For decades it was the poor relation of Scotland’s biggest cultural celebration. Twenty years after it was launched to raise the profile of visual art in Edinburgh in August, its annual showcase now covers much more of the city than its sister festivals. The Edinburgh Art Festival, which will feature the work of more than 200 artists, embraces all of the city’s best-known museums and galleries, including Fruitmarket, Collective, Ingleby and Dovecot Studios.
But it also takes the summer festivals into parts of the city that other events rarely reach. Its 20th anniversary programme will see events and exhibitions staged at a former carpet shop and the Shore in Leith, the Royal Botanic Garden, a community project in Restalrig, a shopping centre in Wester Hailes, a former rubber factory in Fountainbridge, a city centre car park and an outdoor sculpture park near Edinburgh Airport. Art festival director Kim McAleese said: “We have such incredible museums and galleries in Edinburgh, with beautiful collections and really amazing commercial and artist-spaces.
"In most parts of the city, there is something visual art related that you can and visit. "Visual art just wasn't as prominent in the city in 2004, but that was part of the reason for the genesis of the art festival. There was a real feeling that the city wasn’t really shouting about the wonderful programmes that were on.
“Visual art historically had a presence in the Edinburgh International Festival programme, but it .