Monday in Edinburgh – What’s On Today

The Key Material is Time: Art and Music in Glasgow since the 1970s. Writer, curator and lecturer Dr Sarah Lowndes traces the development of Glasgow’s unique and largely self-initiated arts scene in a talk that links political protest, dance halls, ‘do-it-yourself’ initiatives and the emergence of a distinctive art made using everyday and ephemeral materials. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

Messy Materials: a Love Science workshop for ages 5-12. 2-3pm, Kirkliston Library, 16 Station Road. Free, booking essential: call 0131 529 5510.

Artisans at Work: an exhibition of abstract paintings and colourful embroidery by Scottish artist Anna Redpath, also featuring work by Seonaidh Jaques and Scottish landscape artist Malcolm Knox. 10am-5pm today and every day until Friday 17th October, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street.

World War One Readings: join NLS staff for short readings of prose and poetry about the First World War. Readings will last about 20 minutes and will include works by John Buchan, Lewis Grassic Gibbon and Violet Jacob. 12.30pm today and every day until 17th October, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free drop-in sessions.

Glamour and the Baybes: Keep the weekend party going – come down and boogie with this high-octane electric 6-piece with punchy sax/trumpet horn section, fronted by the larger-than-life manic sax/vocals persona of Angus Munro, and delivering high-end funk fusion versions of Nirvana, Tower of Power, Massive Attack, Snarky Puppy and more. 11.30pm (doors open 10.30pm) – 3am, Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. £3/£2, cash on door only.

Simon Puttock at Corstorphine Library: come along and have some fun with children’s author Simon Puttock (Goat and Donkey in Strawberry Sunglasses, The Baby that Roared, Love from Louisa) , who will read from one of his thirty books. For ages 5-9. 2pm, Corstorphine Library, 12 Kirk Loan. Booking essential: call 0131 529 5506. Free.

Flying the Flag: popular drop-in family workshop, taking inspiration from the Where Do I End and You Begin exhibition. Be inspired by Rushton and Tyman’s Flaghall and invent your own flag for an imaginary country. Suitable for the whole family working together. 1.30-3.30pm, City Art Centre, Market Street. Free, no booking required, meet in reception.

Japanese Box Gardens: be inspired by the award-winning Japanese Friendship Garden, spend a morning creating your own miniature garden design, then paint it on fine silk to make a stunning wall hanging. 10.30am-12.30pm, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road. Suitable for all ages – £5 per person: bookings must be made via the Usher Hall box office, in person, by phone or online.

No One Knows About Persian Cats (2010: dir. Bahman Ghobadi): ‘a brilliant fictionalised depiction of some of the very real issues of cultural repression that Iranian musicians encounter in their struggle simply to play music. Touching on the indie-rock, pop, folk, heavy metal and rap scenes, this film shows the range of music present in Iran – all of it completely illegal.’ 7pm, Forest Cafe, 141 Lauriston Place. Free and unticketed.

Free Costume and Props Course with Sarah Flett: WEA and Citadel Arts‘ Chronicles of War: Edinburgh’s Experience of World War I on the Home Front project and When the War Came Home play are offering a course to give you experience and insight into how research can inform the costume and props design process, helping to make a performance authentic.  You will see your research and designs come alive both on stage and in a publication of the script.  The play focuses on the lives of ordinary Edinburgh residents, caught up in Zeppelin raids and working in munitions, and of some famous names such as Elsie Inglis, George McCrae and Wilfred Owen. 2.30-4.30pm today and every Monday to 1st December 2014, Leith Dockers Club, 17 Academy Street, Leith. To book a place contact Janette Bond at j.bond@weascotland.org.uk or on 0131 225 2580. Free, no experience necessary.

Rape and Your Mobile Phone: a Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom event examining the trade in ‘conflict materials’, showing how our own consumption of mobile phones, computers and cars fuels conflict and sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and looking at what we can do to exert pressure for more effective regulation of these materials. 7.30-9pm, Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace. Part of Edinburgh World Justice Festival.

Art, Activism and Spirituality: interactive workshop exploring the power of creative play and its use as a tool to move others. Opportunities to dance, eat, chat and create some works of art. 11am-4pm, Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge. Free but booking required, email emily@health-in-mind.org.uk. Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2014.

Open Eye Gallery: Three New Exhibitions. Madeline Mackay : ‘eerie prints and drawings based on ornithological subjects’, Ruth Nicol: Three Rivers Meet – new paintings that redefine landscapes as enquiries into social history and the ever-changing present (inspired by Alexander Moffat’s investigation of the seven great Scottish poets), and On A Grand Scale – a mixed show featuring some of the most prestigious gallery artists, including Barbara Rae, Sir Robin Philipson, John Bellany and Albert Morrocco OBE. All shows open today, then 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm Saturdays, Open Eye Gallery, Abercromby Place.

Edible Gardening Seasonal Advice: drop in to find out how to grow your own food, and take a look around the productive garden with the Edible Gardening Project Team. 1-3pm, Demonstration Garden, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free: also available on Tuesday 14th October 2014.

Autumn Mandala: the word ‘Mandala’ comes from Sanskrit and means ‘circle’; Mandalas are used as spiritual tools in Hinduism and Buddhism as aids to meditation, and consist of colourful patterns and symbols organised around a unifying centre. The Botanics’ Mandala will be made from fallen and dying plant materials, and in a troubled and over-exploited world it is hoped that the Mandala will be a symbolic reminder of our dependence on the earth’s trees and plants and the need to protect them. Please note that the Mandala will be constructed today – visitors are welcome to come along to view the process and help if they wish. It will then be on view in the South Border until approximately 17th October 2014. 10am-4,45pm, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free.

For Crying Out Loud: special screenings for carers and their babies. Babies must be under 12 months and accompanied by a maximum of 2 adults. Babychanging, bottle-warming and pushchair parking facilities available. This week: A Dangerous Game. Next week: What We Did On Our Holiday. 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. £4.50/£3.50 per adult.

Stop Smoking Support Group: very informal, supportive group for people who wish to stop smoking and to help them to remain stopped. Trained NHS advisors. No pressure, no lectures, just support. 1.30-2.30pm, Leith Community Education Centre, 12a New Kirkgate. Call 0131 536 6247 for more information, or just go along to the group.

Regeneration: the stories of a number of Officers of the British Army during World War One, brought together in Edinburgh’s Craiglockhart War Hospital, where they are treated for various trauma. Featuring the story of war poet Siegfried Sassoon. Certificate 15. 6.30-8.30pm, St Brides Community Centre, Orwell Terrace. Shown as part of Gorgie War Memorial Hall’s World War One Commemoration Events. Free.