New Sandra George Exhibition Opens At Edinburgh’s City Art Centre
A major exhibition celebrating Edinburgh photographer Sandra George has opened at the City Art Centre, bringing together more than 200 images from her archive.
The exhibition is now listed in our Edinburgh events guide, with full details here: Sandra George: Start from the Level.
Sandra George: Start from the Level runs from 27 June to 27 September 2026 and is part of this year’s Edinburgh Art Festival programme.
The exhibition is the largest show ever staged of George’s work. It draws on more than two decades of photography, with many images being shown publicly for the first time.
George, who lived from 1957 to 2013, was a photographer, community worker and activist whose images documented people, campaigns and everyday life across Edinburgh. Her work is closely connected to Craigmillar, where she spent years working on community development and creative projects.
A Big Edinburgh Story In Pictures
Start from the Level is not just a photography exhibition about Edinburgh. It’s an exhibition shaped by the city itself.
George photographed communities, families, campaigns, public spaces and social action. Her images look closely at identity, motherhood, belonging, activism and the ordinary moments that often tell you more about a place than any official city portrait.
That makes the City Art Centre a fitting setting. The gallery sits on Market Street, just above Waverley Station, in one of the most photographed parts of Edinburgh. Inside, this show turns attention away from the postcard view and towards the people and neighbourhoods that helped shape the city.
Key Details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Exhibition | Sandra George: Start from the Level |
| Dates | 27 June to 27 September 2026 |
| Venue | City Art Centre |
| Address | 2 Market Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DE |
| Opening hours | Daily, 10am to 5pm |
| Tickets | £6, with advance tickets listed from £8 including fees |
| Part of | Edinburgh Art Festival 2026 |
Who Was Sandra George?
Sandra George was an Edinburgh-based photographer whose work crossed art, community life and social history.
She studied photography at Napier University from 1979 to 1982, later studied drawing and painting at Edinburgh College of Art, and also trained in community education at the University of Edinburgh.
Her work was closely linked with community development in Wester Hailes and Craigmillar. In Craigmillar, she worked with organisations including McGovan House, the Thistle Foundation and Craigmillar Community Arts Centre.
That background matters because her photographs were not made from a distance. They came from inside the communities and networks she was part of.
What To Expect From The Exhibition
The exhibition brings together photographs from across George’s archive, including images of Edinburgh communities, political action, family life and personal identity.
It’s likely to appeal to people interested in photography, Edinburgh social history, women artists, community activism and the city beyond its usual tourist frame.
For visitors who know Craigmillar, Wester Hailes or Edinburgh’s community arts history, there should be plenty here that feels close to home. For others, it is a chance to see a different side of the city’s recent past.
The title, Start from the Level, also hints at the grounded nature of George’s work. This is not glossy city branding. It is people, places and lived experience.
Tickets And Visiting
Sandra George: Start from the Level runs at the City Art Centre from 27 June to 27 September 2026.
Edinburgh Art Festival lists the exhibition as ticketed at £6. Culture Edinburgh lists advance tickets from £8, including fees, with online sales subject to a non-refundable £2 transaction fee.
The City Art Centre is open daily from 10am to 5pm for the exhibition. Last admission times should be checked before travelling.
Getting There
City Art Centre is at 2 Market Street, beside Waverley Station and close to the Royal Mile, North Bridge and Princes Street.
The easiest route for most visitors is by train, tram or bus. Waverley Station is next door, while the Princes Street tram stop is a short walk away.
Drivers should remember that parking around Market Street and the Old Town is limited, especially during summer and festival season.
Our Take
This feels like one of the stronger Edinburgh art shows of the summer.
Not because it is loud or flashy, but because it is rooted in the city. George’s work gives space to communities, campaigns and personal stories that are easy to miss when Edinburgh is reduced to castles, festivals and skyline shots.
It also comes at the right time. With the city heading into festival season, Start from the Level gives visitors and locals a reason to step into the City Art Centre and look at Edinburgh from a different angle.