Fair Saturday on their 2024 programme

The shop is far too hot and far too busy. Deals (BOGOF! 70% OFF! SAVE NOW!) are promised in block capitals upon primary colours. Useless plastic and polyester find their way into an ill-conceived basket and gritted teeth accompany snatches to the back of the shelf. Black Friday is a capitalist hellscape – and Fair Saturday is anything but. 

Set up in 2015 by Jordi Albareda, the Fair Saturday Foundation in Bilbao-Bizkaia sought to bring communities together the day after Black Friday – the last Saturday in November – in support of both social and cultural projects. Arriving in Scotland in 2018, the festival has welcomed 12,000 attendees since then. From choirs to craft, dance to poetry, Fair Saturday Scotland puts the arts centre stage while also seeking to recognise, amplify, and fundraise for social projects across the country. 

“The arts have a potential to be a real driver of positive social change,” says Suzy Ensom, Regional Manager for Scotland. In supporting communities via the arts, the festival offers an all too rare unity which links social concerns to cultural outputs. Rather than imposing from the outside looking in, Fair Saturday supports arts events embedded within the community. “What we're aiming for here is communities that don't necessarily have access to the arts because of some barrier or other – it might be location, it might be cost.” 

Such support is needed now, more than ever. “Within the culture sector, in the third sector, people end up competing for funding,” says Ensom. Amid this year’s Creative Scotland funding delays and copious government U-turns, the funding situation is bleaker than ever. In such desperate times, unity is invaluable. “Fair Saturday is a really nice opportunity for these organisations to come together and appreciate each other and the value that everyone brings.

“Most of the events for Fair Saturday are free but not all of them – and it's important that not all of the events are free. Sometimes they can't be free, because it's essential that artists are paid for what they do,” says Ensom. Fair Saturday encourages those who can and want to spend money on the arts to do so, rather than digging deep for the senseless cash grab of Black Friday. Meanwhile, those who can't afford it are supported to attend for free or reduced costs. Last year, Fair Saturday raised approximately £13,000 for social projects at Edinburgh events (including funding some social projects to create events); meanwhile, 29 named charities and social projects were supported by Fair Saturday Edinburgh events. 

Of course, the benefits of community-based arts are not solely financial. “It really helps people to understand other people, and sometimes it helps people to understand a different point of view or look at something in a completely new way,” says Ensom. Art has the potential to change us – so long as we let it. 

This year, the festival is largely focused in Edinburgh. The Fair Saturday Edinburgh Community Engagement Fund is provided by the City of Edinburgh Council, who also offer some support for the delivery of Fair Saturday Edinburgh. Fair Saturday isn’t interested in competing with the city’s August festival season; however, it is keen to continue connecting communities around the arts throughout the long winter months. 

Edinburgh-based gallery AGITATE is hopeful about hosting their event, CONTACT PRINT. “Part of the motivation behind starting AGITATE was to better represent the diversity of photographers making work and platform new perspectives, so we're excited to invite un-exhibited photographers to join us for that first step,” says Christina Webber, Co-Director of AGITATE and Project Manager of CONTACT PRINT. “Most of our interactions with photography today are via digital screens, but there's so much joy in seeing your work in print – shows like this prompt social interactions that can become catalysts for all kinds of creative collaboration.” 

Indeed, the Fair Saturday Foundation’s efforts aren’t confined to one day. The Kindness of Words project is a year-round educational project which celebrates our interpersonal relationships and the potential for radical kindness within them. Reaching beyond vapid ‘Be Kind’ sentiments, the project involves libraries, schools, families, and community groups, encouraging introspection and action. 

A partnership between Whale Arts and early years arts organisation Starcatchers will also see wee ones get involved. “Families can enjoy a sensory Fairy 'trail' with their little ones, before exploring Whale Arts craft fair and arts activities for all age groups,” says Kerry Cleland, Starcatchers’ Wester Hailes artist. “We are very proud to be part of Fair Saturday, working together to promote social inclusion, kindness and sustainable futures for our communities.” All too often early years are sidelined from conversations surrounding the radical potential of the arts. With Fair Saturday, they’re not simply there to be entertained but also engaged. 

Everyone’s welcome. “You can't be all things to all people – but we do try,” says Ensom. And we’re all in need of Fair Saturday’s offerings – connection, community, creativity. This Black Friday, the shiny-but-flimsy discounted coat won’t keep us warm; nor will the worryingly cheap electronics aisle. “There must be a better way.” And Fair Saturday is perhaps it.

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Find out more on standrews.fairsaturday.org