The Walled Garden Arts & Music Programme features a host of music, film, performances, visual arts exhibitions, workshops, food & drink, and walks and cycle rides in the beautiful surroundings of Traquair House’s Walled Garden.

All Day Events

Exhibitions

The New York Times: Carbon’s Casualties
Josh Haner has travelled across the globe to document the effects of Climate change. Dramatic drone footage coupled with still photography on the ground captures diverse environments as they are reshaped around the world, weaving a visual narrative of the ultimate legacy of climate change: the loss of our planet’s heritage.

The New York Times: This Is 18
The NYT selected young women photographers in more than a dozen countries and asked them to document 18-year old girls in their communities. From a bagpipe player in Iran, to a teen mother in Mississippi and a girl who has survived three wars in the West Bank, the exhibition beautifully and powerfully illustrates what 18 looks like around the world.

Art, Conflict & Remembering: The Murals of the Bogside Artists
This powerful exhibition tells the story of the Troubles through the large-scale murals of The People’s Gallery in Derry/ Londonderry, Northern Ireland. The Bogside was the epicentre of the Troubles that began with a peaceful civil rights march in 1968 and ended with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Yemen: Resilience Through Daily Life
Beyond Borders has, in collaboration with Yemen Art Base, commissioned four Yemeni photographers based in Yemen to develop a photography exhibition capturing how the normality of daily life perseveres, showing images of hope and resilience amongst the chaos of war.

Sheila Mullen: The Flyting O Life and Death
A selection of moving and expressive oil paintings by the Borders artist Sheila Mullen inspired by the work of modern Scottish poets such as Edwin Muir’s Horses,Hugh MacDiarmid’s Crowdieknowe, Hamish Henderson’s ballad about life and death and contemporary poets Aonghas MacNeacail, Katy Ewing and Betty Tindal.

Forgotten Masters: Indian Painting for the East India Company
As the East India Company extended its sway across India in the late eighteenth century, many remarkable artworks were commissioned by Company officials from Indian painters who had previously worked for the Mughals. See a preview of an exhibition curated by William Dalrymple, which will open at the Wallace Collection in December.

Beyond Borders Question Time

Join a selection of our speakers and special guests for question and answer sessions showcasing young journalistic talent!

Sustainability Zone Stalls

Browse local produce and products in our sustainability zone, and join food and drink tastings throughout the weekend, including vegan food and wine, whiskey, and gin!

Drop of Gold
Native to Andalucía, the largest region for producing olive oil in Spain, The Drop of Gold, will be selling their wide range of highest quality oil, natural cosmetics, jams and caviar.

Fiona Luing Jewellery
Fiona Luing Jewellery will be displaying her delightful new honeypot jewellery collection alongside Eleanor Symms, whose unique work is made with reclaimed plastics, often scavenged from the beach for a sustainable jewellery alternative.

Lyne Organics Scottish Borders
Lyne Organics is a home fragrance and natural toiletries business based in the Scottish Borders, providing a calming range of essential oils, candles and organic wedding scents.

The Three Stills Company
The Three Stills Company have brought malt whisky production back to the Scottish Borders, now operating the regions first (legal) whisky distillery since 1837. They will be selling a mix of whiskies, with a tasting event on Sunday.

Selkirk Distillers
Selkirk Distillers specialises in utilising botanicals local to Selkirkshire, including the whin flower, to make their uniquely local Reivers Gin and Bannock Gin.

Sarah’s Cakes Scottish Borders
Local to the Borders, Sarah’s Cakes will be offering a variety of home baked cupcakes for a delicious sweet treat.

Craft Workshops
Traquair has had an active community of craft workers based in the grounds since 1974. All self-employed craft workers, the four current workshops offer unique products and a chance to meet and talk with the craftsmen and women.

Centaur Design
With over 25 years worldwide experience, Centaur Design specialises in Celtic and Cultural designs in leather, silver and fine metals. Bespoke pieces created and commissions taken.

Rob Sutherland Ceramics
Rob utilises the technique of coiling to hand make all his ceramics, which draw their influence from nature ranging from deciduous forest to fossil encrusted pebbles.

Film Tipi

Films will be playing throughout the weekend, including:

Just a Number

Open Air Stories

The Walled Garden Arts & Music Programme features a host of music, film, performances, visual arts exhibitions, workshops, food & drink, and walks and cycle rides in the beautiful surroundings of Traquair House’s Walled Garden.

Saturday 24^th August

9:00-9:45 Meditation – Raj Rai
Start the festival with a meditation practice led by Rajesh Rai, meditation expert and human rights barrister. Explore techniques such as relaxation, breath awareness, focus and concentration through the Royal Path.

10:00-10:50 Yoga – Susan Neal
Unwind and find your balance with Susan Neal as she leads a morning yoga session in Traquair House’s beautiful Walled Garden.

10:00-11:00 Tales of Selkies and Kelpies
Join local Storyteller Mary Kenny on a morning stroll through the beautiful woods of Traquair. Along the way, hear Tales of Selkies and Kelpies, the mysterious dwellers of the watery kingdom that cross the elemental borderlands.

12:00-12:45 Tenx9 curated storytelling
Listen to inspiring stories told by women from our Women in Conflict 1325 Fellowship Programme from the Middle East and South Asia in an event curated by Tenx9.

12:30-13:00 Why Vegan? Why Not?
Veganism is on the rise in Scotland with plant-based options becoming ever more available to enjoy. Join the author of The Scottish Vegan Cookbook to hear about how and why to add more fruits, vegetables and grains to your diet while improving your health and making the most of Scotland’s abundant larder. 

13:00-13:45 Film Screening: Just A Number

14:10-14:45 Music from Emmanuel Smith-Tali
Enjoy your lunch while Emmanuel Smith-Tali entertains and delights with a specially selected mix spontaneous of spontaneous songs and original music.

15:00-15:30 Tenx9 storytelling from our Women in Conflict Fellows
Listen to inspiring stories told by women from our Women in Conflict 1325 Fellowship Programme from the Middle East and South Asia in an event curated by Tenx9.

15:30-16:15 Painters & Poets  – Sheila Mullen
Andrew Brown introduces Sheila Mullen whose fascination with border ballads and contemporary poetry inspires her evocative expressive paintings. She is accompanied by readings of their poems by Aonghas MacNeacail and Katy Ewing and Gerda Stevenson reads from her most recent book Inside & Out: The art of Christian Small

15:45-16:15 Gin Tasting – Selkirk Distillers

17:00-17:45 Nigel Osborne: Music & Migration
World-renowned composer Nigel Osborne gives a talk about music and migration, accompanied by the Syrian Oud, cello, gongs, and violin.

18:10-19:00 Drinks reception and music from Jiginaboot
End the day with a drinks reception and some music from Jiginaboot Ceilidh Band, a local, multi-talented acoustic trio!

Scotland’s history has been told many times, but never exclusively by women. Listen as Ruth Wishart talks to Rosemary Goring about the history of Scotland through the eyes of women throughout the centuries – from dramatic national events to everyday life. With an introduction from Catherine Muller Stuart.

Join local Storyteller Mary Kenny on a morning stroll through the beautiful woods of Traquair. Along the way, hear Tales of Selkies and Kelpies, the mysterious dwellers of the watery kingdom that cross the elemental borderlands.

Bettany Hughes returns to Traquair House to take the long view of historical pathways to peace to ask what might healing and reconciliation look like in today’s world? Allan Little asks the questions.

New York Times writer Amanda Taub, social impact entrepreuneur Paul van Zyl, and Beyond Conflict CEO Tim Phillips talk to Oscar Guardiola-Rivera about democracy, the impact of technology, and the prevalence of social media as a polarizing force, and The New York Times’ Privacy Project. 

Listen to veteran United Nations diplomat Staffan de Mistura as he reflects on his time as Special Envoy to Syria and his life and work in pursuit of peace. Razia Iqbal asks the questions. Mark Muller Stuart KC introduces.

William Dalrymple returns to Traquair House for an intimate chapel event discussing his upcoming book and curated exhibition of a collection of extraordinary Indian artists between 1770 and 1857.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A CHAPEL EVENT WITH LIMITED SEATING. Please sign up for a space during the morning of Saturday, August 24th. You cannot sign up before this date.

Enjoy your lunch while Emmanuel Smith-Tali entertains and delights with a specially selected mix of spontaneous songs and original music.

Join Allan Little as he talks to historian Sir Tom Devine about his latest book The Scottish Clearances, and explores the history of Scotland’s immigrant communities from World War Two to the present day.

Listen as a panel of political commentators including broadcasters Jim Naughtie, Steve Richards and Sarah Smith explore the current state of affairs in UK politics and what it takes to lead this country. Magnus Linklater asks the questions.

Join Professor Jolyon Mitchell as he explores the current reality of life in Afghanistan, Kashmir, Syria, and Yemen with four remarkable female cultural leaders and the role music and the arts can play in peace building. 

End the day with a drink and some music from Jiginaboot Ceilidh Band, a local, multi-talented acoustic trio!