Portobello Window Wanderland 2021

Action Porty*, the charity which operates Bellfield www.bellfield.scot invite the Portobello Community to join in again with a Portobello Window Wanderland.

All you need to do is design a window and display it between Friday 10th Dec and Monday 13th Dec from 5.30pm and 8.30pm by leaving your curtains open and your light on OR take a walk to view the windows, OR both.

Our theme, following on from the Heart Talk Porty conversations held on Nov 20th and 21st will simply be ‘Heart Talk’ – display something close to your heart. ‘Heart Talk’ could mean nature, community, your pet, your favourite charity, your family, home, music, sport, hopes for the future – pretty much anything that matters to you. Last year the windows were so varied, inspired, amazing that we don’t want to set any limits. That said, please consider your safety and do not use candles or naked flames in your displays.

There will be a late night shopping night on Portobello High St on Thursday 9th Dec and then the Window Wanderland starts the next evening and runs to the Monday night. Bellfield will have a crafted Christmas tree too so be sure to walk past on your wanders but any and all homes and shops in the area are welcome to join in.

A small number of art packs will be available free of charge for those who can’t access materials (please get in-touch), and we strongly encourage people not to buy new, but instead to use what you have creatively. Empty plastic bottles, or cartons, cereal boxes, colourful tissue paper etc. can all be repurposed. We’ll aim to share some ideas and examples over the next few weeks and encourage you to do likewise.

There is absolutely no charge for taking part. All we ask is that, if you are able, you register your display on the event Facebook page, so that others know to look out for your window on the map created there. You can also upload photos of your display there too. This year was made possible by Action Porty using our own funds to pay for the £150 Window Wanderland tool kit plus some additional funds for basic materials for a few art starter packs as needed.

Our intention is to raise some funds to repay the Window Wanderland toolkit fee and possibly for future winter celebrations but please note, this is free to take part in and is NOT principally a fund-raising exercise – it is a feel-good creative community exercise. Any funds gathered over the £150 will be used for future winter festival activities. On that understanding, if you wish to contribute please make a donation to the Action Porty paypal account friendsofbellfield@gmail.com or to the Action Porty bank account sort code 87 70 11, account number 81368060 with a reference Window Wanderland.     

If you have any questions, ideas, suggestions or offers of help please email: jennifer@actionporty.com

Window Wanderlands are a Covid-safe way to connect people, transforming streets into magical outdoor galleries. They encourage local outdoor walks to look at the window displays. Please do respect Scottish Government Coronavirus guidance when out walking to see the windows, it can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/

The organisers and participants of ‘Portobello Window Wanderland’ cannot accept liability for any loss, damage or injury sustained by any member of the public visiting any of the Window Wanderland displays. Visitors should be alert to the variety of every-day hazards and visit at their own risk. Please supervise children carefully

*Action Porty, Company number SC542465, Charity Number SC047358.