City Observatory, 38 Calton Hill
Tomorrow · 11:00
Join us for our third Gala up the hill! Inspired by traditional Scottish Gala day celebrations, Collective Gala invites audiences of all ages to experience our unique site on Calton Hill and engage with our wide-ranging programmes. This year, we will be joined by Edinburgh-based artist Debjani Banerjee, whose new commission and performance will be centred on storytelling and Tarot. Play sessions will be facilitated by our Lead Play Artist, Kat Stanley. You can also join behind-the-scenes tours of our heritage observatory, shop with local makers, and explore exhibitions by Katie Paterson and Richard Maguire. Belfast-born artist, performer and early-years play worker Kat Stanley specialises in the careful curation of spaces that nurture and encourage innate creativity. After completing a masters in contemporary art practice at the University of Edinburgh, Kat co-produced grassroots queer performance collective ‘Fruit Salad’ as well as developing an exciting arts and engagement practice. Interested in performance, costume, painting and film, and entranced by the intricate beauty of folklore and ritual practices, Kat immerses themselves and others in the otherworld through acts of creativity and worldbuilding. Find out more Access information Find out more about accessing our site at Collective Gallery here Introducing our Gala Artist: Debjani Banerjee Debjani Banerjee is an artist based in Edinburgh. Her practice spans sculpture, textile, moving image, performance, dance and sound to create playful, humorous, and nuanced representations of cultural plurality, the mystic, the feminine and of broader human experience. Banerjee’s practice is rooted in collaboration, learning, and exchange. She has a strong interest in workshops, participatory methods, and archival research, using these approaches to create spaces for shared knowledge and collective engagement. Moon Plates, 2026 Glazed stoneware ceramics. Photo: Laura Cullen দেবী (Devi ), screenprint (2019), reproduced in 2026. After the poster for Devi (1960) by Satyajit Ray. Installation view, Jalsaghar, Bluecoat, Liverpool, 2026. Photo: Rob… Shiva Fountain (detail), 2026 Ceramic, enamel paint, water pump; wood, spray paint. Installation view, Jalsaghar, Bluecoat, Liverpool, 2026. Photo: Rob Battersby Crafters and Stallholders We’re excited to welcome a number of local crafters, artists and makers to this years Gala including: Knot Unknot Sett Studios Marshmallow Lady Earlob Cool Dudeles Black Bear and Pine Out of the Blueprint Aku Ceramics Second text box Alternative Image Gallery Show more You might also like Apply now Apply now Button
Not the same tradition as the lineage above — a genuinely different thread to pull, if you want one.