Work for The Skinny

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The Skinny is an independent, creative company that seeks to connect curious readers with interesting artists and events. We aim to offer freedom within your role to work towards our company goals and business vision.

Theatre Writers
Contributors
Fest Deputy Editor
The Skinny x Edinburgh Art Festival Emerging Writers Award

The Skinny x Edinburgh Art Festival Emerging Writers Award

The Skinny are teaming up with Edinburgh Art Festival for a fifth year running to commission four emerging art writers to write about the EAF26 Programme. The project aims to platform Scotland-based, early career writers from backgrounds underrepresented in journalism, through a mentored, paid opportunity to be published, in print and online, by The Skinny.

Four emerging writers will be commissioned to write two articles, each on a different element of the EAF26 Festival: one EAF commission, and one Partner commission. Each writer will have one article published in the August 2026 print issue of the Skinny, followed by an online article published during August.

At least one of these Emerging Writers Awards will be reserved for a BPOC writer, reflecting the underrepresentation of BPOC writers in Scotland, as well as the ways race often intersects with class and gender marginalisation in the arts.

All articles will be published in print and online at The Skinny by the end of 2026. All writers will be supported by a group workshop with The Skinny’s Art Editor, Rachel Ashenden. Each writer will be paid £150, equal to £75 per article. There is also a separate access fund available for writers with additional support needs. 

Who this opportunity is for...

– Writers who can show an interest in writing about visual art, especially in Scotland.
– Writers who have not written for the Skinny’s Art Section before.
– Writers who are historically underrepresented in Scottish cultural journalism, including: Disabled and neurodivergent writers, female writers, LGBTQ+ writers, writers of colour, working class writers, and writers from rural areas.
– As described, one role is reserved for a BPOC artist. 

We are open to a range of creative approaches to the commission. Interview-based, research-based, personal, political, poetic — show us what makes your work unique!

About the Awards

As an Emerging Writer, you will:

– Take part in a writing workshop with Rachel Ashenden.
– Write two articles for publication during EAF26 responding to two parts of the EAF26 Programme: one EAF commission, and one Partner Gallery commission. 
– Receive a fee of £150.

How to apply

– Complete this Google Form with information about yourself and your interest in this commission.

– Confirm whether you would like to put yourself forward for the BPOC writer opportunity.

– Include a CV and two samples of writing on visual art (published or unpublished.)

Application deadline: Sunday 12 April 2026, 11.59pm

Read examples of Emerging Writers’ work from 2025, 2024, and 2023 at the links; if you have any other questions, please contact info@edinburghartfestival.com

Fest Deputy Editor

As we gear up for a busy summer, we’re looking for a Deputy Editor for Fest magazine during 2026’s Edinburgh festivals. Working closely with the Editor, the successful candidate will plan and commission four editions of Fest – one preview issue going to print in July, and three review issues produced during August. They will provide support across all areas of Fest, especially as back-up/cover when needed. The Deputy Editor will assist in the management of print and online content, helping to maintain a high standard of writing and presentation across all platforms. They will also represent Fest as required at industry events such as launches, receptions, awards ceremonies etc.

Like all Fest staff, the Deputy Editor will be passionate and knowledgeable about the Edinburgh Festivals. They will be ready to manage a team of reviewers during the hectic fun of Edinburgh in August. This role will require someone who is adaptable, able to work both reactively and to a schedule to ensure production requirements are met. They will be highly skilled in writing, editing, subediting and proofing with an obsessive eye for detail. They will be a skilled communicator, ready to create and maintain happy working relationships both within the existing company and externally with press agents and promoters.

Hours: This freelance role will require full time working during production periods (one print deadline in July, three in August), and part time from May to plan and commission. 

To apply: Send a cover letter and CV to jobs@theskinny.co.uk along with writing samples reflecting a range of subjects and styles. The cover letter should include some of your ideas for Fest’s features content in 2026. Please mention Fest Deputy Editor in the subject line.

Fee: £3500, payment schedule to be agreed

Deadline: Midday Wednesday 18 March

Essential skills/experience:

  • Feature and review writing
  • Excellent subediting skills and ability to adhere to style guides
  • A general knowledge of all genres and artforms included in the Edinburgh Festivals 
  • Ability to work quickly, independently, to tight deadlines and in an extremely organised manner
  • Brainstorming and thinking of unique ideas for coverage (and not just what PRs want to be covered)
  • Ability to distill masses of information/comms into what stands out for coverage, considering things like balance, venues, genres and diversity
  • Strong organisation skills – ability and confidence to take charge of the review schedule in August, coordinating with writers and keeping track of budgets and deadlines
  • Ability to wrangle PRs and publicity teams to secure interviews, reviews and print and digital assets
  • Assisting with commissioning and accepting submissions from writers, and the ability to plan for contingency, e.g. in the event of non-submission
  • Working within a budget and keeping an eye on spending over the course of a project
  • Supporting commissioned writers, especially if significant edits are needed or something doesn’t quite work 
  • Awareness of overall conflicts of interest across the festival landscape and within the team

Desirable skills/experience:

  • Existing good relationships across the festival landscape
  • An understanding of InDesign and the overall magazine design process
  • Experience of organising and working with shared documents and spreadsheets
  • Ability to work closely with commercial colleagues to manage any editorial commitments while ensuring there is a clear separation (i.e. not having clients influence reviews)
  • Assisting with potential recruitment of new writers and any mentoring that might be needed

Theatre Writers

We’re looking for new writers to contribute to our Theatre section, adding their voices to our year-round coverage of Scotland’s theatre scene. Our theatre coverage is a mixture of features, interviews and reviews, taking in everything from big producing theatres and major tours to grassroots work and emerging playwrights and performers. If you have ideas on who or what we should be covering (and how we could be covering them), we'd love to hear from you. 

Interested? Read our Pitching Guide, then send a writing sample (published or unpublished) and a short bio to our Theatre editor Mika on mika@theskinny.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS (Writers, Illustrators, Photographers)

The Skinny is your magazine: a collaborative effort, it’s put together by people who love their region and its culture, for people who love their region and its culture – and our contributors are known for having something new to say as well as a passion for their areas of expertise.

We are looking for writers, illustrators and photographers on an ongoing basis to help make The Skinny an informed, inspiring, witty and opinionated collection of the voices and talents that makes Scotland such an exciting place to be.

With 35,000+ copies distributed to more than 650 venues, The Skinny gives writers a platform to get their voice heard, and illustrators and photographers an opportunity to showcase their work and build their portfolio.

Pitching to The Skinny: Before you pitch your article ideas, we first recommend reading this pitching guide, which gives clear advice on writing a successful, eye-catching pitch to The Skinny and answers many questions you might have about the process.

If you’re a writer: Please introduce yourself to the relevant section editor – see contact details here – and send them two or three samples of your work.

If you’re an illustrator or photographer: Please email jobs@theskinny.co.uk with the subject line 'Contributor: illustrator' or 'Contributor: photographer' and let us know your area of expertise/interest (e.g. perhaps you’re a fashion photographer, or would like to try more live music photography) – and please link us to your portfolio where possible rather than attaching large files.