Charity art auction for Sick Kids – Edinburgh Photographic Society exhibition – Bigger fines for litter louts – Information at your Library – Previously starts next week
A GROUP of talented contemporary artists are to host a sale of their art with all proceeds going to the Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF).
More than 60 masterpieces have been donated for an auction tomorrow 7 November organised by members of staff at the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) in aid of the charity.
The SQA, which is one of SKFF’s corporate supporters, will host the sale at Lyon & Turnbull Auctioneers in Broughton Place, Edinburgh to raise funds for the charity which supports the work of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC) in the capital.
Renowned Scottish artists including Gay Grossart and Lynne McGregor RSW are just some of those who have generously donated their works to the cause.
Gordon McCubbing, from the events team at SQA, said:- “We are delighted to support the Sick Kids Friends Foundation with this auction of contemporary Scottish art.
“I would like to thank the generous artists who have come forward to donate their works – without them this event would not be possible.
“The sale of these unique displays will help towards caring for some of Scotland’s sickest children so this really is a fantastic cause.”
Maureen Harrison, chief executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: -“I would like to thank the SQA and all of the artists involved in this fantastic event.
“The Sick Kids Friends Foundation relies on corporate sponsors and the support of the community to continue funding equipment, facilities, training and specialist support for so many children and their families throughout Scotland.
“With the help of the SQA, artists and generous donations from the public, we will be able to continue making life-changing differences to children across the country, so I would urge everyone to go and see if there’s something they like and dig deep for this great cause.”
The original art work will be available to view today and tomorrow between 10am and 4pm, and will go on sale at 7pm tomorrow evening at the auction to which the public are invited. Catalogues for the event will also be available from Lyon & Turnbull.
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The Society holds an annual exhibition of members’ work in the Fine Arts Library, George IV Bridge during the whole of November, so it is on now for you to go and have a look.
If you are interested in joining the EPS, go along at 7:00pm any Wednesday during the season (Sept- April/early May-see programme) and have a look around the premises before the meeting starts at 7.30pm. If you only find them late in the season, the membership fee is half price from the 1st of January.
More details here on their website.
The Society is based at 68 Great King Street, EH3 6QU
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Litter louts will be hit with tougher fines from April 2014.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has confirmed Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for littering will rise from £50 to £80 while flytipping offences will quadruple to £200 from April 1 next year, if backed by the Scottish Parliament.
It follows the National Litter Strategy Consultation in which two thirds of respondents indicated they were in favour of increasing the penalties. This consultation will help shape Scotland’s first national litter strategy since devolution which will be launched in 2014.
Mr Lochhead said:
“With more than 250 million items of litter and over 60,000 flytipping incidents a year, it is imperative that we deal with this problem. We should not let the irresponsibility of some spoil our beautiful country.
“We want people to see the benefits of stopping littering and to take responsibility for their own actions for the right reasons. However, we know that the risk of a financial penalty is going to be a significant motivator for some.
“At least £53 million of public money is spent tackling litter and fly tipping each year. This is public money which could have been better spent on other services. These increases send out a message that littering and flytipping will not be tolerated.
“By strengthening the enforcement system, we will begin to deter future offending as we move towards the first ever National Litter Strategy for Scotland, which we will publish next year.”
Councillor Stephen Hagan, COSLA Spokesperson for Development, Economy and Sustainability:
“Scottish local authorities want to see as much litter as possible being prevented. A significant amount of local authority resources are spent tackling litter issues.
“We welcome this early action by the Scottish Government in response to the recently published consultation on a National Litter Strategy for Scotland. Local authorities are committed to working with their communities and partners to reduce the negative impacts of litter and fly tipping through a variety of means of which fixed penalty notices are one.”
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Have you discovered Your Edinburgh.info?
Your Edinburgh is Edinburgh Libraries’ community information website. Did you know that you can search www.youredinburgh.info to find information about community groups, clubs, societies and activities in your area? It even lists the full Get Up and Go programme (Edinburgh’s activities programme for over 50s). The website is easy to search by keyword or by area making it the place to find out what’s going on in your neighbourhood.
It’s also free to join! If you belong to a club, society of local group simply register online and add your own entry in minutes and help us grow coverage in your area. An entry can help your organisation reach a bigger audience, gain new members and promote your activities. Simply go to www.youredinburgh.info, register online and add your free entry.
Contact youredinburgh@edinburgh.gov.uk for more details.
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Previously Scotland’s History Festival starts next Wednesday 13 November with a Robert Louis Stevenson walk.
“Join our annual celebratory Robert Louis Stevenson Walk, starting at Oxgangs library and finishing off at Swanston Golf Club for a cuppa and scone. Explore Stevenson’s South Edinburgh haunts, walk led by Carol Marr.”
More details of all 274 events over the 18 days are on the website.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
