Tai chi with chai tea offers students taste of new cultural festival

 

A tai chi taster session, a sporting tournament and hands-on art workshops are among the highlights in a new festival launching this month.

 

Gather Festival  takes place from 14 to 22 March. Events will be held across the campus, which is home to students from two thirds of the world’s counties.

 

A vibrant mix of more than 40 events, all celebrating culture, community and the ethos of global citizenship is open to students, staff and the wider public.

 

People are being invited to take part in tai chi sessions at Bristo Square and King’s Buildings. The martial arts demonstrations will be followed by a presentation on the history of tai chi with chai tea offered as refreshment.

 

The University will also host a sporting tournament called the Tea Cup. Students, staff and community groups can register for events including a 5-a-side football competition and a relay race challenge around the meadows.

 

A group of students will encourage others to make a positive impact in their community during a series of workshops on social change will take place in Edinburgh’s Assembly Roxy.

 

Other events include language exchange evenings, a 5km run at Crammond, St Patrick’s Day celebrations and an art workshop that has migration as its theme.

 

Nadia Mehdi of Edinburgh University Student’s Association said: “We are thrilled to launch Gather Festival – the programme is packed with a huge array of events that promises an incredibly exciting week. As well as having fun, we hope the events bring people together and help them to understand and celebrate other cultures, as well as their own.”

 

Gather Festival has been organised by the University of Edinburgh in partnership with the Edinburgh University Students Association (EUSA).

 

Details of all events can be found at the Gather Festival website: gatheruoe.wordpress.com

 

Follow news and reactions to this year’s festival via the Twitter hashtag: #gatheruoe

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