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Organisers behind the Portents event later this month are today taking to the stage in Edinburgh about the project which aims to raise peoples' awareness of poverty.

The Portents project has been created in partnership with Bristol's Pierian Centre and local artist John Easterby.

50 tents are going to be set up on College Green for just over a week from September 18th in an effort to use art as a way to promote social inclusion.

Local artists and community groups from across the city have designed the tents to tell their story of life in Bristol under the theme home, histories and hope.

June Burrough who's the Director of the Pierian Centre in St Pauls has been invited to talk about the Portents project at the Edinburgh Festival today as it's being seen as a leading example in how to approach and discuss the issue.

She will be speaking as part of her role as a national campaign ambassador of the European Year 2010 - a year devoted to combating poverty and social exclusion.

June said it's a great way of showcasing what Bristol is all about: "Each of those tents has been designed by a community or individual artist from Bristol. We're heading towards this involving 300 people from around the city. It's going to be spectacular; the whole of College Green will be covered with tents each representing a community group and their thoughts and ideas.

"I think it means that Bristol can be an example of one of the many wonderful projects happening this year. Its put Bristol right on the map as having a leading edge, an example of how to raise the issue and give people a voice so they can be heard."

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