirements please email director@just-festival.org to discuss – no later than 7 days prior to the event if possible.

Venue
Cornerstone Centre, St. John’s Church
Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4BJ

Dr Sheila Hynd at Just Festival

The Countess of Fife

Dr Sheila Hynd at Just FestivalThe Countess of Fife is the next adventure for Dr Sheila Hynd aka Fay Fife from iconic Scottish pop punk outfit the Rezillos. learn more

Tomiwa Folorunso at Just Festival

Tomiwa Folorunso

Tomiwa Folorunso at Just FestivalTomiwa Folorunso is a writer, presenter and creative based in Edinburgh. Her work explores the experiences of marginalised voices and connecting people, ideas and stories.

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Isabel Moura Mendes at Just Festival

Isabel Moura Mendes

Isabel is a multilingual Portuguese-Cape Verdean international arts project manager, with a strong practice in international cultural relations, artistic exchange and African film curation. learn more

Joseph Malik at Just Festival

Joseph Malik

Joseph Malik has been fighting against racism since the day he was born being abandoned at the hospital by his white mother, being painted white aged 5. Then at age 14 being beaten close to death by 4 police officers and enduring decades of abuse and beatings in Glasgow.
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Darren McGarvey at Just Festival

Darren McGarvey

Darren McGarveyDarren McGarvey,  better known by the stage name Loki, is a writer, columnist and hip hop recording artist, who has made regular media appearances as a social commentator. learn more

Prof Rowland Kao at Just Festival

Professor Rowland Kao

Professor Rowland Kao

Professor Kao is the Sir Timothy O’Shea Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology and Data Science at the University of Edinburgh, and is working with Public Health Scotland on coronavirus. He is a member of the UK Government’s Science Advisory Council. learn more

Prof Devi Sridhar at Just Festival

Professor Devi Sridhar

Professor Devi SridharDevi Sridhar is Professor of Global Public Health, Head of the Global Health Governance Programme Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics at Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh. learn more

Hodges and Coleman at just Festival

Jo Hodges and Robbie Coleman

Coleman and HodgesRobbie Coleman and Jo Hodges are multidisciplinary public artists based in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Robbie Coleman has a background in sculpture and live art. He project manages large-scale public arts projects and is Co-Director of the D-LUX light festival and The Environmental Arts Festival Scotland. Jo Hodges is an artist, curator and producer with a background in Human Ecology, community development and social justice. learn more

Dr Michael Bonaventura

Natural Sciences trained, Mike Bonaventura holds an honorary professorship in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Glasgow, a doctorate [PhD] in Artificial Intelligence, is an external examiner at the Centre for Climate Justice at Glasgow Caledonian University, is a (lapsed) chartered engineer [IEE C.Eng.] and co-inventor of three software patents in decision-making systems. learn more

Dr Stephen Reicher at Just Festival

Professor Stephen Reicher

Professor Stephen ReicherProfessor Stephen Reicher is the Bishop Wardlaw Professor of Social Psychology in the School of Psychology & Neuroscience , University of St Andrews. learn more

Joyce McMillan at Just Festival

Joyce McMillan

Joyce MacMillanJoyce McMillan is theatre critic, and political social commentator for The Scotsman. She has been involved in many campaigns for democracy and human rights, both in Scotland and internationally, and has been a freelance journalist, based in  Edinburgh, Scotland, for more than 30 years.

Roman Krznaric at Just Festival

Roman Krznaric

Roman KrznaricRoman Krznaric is a public philosopher who writes about the power of ideas to change society. His books, including Empathy, The Wonderbox and Carpe Diem Regained, have been published in more than 20 languages. learn more

Richard Milne at Just Festival

Dr Richard Milne

Richard Milne at Just FestivalDr Richard Milne is a senior lecturer in evolutionary biology at the University of Edinburgh.
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Brian Beer at Just Festival

Brian Deer

Brian BeerBrian Deer is a multi-award-winning investigative reporter, best known for inquiries into the drug industry, medicine, and social issues for The Sunday Times of London. learn more

Nicola Osbourne at Just Festival

Nicola Osborne

Nicola Osborne

Nicola Osborne is Programme Manager for Creative Informatics, funded by the AHRC with support from the SFC and the City Region Deal Data Driven Innovation Initiative. Creative Informatics is part of the Creative Industries Clusters Programme managed by the Arts & Humanities Research Council as part of the Industrial Strategy.

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Rev Dr John Armes at Just Festival

The Rt. Revd. Dr John A. Armes

The Rt Revd Dr John A ArmesThe Rt Rev John Armes was consecrated as 26th Bishop of Edinburgh on 12 May 2012. Prior to this, he was rector of St John the Evangelist Church, Princes Street, Edinburgh and Dean of the Diocese of Edinburgh. learn more

Reverend Doctor Karen Georgia Thompson at Just Festival

The Reverend Doctor Karen Georgia Thompson

Reverend Doctor Karen Georgia Thompson at Just FestivalThe Reverend Doctor Karen Georgia Thompson, Associate General Minister, Wider Church Ministries and Operations Co-Executive for Global Ministries. learn more

Just Festival 2017

Video – 2017 Just Festival

Against the Current learn more

Just Festival Feedback 2016

Video – 2016 Just Festival Audience Feedback

Audience members at the Just Festival 2016 give their feedback about shows and events.

Just Festival 2015

Video – Just Festival 2015 Photos

Images from the 2015 Just Festival

Just Festival 2015

Video – Just Festival 2015

With though provoking conversations, talks films and exhibitions. learn more

Just Festival 2014

Video – Just Festival 2014

An Introduction to the 2014 Just Festival learn more

Just Festival 2013

Video – Just Festival 2013

3 Weeks in 3 minutes
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