From the RBGE Colombia Fest tent at Rockness in 2013

Next year the RBGE will be presenting a programme of events, exhibitions and engagement on the theme of Indigenous people and nature. This six-month long festival of science and arts will celebrate the relationship between traditional cultures and biodiversity. Although this has come under pressure from modernisation respect for the natural world remains a common thread connecting Indigenous communities around the World.

Supported by Creative Scotland, the Scottish Government and other funding sources the Indigenous programme will be launched during the Edinburgh International Science Festival in April next year, and will include a number of events in the cultural programme for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The Indigenous programme embraces theatre, crafts, exhibitions, talks, demonstrations and films, and will include participants from Canada, India, New Zealand, Australia, Colombia and Malawi. Activities will take place across Scotalnd at all four Gardens of the RBGE, at Glasgow Botanic Graden and at the Wickerman Festival in Dumfries & Galloway.

Up to 50,000 people are expected to take part in the programme. There will also be a legacy of public art created by Indigenous artists and crafts-people and a new book of essays from a series of eminent authors. In the year in which Scottish people get the chance to vote on independence we will also be asking the question how do we value our own cultural heritage, especially that which relates to traditional crafts and nature?

If you are intrested in participating in the Indigenous programme please contact i.edwards@rbge.org.uk