Tiger Tales: stories and craft for ages 4-8. 3-4pm, Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street. Free.
Bruncheon, featuring The Sound of Muesli: brunch and live music at the Drill Hall Arts Cafe. Local musical talent and DJs creating a chilled-out atmosphere; delicious food available from the cafe. 11.30am-3pm, Out of The Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Free entry.
Free Family Cinema: adventure, excitement, fun and laughs – it’s all here and it’s all free! Juice and choc ices available in the interval for 50p each. Best for children up to 10 years old; all children must be accompanied by an adult. This week: The Iron Giant. Next week: Turbo. Subtitles are available for each film on request. 10.30am-12.30pm, St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Road.
Craftivism: Creative Activism. Find or restore your inspiration, consider new ways to campaign, share your ideas, make things! A two day gathering to share skills and ideas for using crafts in activism, as part of Edinburgh World Justice Festival. All welcome, all materials provided – but please bring your own needles if you can – no experience needed, free. 10am-2pm today and 18th October, to allow for finishing a piece over two sessions – but if you can only come to one session, you are still welcome. Forest Centre Plus, Argyle House, 38 Castle Terrace. Enter from Castle Terrace, by the roundabout at the bottom of Johnston Terrace. Note: this is not the Forest Cafe, although you are welcome to continue crafting there afterwards.
Octob-aargh! Museum Treasure Maps: create your own pirate treasure map featuring some of your favourite objects in the museum. 12 noon-4pm (drop-in), Grand Gallery Level One, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Also available at same times on Sunday 12th October 2014.
Magic C-aaargh-pet! Pirate and treasure themed story activity sessions on the museum’s magic carpet. For under-5s and their parents/carers. 11-11.25am, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Limited places: sign up ten minutes before at the Lighthouse Lens in the Grand Gallery, Level One. Also available at same times on Sunday 12th October 2014.
Roofless at Referral: A unique exhibition of images and ideas based on true life accounts of people who have experienced homelessness, this is an exploration of the challenges faced and isolation felt by those who are homeless and who wish to tell their story and share their journey. 11am-6pm today until 17th October 2014, Old Animal Hospital, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall Place. Free. Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival.
Edinburgh World Justice Festival 2014 Book Fair: a large number of new and second-hand books on the themes of the EWJF and of broader interest. Come along, have a tea or coffee, chat and browse. Videos drawing on the Festival theme will be showing throughout the day. 1-5pm, St John’s Hall, Princes Street. Part of Edinburgh World Justice Festival 2014.
Meet the Gordon Highlanders of World War One: meet re-enactors from the renowned Gordon Highlanders 1914-18 and find out what it was like in World War One. Explore the uniforms, weapons and equipment of the time, and learn about daily life on the Front Line. Suitable for ages 7+. 2-4pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free, no booking required.
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.
Fungus Fun: discover the amazing world of fungi with Plant Life Scotland. Fungi are neither plants nor animals, but these often strange looking things play a vital role in keeping plants healthy and recycling nutrients. 1-4pm, Real Life Science Studio, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free and unticketed. Also available at same times on Sunday 12th October 2014.
Print Room and Library Open Weekend: an opportunity to learn more about the collections held in the Print Room, Library and Archive at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Ticketed talks at 11am, 2pm and 3.30pm – for details see NGS website. 11am-4pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free but tickets (for the open day and for the talks) must be obtained from the Information Desk or by calling 0131 624 6560. Also available at same times on Sunday 12th October 2014.
Chen Xiwo: Chen, ‘one of China’s most outspoken voices on freedom for writers’ (Asia Sentinel), will be in conversation with Julian Ward, Senior Lecturer in Chinese at the University of Edinburgh. They will discuss Chen’s PEN Award winning English language debut The Book of Sins ‘an unforgettable journey to the dark side of the human psyche.’ Chen’s writing has been banned in China owing to its graphic depiction of sex and violence. 12 noon, Word Power Books, West Nicolson Street. All welcome: free – donations also welcome! Please read website notes before attending.
Open Mike Afternoons: come to the Music Library and entertain everyone by playing the digital piano without headphones! Music Library, George IV Bridge. Drop in during the afternoon or book by emailing central.music.library@edinburgh.gov.uk
Active Inquiry Theatre Company Presents Resilience: over the past year, Drill Hall based theatre company Active Inquiry has been working with community organisations in Edinburgh on a Legislative Theatre Project. They have considered how community groups can become more resilient and thrive in difficult economic times, and how they can be supported to take more control of their own assets and of the decisions that affect them. This event will see the culmination of their work in the form of a piece of Legislative Theatre! There will also be food from World Kitchen and performances from local artists and choirs. 4-9pm, Out of The Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Free but pre-registration required via eventbrite.
Little Artists with Kate McClelland: illustrator Kate will read a story and lead an illustration workshop for children aged 3-7. All art materials supplied and parents are invited to have a coffee and browse the books – or get involved in the arty fun! 11am, Golden Hare Books, 68 St Stephen Street, Stockbridge. Free but advanced booking advised as places are limited – call into the shop or book via eventbrite.
A Requiem for Edward Snowden: this large-scale, live audio-visual performance focuses on a number of themes: media, invasion of privacy and personal sacrifice. Emma Lloyd (violin), Justyna Jablonska (cello), Peter Furniss (clarinet), Jules Rawlinson (visuals and electronics) and Matthew Collings (electronics and composer.) 8pm, Reid Concert Hall, Bristo Square. Free but booking essential via eventbrite.
Her Sacred Spirit Soars: a unique ‘surround sound’ choral concert in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. Ex-King’s Singer and artistic director of Tenebrae Nigel Short conducts Vox Coelestis, a group of singers from top chamber choirs across the UK who give their time free to raise funds for charities. In this ‘very special concert for a very special cause’, the spaces of the cathedral will be used to create stunning audio effects. 7pm, St Giles Cathedral, Royal Mile. Tickets £5 + optional donation, from www.voxcoelestis.co.uk or on the door.
Sky Diving For Beginners: poet Jo McFarlane launches her memoir of madness and recovery. Described by Richard Holloway as ‘a brave and beautiful book‘, it tells ‘the remarkable story of a remarkable woman‘ (Dr Allan Beveridge) ‘with a humbling sense of optimism and love‘ (Liz Lochhead) 7-10pm, Summerhall Cafe, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall Place. Free but booking required: contact Kirsten at CAPS Advocacy: 0131 273 5116 or kirsten@capsadvocacy.org. Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival.
Cool Creatures – Animal Handling: a chance to get up close and personal with various animals, possibly including a hedgehog and a baby skunk. Far From The Madding Crowd, 20 High Street, Linlithgow. Contact shop for more information, times and tickets: 01506 845509.
Stories and Songs From Around the World: Linlithgow’s own Ewan MacVicar will tell stories and songs from Scotland and beyond. Far From The Madding Crowd, 20 High Street, Linlithgow. Contact shop for times and tickets: 01506 845509.
Celebrating Ceramics – Bridge Pottery Collective exhibition: Scottish Lustre: Keeping the Flame Alive. There will be three concurrent exhibitions: Margery Clinton 1932-2005: A Retrospective, Chasing Rainbows – the Story of Lustre, featuring work by contemporary lustre potters, and Scottish Studio Pottery, celebrating the diversity of work by potters and ceramic artists working in south-east Scotland. 11am-6pm today and then 11am-6pm weekends, 2-6pm Monday to Friday, until 2nd November 2014, Edinburgh Palette, St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road.
