An Appeal to the Scottish People

It’s tempting to dismiss opponents of an amphitheatre at Edinburgh Castle as simply lacking imagination. But a more charitable theory is that some have no faith in our collective ability to shape our inherited environment for the better. If this is true, can you blame them?

You only have to look at the most notable recent addition to the Edinburgh skyline to understand the scepticism: the W Hotel, known as ‘the Golden Turd’ (though it has become darker with time, gradually revealing its true form). You couldn’t write a better metaphor.

This makes the amphitheatre an opportunity.

An opportunity to get it right. To prove to ourselves that we are as capable as the generations who built the heritage we cherish. To inspire the continued creation of new heritage.

William Mitchell, S.S.C., who is considered one of the founders of the Cockburn Association, compiled a 1907 document detailing proposals to complete the National Monument of Scotland on Calton Hill. Its subtitle is ‘An Appeal to the Scottish People’, which could just as easily describe the amphitheatre campaign.

Scotland has been stagnating in recent years. The days of the Scottish Enlightenment are a distant memory. Is it too much to suggest that a project of this significance and symbolism could be the catalyst we need?

The world will notice Edinburgh’s amphitheatre, and Scotland will take centre stage.