This festival, though, will be its last in Just Festival’s current form. Having been founded by St John’s Church at the turn of the Millennium, Just Festival began its life as the Festival of Spirituality, before being known as the Festival of Spirituality and Peace. In 2012, it became an independent charity and its name was changed to Just Festival, marking its emphasis on programming around issues of social justice. As we approach our twenty-fifth anniversary, we’ve taken the decision to close this particular chapter, before opening another.
The reasons for this are mixed and multifaceted, though of course a major one is funding. It’s well documented that funding for the arts in the UK is in an increasingly perilous position, and as a small charity, even the most minor cuts are felt deeply. But it’s not only funding that’s changed over the past twenty-five years. The landscape of the Edinburgh festivals has changed enormously too, and we’ve been heartened to see socially conscious programming coming increasingly to the fore of many of the major festivals. And, of course, religious patterns have changed in this time too, which poses questions surrounding the roles of church communities and buildings within the Edinburgh festivals, our city as a whole, and wider society.
We’re immensely proud of what we’ve achieved in the past twenty-five years, showcasing artists who may not otherwise have had a chance to perform in the world’s largest arts festival, as well as highlighting and discussing often overlooked or uncomfortable social issues. Though Just Festival, in its current format, will wrap up after this year, we are delighted its ethos will continue through the work of the Global Centre for Peacebuilding and Business. Just Festival’s DNA of sparking engagement with complex issues of social justice through performance, arts and dialogue will be transferred to St Johns’ contribution to this exciting new global endeavour.
The Global Centre for Peacebuilding and Business is a worldwide Anglican church initiative aiming to build peacebuilding and reconciliation processes, particularly focusing on the complex interplay between extractive industries and conflict. St John’s is one of two churches in the United Kingdom which has been invited to be a Cornerstone Church as part of this international project, and we are honoured to be able to continue to nurture the St John’s community to campaign for practical and dignified solutions to some of the gravest issues facing our world.
We are immensely grateful to our board members, staff and volunteers, performers, speakers and audience members who have made this festival what it is over the past twenty-five years, and are excited to see what the future holds! St John’s will remain a vibrant festival hub, as well as multifaceted community space and – of course – an active and joyful Christian church.
In the meantime, please join us for what’s sure to be a very special festival celebrating the myriad faiths, cultures and communities which all form part of this wonderful city in its 900th year.
Miranda Heggie, Festival Director
Just Festival is thankful to all its partners and funders in 2025: The Scottish Episcopal Church; The City of Edinburgh Council Edinburgh 900 Fund; St John’s Scottish Episcopal Church; Live Music Now Scotland; Museums & Galleries Edinburgh; Bethany Christian Trust.
