ABOUT US
Background:
By combining the forces of the Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association, the Edinburgh International Centre for World Spiritualities and Creative Space (a project of the local churches seeking to promote public discourse), the Festival of Spirituality and Peace (FoSP) was born in 2005. It quickly established itself as an important part of the Edinburgh Fringe programme, becoming a festival in its own right in 2007.
Ethos:
FoSP is committed to the principles of creativity, inclusivity and dialogue and to modelling the dynamics of peacemaking: to sponsor the kind of conversations and encounters which need to happen in the wider world if there is to be peace and respect for all – and to garner wisdom wherever it is to be found. Therefore our programme will create opportunities for engagement for those who seek constructively to address the issues of our time, to promote dialogue and to build community in diversity
Programme and Support:
We are supported by The Scottish Government, The City of Edinburgh Council and a number of other significant organisation to provide a range of events including keynote talks, conversation, film, prayer/meditation, exhibitions, visual art, music, poetry, drama and workshops.
Particular elements of our programme are promoted in partnership. This is a developing are of the Festivale. Our partners to date have included: Initiatives for Change, Edinburgh Peace and Justice Resource Centre, Forum on Discrimination, Scottish Association for Mental Health, Scottish Poetry Library, Save the Children, Amnesty International and the Humanist Society of Scotland.
Themes:
Each year we choose a broad theme on which to focus:
2005: Tomorrow's World
2006: Longing and Belonging: Identity Today
2007: Power and Freedom: Breaking the Chains
2008: Be The Change: Wellbeing of People and Planet
2009: Scotland in the World - The World in Scotland
2010: A theme marking the centenary of Edinburgh Mission Conference 1910
Future Plans:
Our evaluations show that our audiences in August have grown from around 3500 to over 5000 between 2005 and 2006. Such an increase shows that there is a clear role for such a festival. We can only continue to grow now that we have continued support from the Scottish Government with increased spending on promotional materials and by taking on additional staff.
We hope to establish an award for the event in the Edinburgh Festival which has best expressed humanity's hopes for a peaceful future and, by example, to encourage the Festivals to levy a voluntary donation on ticket sales to fund an appropriate humanitarian cause each year.
