Thursday in Edinburgh – What’s On Today

Bach Before Breakfast: John Bryden plays Bach and Shostakovich on the Cathedral Steinway. Coffee and croissants follow. 8.05-8.35am every day until Friday 29th August, St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place. Free: retiring collection.

Map Making: drop-in workshop for families working together. Take inspiration from the Where Do I End and You Begin exhibition and make your own hand-drawn map of Scotland. 1.30-3.30pm,  City Art Centre (meet at reception), 2 Market Street. Free, no booking required.

Easel Sketching in the Gallery: inspired by the Titian exhibition and working from a costumed figure. 2-4pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free; no booking required. Also on Friday 29th August at same times.

Artist Talk: best known for his short films exploring historical themes, Henry Coombs will discuss his artistic process and inspiration before showing a selection of his films. 6pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed. Part of GENERATION By Night.

Lunchtime Concert: Mark Spalding, piano. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile. Free.

Zombies in the Museum! Edinburgh is on lock-down following the outbreak of an infectious disease. Brave survivors are needed to help in a mission to locate the source of the outbreak.  You will be trained in how to survive a zombie attack.  Zombies in the Museum is part of Scotland Creates, a national project working with partner museums, young adults and creative partners.  This event has been devised by young adults, for young adults. For ages 14+.  Soft drinks only. 7-10pm, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Tickets cost £5 and can be booked here or by calling 0300 123 6789. Supported by the Esme Fairbairn Trust and Creative Scotland.

Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Writers at the Fringe: Zoe Venditozzi, Jonathan Falla, Victoria Hendry, Lisa Tuttle and Louise Walsh give a taste of their work. 5.45-7.45pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets available from the shop’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8218 or from the Fringe box office.

The Travelling Gallery at the Collective Gallery: today the Travelling Gallery brings its GENERATION TG exhibition to Calton Hill. The exhibition focuses on what it is like to be a contemporary visual artist in Scotland, and features the work of five artists working in a range of media. 11am-6pm, Collective Gallery, 38 Calton Hill. The Collective Gallery is also showing Ross Sinclair’s GENERATION exhibition 20 Years of Real Life until 31st August.

Lunchtime Concert: Danae Eleni (soprano) and Guy Newbury (piano.) 1.10-1.50pm, St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place. Free: retiring collection.

MYDG Creative Youth Hub: drop-in youth cafe with creative activities including dance, photography, nail art and lots more. Tuck shop provided. For S1+ 5.30-9pm, North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Court, free.

Live Music Now: David Foley and Jack Smedley, founding members of the 5-piece folk band Rura, play a mixed programme of traditional and contemporary Scottish and Irish folk music. 6-6.30pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free.