Saturday in Edinburgh – What’s On Today

Fresh Start Sale: cake stands, china, glass, bric a brac, coffees, teas and home baking. Fresh Start is an Edinburgh-based charity helping those who have been homeless to get established in their new homes: it delivers a range of services to provide practical and social support. 10am-1pm, Food Station, 1 Harrison Place. For more information about Fresh Start click here.

Polish Bookbug Session: 11am, first Saturday of every month, Granton Library, Wardieburn Terrace. Contact library for details.

The Power of a Cup of Tea: MECOPP (a charity that supports ethnic minority and black carers in Scotland) invites carers and their families to get together and relax whilst enjoying arts and crafts, food demonstrations, music, complementary therapies and more. 11am-1pm, Leith Academy (main hall), 20 Academy Park. For more information call Lucy Arnot on 0131 467 2994 or email lucy@mecopp.org.uk.  Free, no booking required. Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2014.

Resources: Climate and Conflict. Do we understand what is driving conflicts across the globe? Should we feel responsible for consequences across the world caused by our way of life? Keynote speakers including Humza Yousaf MSP, workshops and stalls from campaigning organisations. 10.30am-5pm, Appleton Tower, University of Edinburgh, Crichton Street. Free places should be reserved via eventbrite. Part of Edinburgh World Justice Festival.

GENERATION tours at Modern One: free, discussion-led tours of the exhibition, focusing on key themes and artists. 11-11.45am or 1-1.45pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One, Belford Road. Free and unticketed.

Palestinian Handicrafts: Identity and Non-Violent Resistance. Nada Shawa, born in Gaza, living in Edinburgh, presents My Distant War, illustrated with personal photos of Gaza past and present. Voices and stories from Gazan Embroiderers with Sulafa, UNRWA Project, readings from Gaza Writes Back (short stories from young writers in Gaza), Q & A session, tastings of Palestinian snacks. 1-3pm, Hadeel, (Fair Trade Palestinian crafts shop) 123 George Street.

Portrait Gallery Thematic Tours – Colour: monthly thematic tours of the Portrait Gallery’s collection. This month Abby Ingham explores colour in some of the portraits in the collection – from its use as a symbol of status, power or political affiliation to an instrument of fashion or taste. 2-2.45pm or 3-3.45pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed.

Butoh Dance Workshop with Paul Michael Henry. Butoh dance originated in Japan in the mid-20th century: Paul Michael Henry has studied it and Noguchi gymnastics with many teachers and is a co-director of Moving Bodies Festival.  11am-5pm, St Margaret’s Art Complex, 151 London Road. For more information and bookings call 07528 597880 or email paul@paulmichaelhenry.com.  See also paulmichaelhenry.com

Moving Minds Book Launch: presenting Moving Minds, an anthology of work from Gypsy/Travellers across Scotland that explores memories, poetry, photographs and the impact that prejudice can have on wellbeing. Chaired by acclaimed poet Jo McFarlane: an opportunity for discussion and reflection. 12.15-1.15pm, Portobello Old Parish Church Hall, Old Parish Church, Bellfield Street. Free places should be booked by emailing emma-jane@mecopp.org.uk Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2014.

Choral Evensong sung by RSCM Scottish Voices: director Richard Walmisley. Howells St Paul’s Service, Haydn The Heavens are Telling. 4pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street.

Apple Festival: is the early ripening of the apples this year a taste of things to come, and should we be planning to use new varieties? Apple and fruit tree displays, tastings of unusual varieties and the opportunity to get your apples identified (juice pressing available on Sunday only.) 12 noon – 4pm, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free. Also on Sunday 5th October at same times. With the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society.

Auld Alliance Contemporary Exhibition. A Franco-Scottish collaboration of painters, sculptors, photographers and an illustrator. The works of established French artists are shown alongside the works of young, established and up-and-coming Scottish artists, with the aim of bringing some freshness to the contemporary art scene in Scotland. 9.30am-6.30pm Monday to Friday and 10am-1pm Saturdays until 1st November 2014, running jointly at the Institut Francais, Randolph Crescent and the EDS Gallery, Great King Street. Free.

Beth Robertson Fiddes: a new exhibition by the landscape artist, who works in acrylics, oil, ink and paper to create works that ‘evoke a sense of place, capture the feeling and essence of the landscape rather than recreating it in paint.’ 10am-5pm Monday to Friday, 12 noon-5pm Saturdays, Doubtfire Gallery, 3 South East Circus Place.

Patriothall Gallery: Open Studios. A weekend event as part of WASPS Open Studios, which are taking place throughout Scotland at various dates during October. WASPS is a charity set up to provide good quality, affordable studio space to enable artists and arts charities to carry out their work. The weekend will also include demonstrations of Mokuhanga (Japanese wood block printing) and tapestry weaving, and a children’s landscape painting workshop. Patriothall Gallery, Patriothall, off Hamilton Place, Stockbridge. See website for times and details. Also opening on Sunday 5th October 2014.

Luminate Scotland: Life Lines: Intergenerational LGBT+ Storytelling. Wit and wisdom from voices across the generations in a welcoming evening of inspiring and moving performance, poetry and storytelling from a diverse range of LGBT+ people, aiming to increase understanding of LGBT+ identities and communities. Organised by LGBT Health and Wellbeing. For everyone aged 13+, all genders and sexualities welcome. 5-8pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, High Street. Tickets cost £3/£2 and are available from the Storytelling Centre on 0131 556 9579. More information on 0131 652 3284.  Also part of Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival 2014. Luminate is Scotland’s Creative Ageing Festival.

Queen Margaret University Undergraduate Open Day: an opportunity to speak to lecturers about the courses that interest you, chat to current students, attend subject and other talks and go on a tour of the campus. 11am-4pm, Queen Margaret University, QMU Drive, Musselburgh EH21 6UU. Please register your interest here. If attending, please note that the train service between Edinburgh & Musselburgh will be replaced by buses this weekend. Further information on QMU website.

Free Family Cinema: adventure, excitement, fun and laughs, best for children up to 10 years.  Juice and choc ices available in the interval for 50p each. All children must be accompanied by an adult. This week The Sword in The Stone; next week The Iron Giant. 10.30am-12.30pm (includes interval), St Bride’s Community Centre, Orwell Road. Free.