ABOUT MAGICFEST
ABOUT US
“The best magicians in the world, in the world’s most magical city.”
Edinburgh International Magic Festival is a not-for-profit organisation founded and managed by event producer Svetlana McMahon and magician Kevin Quantum. Since conception in 2010, MagicFest has welcomed over 90,000 visitors and has grown to be the Europe’s biggest festival of innovative and cutting-edge magic.
Edinburgh International Magic Festival is annual arts festival that promotes magic as an art form and celebrates the limitless possibilities of human imagination. Every year this week-long festival attracts over 10,000 people at 80 different events across the city from free installations to the world-class Gala shows, aiming to amaze, inspire, provoke and entertain. The programme is balanced to reflect the best and most exciting magic from around the world alongside the very best in home grown work and festival productions which celebrate Edinburgh’s unique heritage and support local communities.
We have produced unique events in partnership with Camera Obscura, Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh Castle, Lauriston castle, Edinburgh Young Carers and Rock Trust charities, Shakespeare’s Globe theatre in London and Royal Blind Charity – where we broke the Guinness World Record for the biggest ever magic lesson. Festival venues and partners over the years include Royal Lyceum Theatre, Traverse Theatre, Festival Theatre, Filmhouse, Scottish Storytelling Centre and Hidden Door Festival among others.
MISSION
“Imagination is more important than knowledge” – Albert Einstein .
Our mission is to promote magic as an art-form and provide a platform for Scottish artists’ development in magic and associated arts and to attract a wider range of people into the arts. We aim to take the art of magic to new places and new audiences as it is not only a tool for entertainment but also for engagements and communication between individuals and communities.
MagicFest core values:
Imagination
Inspiring creativity, open-mindness, critical thinking and innovation.
Inclusivity
Appreciating diversity, equality and equity, participation, community, and sustainability.
Respect
Treating others the way you want to be treated.
FESTIVAL TEAM 2023
Kevin Quantum (AKA McMahon)
Founder and creative spine of the Festival.
Magician, Programmer, Member of “The Magic Circle” AIMC with Silver Star
www.quantummagician.com
Svetlana McMahon (on maternity leave)
Founder, Festival’s engine and strategist
Creative producer based in Edinburgh
Ida Casilli
Administrator & Volunteer Coordinator
Jack Harris
Lighting Designer & Production Manager
Scottish Festivals PR
Press Office and PR
Corner Shop PR
Digital Marketing
FESTIVAL ADVISORY BOARD
John Archer: BAFTA award-winning magician
Jamie Harrison: Artistic director of ‘Vox Motus’, one of Scotland’s leading theatre companies
Gavin Oattes: ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’. Owner of ‘Tree of Knowledge’ Motivation Training Company
Dr Ivana Rihova: Tourism Lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University
Carol Taylor: Formerly of Arts and Business Scotland and Diageo
Judith Wilson: Event Manager and Consultant. Owner of JMD Events
R Paul Wilson: Magic Consultant, Creator and Star of BBC’s ‘The Real Hustle’
LATEST NEWS
Enjoy a Magical Christmas – MagicFest Unveils a World-Class Line-Up of Fun and Wonder
World-class entertainment for adults, families and children Christmas Specials, Hogmanay traditions and Magic School Edinburgh International Magic Festival is back with a mind-blowing programme of
8 HARRY POTTER RELATED THINGS TO DO IN EDINBURGH
You’d have to have been living in a cave not to have heard about the newest Harry Potter themed attractions in Edinburgh. From escape
10 MAGICAL THINGS TO DO IN EDINBURGH
Wether you live in Edinburgh, get bored easily or live abroad and need a little push to finally decide to pursue your dream and visit
