Exhibition painting a portrait of Edinburgh's housing schemes
An exhibition at Edinburgh's City Arts Centre showcases the photography of Sandra George, who documented life in Edinburgh's housing schemes for three decades. The collection, preserved by the heritage group Craigmillar Now, offers a rare look at communities through the lens of a dedicated local photographer.
Why it matters
It highlights the importance of preserving grassroots historical archives and provides a cultural perspective on urban social history.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Pauline McLean Scotland arts correspondent Sandra George Estate Children on the streets of Leith were among Sandra George's subjects When Sandra George arrived in Edinburgh as a student in 1980, her striking looks and lustrous dreadlocks made her a favourite with hairdressers and photographers.
But as a student of photography, she was happier behind the lens.
Across three decades, she documented the communities of Craigmillar, Wester Hailes, Greendykes and Niddrie. Places she lived and worked, building an extraordinary archive of photographs which was barely seen in her lifetime.
Now one of those communities - Craigmillar - is working with the Edinburgh Art Festival and the City Arts Centre to bring her to a wider audience.
The heritage organisation Craigmillar Now was entrusted with more than 80,000 photos after Sandra's death from cancer at the age of 57 in 2013.
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