MONDAY 2ND MARCH 2015
Toddler Time: Rastamouse programme 13 Missing Tings (U). Picturehouse welcomes back the skateboarding, reggae-playing Rastamouse and his crime-fighting-crew in this series of vibrant, fun and engaging episodes, each one with a theme. ‘Through understanding, love an’ respect, Rastamouse will always make a bad thing good.’ Toddler Time screenings are short sessions exclusively for pre-school children, their parents and carers. 11am, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets cost £3 per child (accompanying adults free) if you join the Toddler Time club – membership is free, ask at the Box Office. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.
Currie Library – the Relaunch! Currie Library has now re-opened after renovations: pop along this afternoon to hear the baroque sounds of Edinburgh’s own Spylaw Scarlets – tea and coffee will be served! 2-2.45pm, Currie Library, 210 Lanark Road.
Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Winter Lecture Series – Mackintosh Architecture: Context, Making and Meaning. Professor Pamela Robertson, Professor of Mackintosh Studies and Senior Curator at the University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Art Gallery is currently principal investigator on a major research project, and will talk about recent research. 6.30-8.30pm, Sanctuary, St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. Non-members warmly welcomed: admission £5 (students £2.50).
Vivian French Live Storytelling! An interactive and fun-filled storytelling with best-selling author Vivian French, who will read from her book Ladybird Ladybird. Mrs Ladybird is going shopping, but she’s forgotten her purse. Help her five little ladybirds find their Mum in time for tea – follow their trails to see where they go! For toddlers and pre-schoolers. 11am-12 noon, Golden Hare Books, 68 St Stephen Street. Free tickets may be obtained via eventbrite here.
For Crying Out Loud: screenings for parents/carers and their babies under 12 months. Babychanging, bottle-warming and buggy parking facilities available. Maximum 2 adults per baby. This week: The Second Best Marigold Hotel (PG), 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4.50/£3.50 per adult.
LGBT Police Surgery: seek advice, raise concerns around safety issues, report incidents or discuss policing in your area with an officer from Police Scotland. 6.30-7.30pm, (within weekly Drop-In, which runs 5.30-8pm), LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. No appointment needed. For support around safety issues or to meet with the police outwith the surgery times, contact George Burrows on 0131 652 3281 or george@lgbthealth.org.uk.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents The Monthly Book Quiz: if you know your Waugh from your Peace and your Meyer from your Heyer, try the monthly book quiz. Teams of up to 5 people can take part, and it’s free to enter – but space is limited, so get there early. 6-7.15pm, Caffe Nero, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. No tickets required.
The Travelling Gallery: Design In Motion. The Travelling Gallery’s spring 2015 tour is a collaboration with the new V & A Dundee, taking exhibits, designers and the V & A Dundee team across the country, connecting communities with Scotland’s design heritage and raising awareness of the talent in Scotland’s present-day design industries, inspiring creativity along the way. The exhibition concept, brought to life by DJCAD-trained Gabrielle Underwood, will showcase seven innovative designers currently working with digital technology to push the boundaries of their discipline within games, product, jewellery, fashion, textiles and built heritage. 10am-5pm, Grassmarket: please note access may be restricted at certain times owing to visiting groups. Also at same times on Tuesday 3rd in the Grassmarket, on Wednesday 4th at the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art TWO, on Thursday 5th in George Street (between Castle Street and Frederick Street), on Friday 6th at Edinburgh Napier University Colinton Campus, Colinton Road and on Friday 13th March at Edinburgh College, West Granton Road. For more information please contact The Travelling Gallery via City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, EH1 1DE, 0131 529 3930 or travellinggallery@edinburgh.gov.uk.
Golden Hare Book Group: this month Dissident Gardens by Jonathan Lethem. ‘A radical family epic and an alternative view of the American twentieth century, Dissident Gardens is the story of a group of individuals who fought and lost, but might one day win. It is a blast of pure style and literary dazzle from one of the great and most innovative writers of the age’. 6.30pm, Golden Hare Books, 68 St Stephen Street.
Going Underground Showcase: a showcase bill with an intimate few of the basement’s favourite regulars and new discoveries. Featuring Elyssa Vulpes and the Betes Noires, Gillywolfe, Joel Burton, Faith Eliott, Saint Max, Suky Goodfellow, Kirsty Heggie and Peru Galbete. 7.15pm, Forest Cafe, Lauriston Place. Free but please remember that corkage is charged if you wish to bring your own beer or wine.
TUESDAY 3RD MARCH 2015
Land Girls and Munitionettes: Witnessing War on the Home Front. Women experienced the First World War in diverse ways; their class, age, race, location and occupation impacted on their wartime work, whether it was in the fields, factories or home. In this illustrated talk, Dr Gill Clarke (University of Chichester and St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery, Lymington) explores some of their roles in the Home Front workforce, many of which had been the preserve of men. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.
Teen Creative Writing Meet-Up: if you are a writer – or a would-be writer – aged 14-17 years, come along to the first meeting of this new group, which will offer writing activities and exercises, plus feedback on your projects. 5-6pm tonight and every fortnight (excluding the Easter holidays) for six sessions, Morningside Library, 184 Morningside Road. As places are limited, booking is required: call the library on 0131 529 5654.
Lunchtime Concert: University of Edinburgh Music Students. The concert will include a performance by the winner of the Tovey Memorial Competition Final. 1.10pm, Reid Concert Hall, University of Edinburgh, Bristo Square. Free: no booking required.
I Witness: Images of Hope from Haiti. A touring photography and art exhibition showing life-changing projects taking place in Haiti today, as witnessed by three rather special Christian Aid supporters. 10am-2pm daily until 31st March 2015, Undercroft Cafe, St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street.
Leith School of Art Open Day: see the school in action and speak to staff and students; portfolio reviews available on request. 10am-3pm, Leith School of Art, 25 North Junction Street and St James’s Church, 11a John’s Place (you are welcome to visit both sites). Leith School of Art is an independent art school: its ethos is to encourage and welcome all those who want to learn about art and design, irrespective of age, ability or personal circumstances. It offers a wide range of courses, from day and evening classes to full-time one year programmes, plus workshops and community classes.
Tinderbox Presents Frontiers: a collaborative and creative music collective for ages 10-25 years (different groups for different ages). Play in a band, write songs, build studio, engineering and production skills, learn an instrument, create an orchestra like none before! Any instrument, any standard, no auditions. 6-8pm today and every Tuesday, North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Court.
Edinburgh College Creative Industries Open Days: an opportunity to speak to lecturers in Art & Design, Performing Arts, Broadcast Media & Photography, Music & Sound Production and Computing, see the cutting-edge facilities and try some fun, interactive activities. 3-6pm, Edinburgh College Sighthill Campus, Bankhead Avenue. Also at same times at the Milton Road Campus on Wednesday 4th March and at the Granton Campus on 5th March. See Edinburgh College’s website for more information and details regarding which subjects are offered at each campus.
The Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh (ACE): Vegan Potluck Supper. 7-10pm, ACE, 17 West Montgomery Place.
A Winter’s Oresteia. A chilling new adaptation by award-winning playwright James Beagon of an Ancient Greek classic; a chilling story of anger and revenge. For ages 14+: includes violence and some strong language. 7.30pm tonight, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £8/£6 and can be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 560 1581.
Drumbrae Employment Fair: meet representatives from a range of organisations who can support you in looking for jobs, training, learning and volunteering opportunities in South West Edinburgh, and also advise you about benefits. 10.30am-1.30pm, Drumbrae Library Hub, 81 Drumbrae Drive.
Lunchtime Concert: Woodbridge High School Choir, Woodford Green. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.
Cameo Silver Screen: if you are 60+ and take out free membership of the Silver Screen Club, you can buy tickets for Silver Screen shows for £5, which includes a free tea or coffee and biscuits. Today’s shows: 12.30pm and 3.15pm – The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (PG), 1.30pm – It Follows (15), 3.40pm – Catch Me Daddy (15) and 3.50pm Ex Machina (15), Cameo, Home Street. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.
The Travelling Gallery: Design In Motion. The Travelling Gallery’s spring 2015 tour is a collaboration with the new V & A Dundee, taking exhibits, designers and the V & A Dundee team across the country, connecting communities with Scotland’s design heritage and raising awareness of the talent in Scotland’s present-day design industries, inspiring creativity along the way. The exhibition concept, brought to life by DJCAD-trained Gabrielle Underwood, will showcase seven innovative designers currently working with digital technology to push the boundaries of their discipline within games, product, jewellery, fashion, textiles and built heritage. 10am-5pm, Grassmarket: please note access may be restricted at certain times owing to visiting groups. Also at same times on Wednesday 4th at the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art TWO, on Thursday 5th in George Street (between Castle Street and Frederick Street), on Friday 6th at Edinburgh Napier University Colinton Campus, Colinton Road and on Friday 13th March at Edinburgh College, West Granton Road. For more information please contact The Travelling Gallery via City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, EH1 1DE, 0131 529 3930 or travellinggallery@edinburgh.gov.uk.
History in the Pub: Dark Heart – Tales from Edinburgh’s Town Jail with Douglas Skelton. Writer Douglas Skelton’s 2008 book Dark Heart looked at the history of the Edinburgh Tolbooth, the infamous ‘Heart of Midlothian’. For five centuries it stood at the centre of Scotland’s history and criminal life, being at various times a parliament building, court, administrative centre, and ultimately the town jail – Edinburgh’s Bastille. Using the warding books and other documents, letters and printed sources, Douglas tells the stories of some of the people who were imprisoned there, and tries to reclaim this forgotten building’s place in history. Douglas is the author of eleven true crime/Scottish criminal history books. In 2013 he moved into fiction with the thriller Blood City; the sequel Crow Bait was released in 2014. 7.30-9.30pm, The Counting House, West Nicolson Street. History in the Pub talks are free and open to anyone who is interested in the past.
The Southern Light Opera Company Presents Oliver! ‘Based On Dickens’ 1838 novel about the boy who asked for more, this ever popular musical by Lionel Bart never fails to thrill’. 7.30pm today, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, plus matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday, King’s Theatre, Leven Street, Tollcross. Tickets are available online here or from the Box Office on 0131 529 6000: prices vary. Read The Edinburgh Reporter’s article about Amateur Showcase – a round up of amateur productions this season at King’s – here.
LGBT Art Therapy: Body Mapping. Facilitated by art therapists, an opportunity to play with art materials to create visual representations that connect with bodily feelings or emotions. No experience or art skills required. 6.30-8.30pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. Booking is essential as places are limited: contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or email alison@lgbthealth.org.uk.
WEDNESDAY 4TH MARCH 2015
Bookbug Rhymetime: for young children and their parents and carers. 2pm today and every Wednesday, Piershill Library, Piershill Terrace.
Morningside Justice and Peace Group: Professor Paul Cairney (University of Stirling) talks onEvolving: the constitutional outcome of the Smith Commission for Scotland and the rest of the UK, followed by a Q & A session. 10.30-11.30am, The Open Door, 420 Morningside Road. £1 per person. For more information contact Barbara Darcy on 0131 228 1807 or b.darcy20@gmail.com.
The Trouble with Digital Education. Professor Sian Bayne, Chair of Digital Education, University of Edinburgh, delivers her inaugural lecture, arguing that we need the digital to keep educational practice fresh, critical and challenging. 5.15pm, Main Lecture Theatre, 50 George Square. Free and open to all: no booking required.
Edinburgh College Creative Industries Open Days: an opportunity to speak to lecturers in Art & Design, Performing Arts, Broadcast Media & Photography, Music & Sound Production and Computing, see the cutting-edge facilities and try some fun, interactive activities. 3-6pm, Edinburgh College Milton Road Campus, 24 Milton Road East. Also at same times at the Granton Campus on 5th March. See Edinburgh College’s website for more information and details regarding which subjects are offered at each campus.
Bookbug: for children aged 0-4 and their parents or carers. 10.15 or 11.15am today and every Wednesday, Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue. These sessions are very popular, please arrive early. There is also a session at 11.30am every Saturday.
A Winter’s Oresteia. A chilling new adaptation by award-winning playwright James Beagon of an Ancient Greek classic; a chilling story of anger and revenge. For ages 14+: includes violence and some strong language. 7.30pm tonight, Thursday and Friday, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £8/£6 and can be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 560 1581.
Adult Scrabble Club: pop in for a relaxed and fun game. 3.30pm, Blackhall Library, 56 Hillhouse Road. For more information ask at the desk or call the library on 0131 529 5595. (Next meeting 18th March).
LGBT Bi & Beyond Edinburgh: a fortnightly social gathering for those who identify as bisexual or non-monosexual. With organised social activities and refreshments provided, whatever your label or lack of label, we welcome you. 7-9pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information contact byandbeyondedinburgh@gmail.com.
The Scottish Gallery: five new exhibitions. A Celebration of British Studio Pottery: Clive Bowen, Lisa Hammond, Akiko Hirai, Walter Keeler, Jim Malone and William Plumptre; Jankel Adler: The Master – 21 drawings, paintings and prints dating from the 1940s, when the late artist (a friend and mentor of Robert MacBryde and Robert Colquhoun) lived in Britain; Linda Lewin showcase (jewellery), Jacqueline Mina OBE showcase (jewellery) and Henry Kondracki: Three Cities (Edinburgh, London and New York). 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm Saturdays, The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas Street. All exhibitions close on 28th March 2015.
Guided Tour of the National Library: a tour of the building and an introduction to the Library’s collections and history. 10.30am, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Numbers are limited so booking is essential, and can be made online here or by calling the Library on 0131 623 3734. Please inform the Library if you have any special access requirements. Free.
Lunchtime Concert: Guitarists from Edinburgh Napier University. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.
Poetry Association of Scotland: Mandy Haggith Reading. A poet from the North West who creates poems that celebrate nature and its relationship with words, both literal and metaphoric. 7.30pm, The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close. Admission £5/£4 (free for members of the Association): no advance booking needed. For further information please contact Mario Relich: dmr.lit@fsmail.net.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Marianna Lines: The Traveller’s Guide to Sacred Scotland. ‘The first guidebook to weave together the cultural, historical and spiritual of this fascinating country’. Marianna Lines has worked with Pictish stones and ancient sites in Scotland since she emigrated from her native Atlanta, Georgia in 1977. She is also a printmaker, playwright, writer and designer. 6.30-8pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets can be obtained from the shop’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8218, emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk or via eventbrite.
The Travelling Gallery: Design In Motion. The Travelling Gallery’s spring 2015 tour is a collaboration with the new V & A Dundee, taking exhibits, designers and the V & A Dundee team across the country, connecting communities with Scotland’s design heritage and raising awareness of the talent in Scotland’s present-day design industries, inspiring creativity along the way. The exhibition concept, brought to life by DJCAD-trained Gabrielle Underwood, will showcase seven innovative designers currently working with digital technology to push the boundaries of their discipline within games, product, jewellery, fashion, textiles and built heritage. 10am-5pm, Scottish Gallery of Modern Art TWO, Belford Road. Also at same times on Thursday 5th in George Street (between North Castle Street and Frederick Street), on Friday 6th at Edinburgh Napier University Colinton Campus, Colinton Road and on Friday 13th March at Edinburgh College, West Granton Road. For more information please contact The Travelling Gallery via City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, EH1 1DE, 0131 529 3930 or travellinggallery@edinburgh.gov.uk.
Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland: Soloists Recital. 1-2pm, Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate.
THURSDAY 5TH MARCH 2015
Live Music Now: Aonach Mor. With accordion, fiddle, guitar, piano and voice, Aonach Mor draw on a wealth of traditional material whilst adding contemporary melodies to create an exciting blend of songs and tunes. The programme includes some specific references to the Remembering the Great War exhibition, including Pipe Tunes From The War (The Taking of Beaumont Hammel, Hogmanay Rejoicings, The Royal Scots and The Shell That Took The Billet), and Keep the Home Fires Burning. 6-6.30pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed.
Storytime: for 3-5 year olds. 10.30-11am today and every Thursday, Central Children’s Library, George IV Bridge.
Ecumenical Friends at St John’s: Carol Finlay – Mary Slessor and her legacy. 1pm, St John’s Church, Princes Street (please note different time and venue). All warmly welcome: bring your own packed lunch, tea and coffee are provided. £1.50 per person, These events are organised by Edinburgh City Centre Churches TOGETHER.
Books In Focus: Matisse’s Jazz. The Books In Focus series focuses on artists’ books held in the special collections of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. This session will look in detail at Henri Matisse’s livre d’artiste Jazz, which was published by Teriade in 1957. The book is a meditation on colour and what it is to be an artist by one of the most famous artists of the 20th century. 11.30am-12.30pm, Reading Room, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art TWO, Belford Road. Places are free but limited, and should be booked by calling 0131 624 6268 or emailing gmainfo@nationalgalleries.org.
Big Scream: screenings exclusively for parents and carers with babies under the age of 12 months. Membership of this club costs £5 and expires on your baby’s first birthday: it enables you to buy tickets for Big Scream screenings at Picturehouse members’ rates (babies admitted free). This week: Into The Woods (PG), 10am, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.
Scotland-Russia Forum: sparkling Russian/English conversation over tea and cakes. Open to all, no booking required, just turn up – you will be warmly welcomed by the group. 11am today and the first Thursday of every month, Summerhall Cafe, Summerhall. No charge apart from the cost of any drinks or food you may wish to purchase. For more information see the Scotland-Russia forum’s website and Facebook page.
Scotland-Russia Forum: Professor Paul Dukes – The Urals: Russia’s Crucible. A Dashkova Open Seminar. 5.10pm, The Princess Dashkova Russian Centre, 14 Buccleuch Place.
Representing Muslims in Scotland and the North-East: a screening of The Last of the Dictionary Men and a Q & A session with filmmaker Tina Gharavi. Gharavi is a BAFTA-nominated filmmaker and screenwriter of Iranian heritage, whose films and documentaries have examined her own experiences travelling from her adopted home city of Newcastle to Tehran in Mother/Country (2001), recorded the history of Yemeni migration to South Shields in The Last of the Dictionary Men (2008), and documented the lasting impact of Muhammad Ali’s extraordinary visit to the Muslim communities in South Shields in The King of South Shields (2008). Her first full-length feature film, the BAFTA-nominated I Am Nasrine (2012) traced the arrival of two Iranian asylum seekers to Newcastle. 5.30pm, Project Room, 50 George Square, University of Edinburgh. Refreshments will be available after the talk. This is the last in a series of seminars with British Muslim writers. poets and filmmakers organised by PhD students Sybil Adam and Peter Cherry.
Edinburgh College of Art Thursday Research Seminars: Composite Formation – Freud’s Rome and the Phantasy of ‘Self-Analysis’. The seminar will be chaired by Professor Whitney Davis (UC Berkeley) and will be followed by drinks in the common room. 5.15pm, Lecture Room 1, Minto House, 20-22 Chambers Street. Free and open to all: no booking required.
A Family of Painters – The Faeds: an exhibition of 30 paintings by five members of the Faed family. One of the oldest and rarest of Scottish surnames and with its history firmly rooted in the picturesque landscape of Dumfries and Galloway, for over a decade the Faed name has been associated with the family of artists from the area. From portraits of Highland Marys and Robert Burns to scenes of rural and domestic life in Galloway and rolling countryside, the family covered many genres which did and still do appeal to many. 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 11am-2pm Saturdays, Bourne Fine Art, 6 Dundas Street. Ends 11th April 2015.
World Book Day at the National Library: learn about the Library’s collections, services, exhibitions and events. Enjoy a tour of the public areas and behind the scenes. 10am, 11am, 12 noon, 2pm, 3pm or 4pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Booking is required and can be made online here or by calling the Library on 0131 623 3734. Please inform the Library if you have any special access requirements. Free.
The Jonathan Mills Lectures: Performing the City. How do we respond to the intimate details of our surroundings? Our homes or streets? Our neighbourhoods and offices? Our urban or, decreasingly, our rural environments? In this lecture composer, festival director and Visiting Professor (University of Edinburgh) Jonathan Mills explores the idea of performance as a way in which we might want to inhabit our place in the world. 12.30pm, Main Lecture Theatre E22, Edinburgh College of Art Main Building, Lauriston Place. Free and open to all.
Edinburgh College Creative Industries Open Days: an opportunity to speak to lecturers in Art & Design, Performing Arts, Broadcast Media & Photography, Music & Sound Production and Computing, see the cutting-edge facilities and try some fun,interactive activities. 3-6pm, Edinburgh College Granton Campus, 350 West Granton Road. See Edinburgh College’s website for more information and details regarding which subjects are offered at each campus.
Edinburgh Palette Figurative Painting and Drawing Workshops: a drop-in untutored group available to all, beginners and professionals. Some easels and drawing boards are available on a first come, first served basis. Male and female models are used. 9.45am-12.30pm today and every Thursday, Drawing Room, Studio 5.18, Fifth Floor, St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road. £6 per session. For more information please call Trina Bohan on 07783 398112, or just call in.
A Winter’s Oresteia. A chilling new adaptation by award-winning playwright James Beagon of an Ancient Greek classic; a chilling story of anger and revenge. For ages 14+: includes violence and some strong language. 7.30pm tonight and Friday, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £8/£6 and can be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 560 1581.
Magne Furuholmen and Gaby Hartel in conversation: Peeling A Glass Onion, a new body of work by Norwegian visual artist and musician Magne Furuholmen at the Dovecot, forms the backdrop for this exchange with Berlin based freelance arts journalist, radio writer and translator Gaby Hartel. The making of Glass Onion tapestry in collaboration with Dovecot Tapestry Studio will also be discussed. 5-6pm, Dovecot Studios, Infirmary Street. Tickets cost £6/£5 and can be purchased via eventbrite here. Peeling A Glass Onion opens at Dovecot tomorrow.
The Travelling Gallery: Design In Motion. The Travelling Gallery’s spring 2015 tour is a collaboration with the new V & A Dundee, taking exhibits, designers and the V & A Dundee team across the country, connecting communities with Scotland’s design heritage and raising awareness of the talent in Scotland’s present-day design industries, inspiring creativity along the way. The exhibition concept, brought to life by DJCAD-trained Gabrielle Underwood, will showcase seven innovative designers currently working with digital technology to push the boundaries of their discipline within games, product, jewellery, fashion, textiles and built heritage. 10am-5pm, George Street (between North Castle Street and Frederick Street); please note access may be restricted at certain times owing to visiting groups. Also at same times on Friday 6th at Edinburgh Napier University Colinton Campus, Colinton Road and on Friday 13th March at Edinburgh College, West Granton Road. For more information please contact The Travelling Gallery via City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, EH1 1DE, 0131 529 3930 or travellinggallery@edinburgh.gov.uk.
Mayfield Salisbury Thursday Club: A Vet’s Life in Kenya, with George Smith. 2-4pm, Upper Hall, Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church, 18 West Mayfield. Visitors of any age very welcome: tea 50p, annual membership £3. For more information please contact Florence Smith on 0131 663 1234.
Game Changers: what is the future of game design? V & A Game Designer Sophia George, Lucky Frame founder Yann Seznec and the National Theatre of Scotland’s Philippa Tomlin will discuss their inspirations, award-winning projects and their aspirations for the future of game design. The evening will be chaired by Chris Wilson of Abertay University. For ages 14+ only. 6.30-8pm (doors open 6.15pm), Auditorium (entry via Lothian St), National Museum of Scotland. This event is in partnership with V & A Museum of Design Dundee and will include an opportunity to visit the Design in Motion Travelling Gallery, which will be open to the public 6-8pm. Free but booking is required: tickets may be booked online here or obtained from NMS’s reception desk.
Kitten On The Keys: jam session – bring along any instrument you choose and jam away with like-minded musicians, with a focus on getting everyone involved and experimenting with music. 7pm, Boda Bar, 229 Leith Walk.
FRIDAY 6TH MARCH 2015
Gray’s School of Art Pre-Degree Show 2015: final year painting students exhibit a broad range of upcoming talent, cutting-edge practice and contemporary takes on traditional methods. Private view tonight, then 10am-6pm daily, Gallery 1, St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road. Ends 20th March 2015.
Tansy Lee-Moir, Eoin Cox and Catherine Lilley: Time Around Trees. Drawings, paintings, carvings and prints celebrating trees, wood and woodlands, from the powerful presence of a veteran tree to the intimate surfaces of trees and the plants and organisms that inhabit them. Private view tonight, then 10am-6pm daily, Gallery 2, St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road. Ends 22nd March 2015.
Rona MacLean and Aileen Grant: No Woman is an Island. Planned to coincide with International Women’s Day on 8th March, No Woman is an Island will include paintings and hand-made prints by Rona MacLean and Aileen Grant, both residents of St Margaret’s House and members of Edinburgh Printmakers. The work will feature Scottish landscapes, fishing huts, seascapes, allotments and natural forms. Private view tonight, then 10am-6pm daily, Gallery 3, St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road. Ends 22nd March 2015.
Word Power Books: Anne Schwan launches Convict Voices: Women, Class and Writing about Prison in 19th Century England. ‘A lively study of the development and transformation of voices of female offenders in 19th century England’. Anne Schwan analyses a range of colourful sources, including crime broadsides, reform literature, prisoners’ own writings about imprisonment and courtroom politics, and conventional literary texts such as Adam Bede and The Moonstone. Crossing class lines, gendre boundaries and gender roles in the effort to trace prisoners, authors and female communities (imagined or real), Schwan brings new insight to what it means to locate feminist (or protofeminist) details, arguments and politics. ‘A sophisticated approach to questions of gender, genre, and discourse in the representation of female convicts and their voices and viewpoints’. Sponsored by the Centre for Literature and Writing, Edinburgh Napier University. 6pm, Word Power Books, West Nicolson Street. Free, all welcome: donations also welcome!
Peeling A Glass Onion: a major solo exhibition of works by Norwegian visual artist and musician Magne Furuholmen: music, film, tapestry, printmaking and large-scale ceramic. 10.30am-5.30pm, Dovecot Studios, Infirmary Street. Ends 25th April 2015.
As I Was Young and Easy: Dylan Thomas – A Lyrical Celebration. Storyteller David Campbell and cellist Wendy Weatherby come together in this joyous evocation of their fellow Celtic poet’s life and wit. The programme connects Wales and Scotland in recalling Thomas’s memorable 1948 visit to Edinburgh and is fresh from a hugely successful performance in the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. 7.30pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £8/£6 and can be booked online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579.
Rhythms: a joint exhibition of painting and print – 2D and 3D works on canvas, wood and paper – by Soosan Danesh, Tracy White and Mary Walters, three recent Edinburgh College of Art graduates and Society of Scottish Artists members. In this exhibition the artists explore the rhythms of natural and urban environments, Soosan taking the urban surroundings of Edinburgh as her starting point, with Mary and Tracy being inspired by the wild places of Scotland and Iceland. Preview tonight at 6.30pm, then 12 noon-5pm (Thursday 7pm) daily until 15th March 2015, Patriothall Gallery, 1D Patriothall, off Hamilton Place, Stockbridge.
The Travelling Gallery: Design In Motion. The Travelling Gallery’s spring 2015 tour is a collaboration with the new V & A Dundee, taking exhibits, designers and the V & A Dundee team across the country, connecting communities with Scotland’s design heritage and raising awareness of the talent in Scotland’s present-day design industries, inspiring creativity along the way. The exhibition concept, brought to life by DJCAD-trained Gabrielle Underwood, will showcase seven innovative designers currently working with digital technology to push the boundaries of their discipline within games, product, jewellery, fashion, textiles and built heritage. 10am-5pm, Edinburgh Napier University, Colinton Campus, Colinton Road; please note access may be restricted at certain times owing to visiting groups. Also at same times on Friday 13th March at Edinburgh College, West Granton Road. For more information please contact The Travelling Gallery via City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, EH1 1DE, 0131 529 3930 or travellinggallery@edinburgh.gov.uk.
The Astronomical Society of Edinburgh: Bursts, bangs and things that go bump in the night – transient astronomy, a talk by Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (University of Oxford). 8pm, Church Centre, Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. All welcome: free admission.
Possibilities of the Object: Experiments in Modern and Contemporary Brazilian Art. A group exhibition curated by Paulo Venancio Filho, Possibilities of the Object examines the transitions that have occurred in the sphere of the object in Brazilian art since the 1950s, and the importance of these transitions in the establishment of the hugely influential experimental tradition in Brazilian contemporary art. ‘A celebration of some of the beautiful and artistically radical sculptures with which Brazilian artists have tried to redefine what an art object can actually be’. 11am-6pm, Monday to Saturday, 12 noon – 5pm Sundays, Fruitmarket Gallery, Market Street. Guest curator Paulo Venancio Filho will be in conversation with curator Professor Briony Fer (UCL) tonight 5-6pm: free tickets can be booked via eventbrite here.
Eilidh Muldoon: launch of a new exhibition of artwork by the Illustrator in Residence at Edinburgh College of Art. 8pm, Boda Bar, 229 Leith Walk.
Storytime: come along and help roll out the Magic Story Rug. 10.30am today and every Friday, Piershill Library, Piershill Terrace.
Jackie Gardiner: A Coastal Tale. Abroath-based painter Gardiner’s distinctively painterly style has garnered her a loyal following and a reputation as one of Scotland’s finest land and seascape painters. Previews 6-8pm tonight and 12 noon-5.30pm tomorrow (Saturday), then 10.30am-6pm Tuesday to Friday, 10.30am-5.30pm Saturdays and 12 noon-6pm Sundays, Union Gallery, 45 Broughton Street. Ends 5th April 2015.
Media Education: Radio City. A media-training day for young people aged 12-24 years. Learn fantastic skills like audio recording, interviewing and more, with special guests from the industry and Media Education staff to help you make your first broadcast. 5-7pm, Media Education, 183 Dalry Road. For more information and to register contact Laura on 0131 313 8900 or email laura@mediaeducation.co.uk.
Edinburgh College of Art Friday Lecture Series: Hayley Newman. 11.30am – please contact ECA to check time and for details of venue.
Lunchtime Concert: Horn Trio. Pamela Turley (clarinet), Neil Mantle (horn) and Gillian Gray Mantle (piano) play Duvernoy Trio No 1 in C major and Tovey Trio in C minor, Op. 8. 1.10pm, Reid Concert Hall, University of Edinburgh, Bristo Square. Free: no booking required.
Masters of Japanese Porcelain: in the late 19th century, new markets and technologies inspired innovation in the Japanese ceramic industry. The finest potters of this period achieved recognition as Imperial Household Artists. This small exhibition focuses on four such individuals. Their most prestigious creations were grand and impressive presentation pieces for the court, but they were also capable of small-scale works for humble enjoyment. 10am-5pm daily, Grand Gallery, Level One, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free.
Vive the (R)evolution: Poems in Translation. Gaelic poet Meg Bateman gives a bilingual reading of her poems in Gaelic and English. Meg has been bringing new qualities to Gaelic poetry since her first publications in the 1990s. Tonight she will both read her poems and discuss her views on languages seen as different media for creation. 7-8.30pm, Institut francais d’Ecosse, 13 Randolph Crescent. Admission £5 (members £3).
A Winter’s Oresteia. A chilling new adaptation by award-winning playwright James Beagon of an Ancient Greek classic; a chilling story of anger and revenge. For ages 14+: includes violence and some strong language. 7.30pm, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £8/£6 and can be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 560 1581.
Meet the Dogs Trust: an educational talk, a canine story and activities for 5-10 years olds. 1-2 pm, Gilmerton Library, 13 Newtoft Street. For more information call the Trust’s Education Officer on 07920 658 660 or email rachel.bliss@dogstrust.org.uk.
The Sutton Gallery: Eleanor Rees, Lila Matsumoto and Felix Bernstein. An exciting event bringing together two poets – Eleanor Rees and Lila Matsumoto – reading live in the gallery, together with performance and video artist, writer and cultural critic Felix Bernstein via a live video stream. There will also be an opportunity to see the gallery’s latest exhibition. 7pm, The Sutton Gallery, 18a Dundas Street. Free: no booking required. Free refreshments!
Italian Film Festival: curated by Allan Hunter and Richard Mowe, the 22nd Festival opens today. ‘An exciting and diverse line-up of contemporary and classic Italian cinema, including hilarious comedies, insightful dramas, seat-edge thrillers and classics from award-winning directors’. All films are subtitled in English. Today: I Can Quit Whenever I Want (15) ‘This wildly entertaining mixture of Breaking Bad and The Lavender Hill Mob proved the most successful Italian comedy of 2014′. 8.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online via the website or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688.
Ismael Teira: Argyle Project. Newly-arrived Spanish artist Ismael Teira will investigate the histories of Argyle House, an imposing building belonging to the Brutalist movement, which has recently been transformed into artists’ studios and workshops, and also houses the Interview Room 11 Gallery. Although the primary purpose of Argyle House has changed, there are traces of the previous occupants to be found; documentation, archives, illuminated signs….Curated by Antonio Cervera and Ana G Choucino. Preview 6-8pm tonight, then 2-7pm Wednesday to Friday, 11am-2pm Saturdays, Interview Room 11, Forest Centre Plus, 38 Castle Terrace. Ends 28th March 2015.
Photographs by Mhairi Law: launch of a new exhibition by the current Graduate Artist in Residence at Stills Centre for Photography. Mhairi’s recent work explores how people relate and respond to their home environments, with particular focus on rural communities. 7.30pm, Sofi’s Bar, 65 Henderson Steet. Refreshments provided.
SATURDAY 7TH MARCH 2015
Dugs in Pubs: join the regular furries for a socialiser and meet other dogs and their owners from the local area. 12 noon, Sofi’s Bar, 65 Henderson Street.
The Velvet Easel Gallery: The Colour of Life. A new mixed exhibition, including work by Colin Dunbar, Morag Muir, Borders artist Alan Richmond and Velvet Easel owner Rosalind Walker. 10am-5pm Thursday to Saturday, 12 noon-5pm Sundays, The Velvet Easel Gallery, 298 Portobello High Street.
Decorate a Daffodil Pot with Lindt: create some magic for your Mum this Mothers’ Day with a charming gift. Decorate a pot of daffodils – each pot comes with a gold bunny gift tag and a chocolate treat for you and your Mum. 1-4pm, Real Life Science Studio, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. No booking required.
Rotary Club of Leith: Music for the Philippines. A charity concert in support of a new elite emergency rescue group for the Philippines and the Al Shurooq School for Blind Children in Bethlehem. Featuring Broxburn and Livingstone Brass Ensemble, The Lothians B-US Male Voice Choir, Richard Michael BEM (Professor of Jazz Piano), Hilary Michael & Joanna Duncan, and Don Uttley on bagpipes. 7.30pm, Inverleith St Serf’s Church, 280 Ferry Road. Suggested donation on the door £10.
Canongate Kirk Coffee Morning in aid of the Friends of Canongate Kirkyard. 10am-12 noon, Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate. Admission £2.
Amy Shelton: Bee Works: Florilegium. An exhibition of recent work exploring the current threats to the honeybee. Beautiful light box sculptures document the fleeting rhapsody of the major floral sources of nectar and pollen-rich plants that sustain honeybee colonies from early spring to late autumn. Hand-made books, the result of Shelton’s long collaboration with award-winning author John Burnside, are also on display, combining poems, intricate embossed maps and miniature pressings. 10am-5.45pm, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Free. Ends 5th July 2015.
Zoo Arts Extra: Beach Day. Bring your family and friends for an afternoon of fun, fire, sea, sand and art. Teas, coffees, snacks, picnic blankets and spare waterproofs will be available, plus marshmallows for toasting and lots of creative ideas! A pleasant short walk from NEA to the Shore Road beach. Dress warmly! All children aged under 9 years must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Meet at 12 noon for a 12.30pm departure, North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Court. For more information see the event’s Facebook page or call in to NEA beforehand. Zoo Arts is a series of visual art sessions for young people aged 9-14 years, taking place at North Edinburgh Arts 4-5.30pm on Wednesday afternoons in term time. Zoo Arts Extra is a project based in Muirhouse to bring together people of all ages to enjoy, explore and produce visual art locally and across the city.
Eric Ritchie: Walking a Line – the re-establishment of an artist maverick. A rich and diverse body of work, ranging from surrealist abstraction through sweeping land and seascapes, still life and book illustration, Eric Ritchie’s art embraces Paul Klee’s maxim about taking a line for a walk. A witty, inquisitive and adventurous 80-year old, Eric is preparing to step back into the limelight of an art world with which he has had a lifelong love affair, sometimes turbulent but always passionate. 10am-5pm Monday to Friday, 12 noon-5pm Saturdays, Doubtfire Gallery, 3 South East Circus Place.
Future Proofing Our Community Workshop – Tranisition Edinburgh Pentlands Project. A workshop focusing on how to cope with current environmental risks, and what we can do to make our communities a better place for future generations. This is a pilot session and participants’ ideas will help to make future sessions even more fun and informative! 10.30am-12.30pm, Wester Hailes Library, 1 Westside Plaza. Free but booking is essential: contact Anne or Christine on 0131 458 5959.
Scottish Church Music up to the Reformation: Dr Jamie Reid-Baxter is an acknowledged expert on Scottish cultural history, a poet, performer and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow. In this lecture and performance, Dr Reid-Baxter will give a fascinating survey of Scottish church music up to the Reformation, ranging over such topics as Columban and Kentigem chant, the hymns of St Magnus, St Andrew’s Music Book and the music of Carver and Peebles. A cappella vocal group Sang Scule, who specialise in singing early Scottish music, will sing several complete pieces to illustrate the story. 7-8.30pm, Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church, 18 West Mayfield. Free tickets may be obtained via eventbrite here.
International Garden Photographer of the Year: an outdoor photography exhibition featuring gardens, plants and landscapes that reveal the diversity and beauty of our green planet. A selection of the world’s winning entries from the world’s leading garden photography competitions, by both amateur and professional photographers. 10am-5.45pm, Outdoor Decking, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Ends 31st May 2015.
Magic Carpet Weekenders: take a trip on the NMS’s Magic Carpet for stories, songs and activities inspired by the fascinating collections. Magic Carpet sessions are for individual families and their children under 5 years, with a minimum ratio of 1 adult per 2 children. 11-11.25am, meet at the Lighthouse Lens, Grand Gallery, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free but please sign up on the day. (These sessions are in addition to the regular ones held on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and will run on Saturdays and Sundays throughout March 2015). Also at same time on Sunday 8th March.
Amnesty International Ceilidh: 7.30pm, St Columba’s Hall, Upper Gray Street. Tickets £6/£4 on the door.
The Big LGBT Music Jam: a creative and supportive space for making music. Play, sing your own song, or just be an appreciative listener, all music tastes welcome. No need to book, just turn up. Bring your own instruments, some percussion supplied. 1-4pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information contact biglgbtmusicjamedinburgh@gmail.com.
St Bride’s Family Cinema: see your favourite films for free! Adventure, excitement, fun and laughs – they’re all here. Choc ices and juice available during the interval for 50p each. This week: Yogi Bear (U), next week: The Iron Giant (U). All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. 10.30am-12.30pm (including interval), St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace, Dalry.
Blackwell’s Celebrates World Book Day in the Children’s Department: dress up as your favourite book character (a prize for the best costume), have your face painted by Mrs Fantoosh, take part in a book hunt, and take a tour behind the scenes of Edinburgh’s oldest bookshop. You can also meet award-winning author Lari Don, who will be running two sessions, one for younger and one for older children. For ages 4-7, Lari will read from her magical picture books, help you imagine your own magic, and tell one of her favourite traditional tales: 10.30 -11.30am – booking should be made via eventbrite here, and for ages 8-12 Lari will read from her adventure book Fabled Beast Chronicles and tell one of the legends that inspire her fiction: 12 noon-1pm – booking should be made via eventbrite here. (Alternatively, call 0131 622 8218 to book for either session). All other World Book Day events will take place between 10am and 4pm at Blackwell’s, South Bridge. All events are free.
South West Neighbourhood Swap Shop: clothes and PC repair, plus furniture upcycling. Bring books, small household objects and clothes to donate or swap (no broken items, mattresses or electrical items please), try the laptop repair and sewing machine workshops (delivered by Remade in Scotland experts), or watch an upcycling demonstration from Upcycled World. 12.30-4.30pm (upcycling demonstration 1.30-3.30pm), Gorgie Dalry Church, 190-192 Dalry Road. This event is part of Pass It On Week 2015, which runs from 7th to 15th March.
Shelter Scotland Shops Donation Drive: as part of Pass It On Week, Edinburgh Shelter shops are holding a donation drive and asking you to pass on any unwanted good quality clothes, toys, books, CDs, DVDs and small household items to help them continue their work to combat homelessness and bad housing. To find your nearest Shelter shop, click here.
LGBT: Edinburgh Trans Women. Support group aimed at transsexual women at any stage of transition, including those questioning their gender identity. Please email the group in advance at info@edinburghtranswomen.org.uk if this is your first visit. 7.30-9.30pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street.
WE + Estaitis + KRK: live music. WE are four bodies barely obscured by identical black boxes ‘a broken man machine of shrill synth grooves, bizarre guitar melodies, cartoon drumrolls and sax for special occasions’. 7-10pm Rhubaba Gallery and Studios, 25 Arthur Street. Free entry. More details here.
Bookbug: for children aged 0-4 and their parents or carers. 11.30am today and every Saturday, Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue. These sessions are very popular, please arrive early. There are also sessions at 10.15am and 11.15am every Wednesday.
Gorgie City Farm Seed Swap: Gorgie City Farm, 51 Gorgie Road. Please contact the Farm for times.
Secret Histories: Screening Irish History. The final screening in a season exploring the dark and troubling aspects of Irish life, A Terrible Beauty (12A) is a ‘meticulously researched docudrama combining archive footage and dramatic re-enactments, based on first-hand accounts, to vividly recreate the ferocious battles of Dublin’s Mount Street and North King Street in the 1916 Easter Rising, as seen from the perspective of the Irish Volunteers, British soldiers and innocent civilians’. The screening will be followed by a Q & A session with the filmmakers. 3.20pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online via the website or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688. Screened in association with the University of Edinburgh School of History, Classics and Archaeology.
Clarsach Music at the Library: listen to members of the Edinburgh branch of the Clarsach Society perform a programme of solos, songs, duets and ensembles. 2-2.20pm and 2.35-2.55pm, Foyer, Central Library, George IV Bridge.
Family Fun Day: The Chinese Year of the Goat. Chinese drumming, dancing and a workshop: learn how to play a drum, spin a handkerchief or make a dragon, and try some Chinese skipping. 2-3pm, Granton Library, Wardieburn Terrace.
Italian Film Festival: curated by Allan Hunter and Richard Mowe, the 22nd Festival continues today. ‘An exciting and diverse line-up of contemporary and classic Italian cinema, including hilarious comedies, insightful dramas, seat-edge thrillers and classics from award-winning directors’. All films are subtitled in English, Today: The Dinner (15),’a chilling view of modern morality’. 8.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online via the website or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688.
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom International Women’s Day Singathon: 100 songs on the themes of women, international solidarity, peace and freedom, led by Penny Stone. All welcome – women, children and men – come along for all or just some of the singing, bring an instrument if you like. There will be tea and cake – please bring extra cake and nibbles. If you plan to stay long bring warm clothes and a cushion! 3pm-12 midnight, St John’s Church Hall, Princes Street. For more information contact Penny Stone on singlouderthanguns@gmail.com. Donations will be collected to help women from poorer countries to attend the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom centenary conference in The Hague and to support Penny’s ongoing activism fund.
SUNDAY 8TH MARCH 2015
Word Power Books: International Women’s Day Dinner and Sister Acts. A chance to meet other women, catch up, and enjoy a two course vegetarian dinner, with songs, poetry and performance. Sister Acts is an open mic slot – so come prepared if you wish to perform! 6pm, Spoon, 6A Nicolson Street (please note that although Spoon is upstairs it is fully accessible). Tickets cost £10 and must be fully paid for and collected in advance – please call into Word Power Books in West Nicolson Street, call them on 0131 662 9112 or email books@word-power.co.uk.
Portrait Detectives: collect your kit, follow clues, and solve a mystery from history! For ages 4-12 years. 2-4pm (drop-in), Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free: no booking required. Supported by the Friends of NGS.
Filmhouse Junior: screenings for a younger audience. This week: Charlotte’s Web (U). 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 per person, big or small.
International Women’s Day 2015 Awards and Celebration: with free workshops for adults and activities for children, community stalls, talks, yummy snacks and refreshments, Fair Trade goodies, free holistic therapy sessions and networking opportunities. The awards presentation will take place at 4-5pm with keynote speaker Kate Barratt, descendant of suffragette Alice Hawkins, and will be followed by an afternoon tea reception. 1.30-5pm, City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, Nicolson Square. Organised by Edinburgh Inter-Faith Association, Edinburgh Women’s Interfaith Group and Faith in Women.
Blackwell’s Teenage Book Group: if you love to read or just want to read more, join this free group to discuss the latest teenage fiction and your favourite books – anything from classics to contemporary, dystopian to historical. Currently reading Tape by Steve Camden. 2-3pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. To join the group just email your details to schools.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.
Spotlight on Mary Slessor: curator Dr Sarah Worden and guest Dr Esther Breitenbach (University of Edinburgh), who will discuss Mary Slessor’s life and work in Calabar, her status after her death, and the impact that she – and other missionaries like her – had on the shaping of museum collections in the mid to late 19th century and into the 20th century. This event will be hosted and chaired by Ewan Aitken, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Cyrenians, and is part of International Women’s Day 2015. For ages 14+. 2-3.30pm (doors open 1.45pm), Auditorium, Level One, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free but booking is required and may be made online here or by calling in to NMS’s reception desk.
Sunday Crafts at the Library: 2pm today and every Sunday, Portobello Library, 14 Rosefield Avenue. Please note that all children under 8 years must be accompanied by someone over the age of 12.
Scottish Indian Arts Forum: Happy Holi! Come and celebrate with colours, food and music. 12.30-4pm, Pilton Youth and Children Project, 1a West Pilton Place. £10 for ages 12+, free for under-12s accompanied by an adult. Contact Karthik on 07770 581997 or Rajnish on 07793 361878 for details.
International Women’s Day Special Screening: In Bloom (Grzeli nateli dgeebi) (15). In early 1990s Tblisi, the country is facing chaos…Eka and Natia are inseparable friends living with their families in crumbling high-rise apartments. Though their world appears to be coming apart..the two of them are interested in the same things as most 14-year olds. ‘An impressive coming-of-age story from Georgia, In Bloom tells a universal and personal story about female friendship and fatal feuds with the help of brilliant cinematography, superb production design and two teenage actresses who effortlessly draw the audience into their world’. Screenwriter and co-director Nana Ekvtimishvili draws on her personal memoirs of growing up at this difficult time to fashion this compelling debut feature. In Georgian with English subtitles. 5.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the box office on 0131 228 2688.
The Truth Hurts: Comedy Against Racism with Aamer Rahman. Acclaimed Australian stand-up Rahman first achieved international success as part of the comedy duo Fear of a Brown Planet with Nazeem Hussain. He has performed at the Sydney Opera House and was named as one of The Guardian’s top 10 comedy shows of 2014. His hard-hitting comedy throws a sharp light on racism and islamaphobia – ‘political comedy at its best’. 7-9pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, Leith. Tickets cost £6/£3 (unwaged)/£10 (solidarity price) and can be purchased online here. Co-organised by Scotland Against Criminalising Communities (SACC) and the Islamic Human Rights Commission; supported by Edinburgh Stop The War Coalition, Unite Against Fascism Edinburgh and the Kashmir Solidarity Movement (Scotland). Part of the net proceeds will go to SACC.
Magic Carpet Weekenders: take a trip on the NMS’s Magic Carpet for stories, songs and activities inspired by the fascinating collections. Magic Carpet sessions are for individual families and their children under 5 years, with a minimum ratio of 1 adult per 2 children. 11-11.25am, meet at the Lighthouse Lens, Grand Gallery, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free but please sign up on the day. (These sessions are in addition to the regular ones held on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and will run on Saturdays and Sundays throughout March 2015).
Italian Film Festival: curated by Allan Hunter and Richard Mowe, the 22nd Festival continues today. ‘An exciting and diverse line-up of contemporary and classic Italian cinema, including hilarious comedies, insightful dramas, seat-edge thrillers and classics from award-winning directors’. All films are subtitled in English. Today: Zoran, My Nephew the Idiot (15) ‘Matteo Oleotto’s award-winning comedy combines echoes of Rain Man and Uncle Buck with the melancholy of Bill Forsyth’. The screening will be followed by a Q & A session with the director. 5.50pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online via the website or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688.
Filmhouse Quiz: the ‘phenomenally successful (and rather tricky) monthly quiz’. Teams of up to 8 should be seated in the cafe bar by 9pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Free to enter.
St Giles’ At Six: Edinburgh Napier University Composers Concert: The Edinburgh Quartet. New compositions for string quartet by student composers Jason Sweeney, David Paton, Linyi Tam, Jonathan Grant, Ian Sutherland, Robin McLeish and Alexander Vella Gregory. 6pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free: retiring collection.
