Celebrating Past, Present & Future
Leith Community Banner-Making Project
Leith, Scotland
In collaboration with Forth Ports, Kinetika led an inspiring community arts project in Leith, engaging local residents to celebrate the rich heritage and vibrant culture of the Port of Leith. This project invited communities to co-create three striking 6-metre-long silk banners – each representing a different chapter in Leith’s story: its Past, Present, and Future.
Using our signature Murshidabad silk and traditional batik techniques, we worked closely with diverse community groups to translate their personal stories, memories, and hopes into bold, dynamic visual designs. The River Leith served as a unifying motif, weaving across all three banners to symbolise connection, continuity, and the lifeblood of the area.
The making process: waxing, dyeing. Courtesy of Mark Massey.
The Process
Our workshops guided participants through every step of the creative process – waxing, dyeing, and painting – enabling everyone to engage directly with the art-making, regardless of experience. This hands-on approach not only celebrated Leith’s identity but also fostered a shared sense of pride and belonging among participants.
The completed banners were unveiled and displayed at Leith’s Jazz and Blues Festival and unveiled at the reopening of the Victoria Swing Bridge in July 2024, transforming public spaces into a vibrant showcase of community creativity and local heritage. This public celebration amplified the voices of Leith’s residents and highlighted the port’s ongoing story within Scotland’s cultural landscape.
Kinetika Artists
Ali Pretty, Artistic Director and Founder
Sarah Doyle