Tradfest: the third annual showcase of traditional arts and culture starts today! A packed programme of folk arts; music, song, storytelling, dance, drama, crafts, film, seasonal customs and environmental arts, featuring local and international talent, at venues including the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Filmhouse, Pleasance, Queen’s Hall and Summerhall. For full details please see the festival brochure, which is available widely throughout the city, or visit the SSC’s website here. Tradfest continues until Sunday 10th May 2015.
Zoo Arts weekly workshops restart today: this term the group will be working towards Explore, Discover and Bronze Arts Awards. The group is for ages 9-14 years; if you are interested in the awards – which are available to people up to the age of 25 – but feel that this particular group may not be for you (eg if you are older), please still come along to the first session, and if there is enough interest Zoo Arts will try to set something up for you. 4-5.30pm (includes healthy snack), North Edinburgh Arts, Pennywell Court.
Coffee Morning: 10am-11.30am today and every Wednesday, Church Hall, Morningside Parish Church, Braid Road/Cluny Gardens. All very welcome.
Edinburgh Reads: how to research your World War I family history. Garry Ketchen explains how you can uncover details about your family’s story and discover what local and web-based resources are available to help you in your research. Over the last ten years Garry has been researching and collating information regarding First World War casualties in all of Edinburgh’s Baptist Churches, numerous other church, school and sports club memorials, and in the old Lothian districts. 2.30-3.30pm, George Washington Browne Room, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required via eventbrite here.
Global Development 2015 Election Debate: the campaign group ONE, in partnership with the Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland (NIDOS) and the University of Edinburgh’s Global Development Academy, invites you to a panel debate on global development. Leading speakers from the major political parties in Scotland will debate how the next UK government should address the key issues facing the world’s poorest people. Speakers will include Michael Moore (Lib Dems), Humza Yousaf (SNP), Patrick Harvie (Scottish Green Party), Ian McGill (Conservatives) and a Labour Party representative (tbc). 6-8pm, Meadows Lecture Theatre, William Robertson Wing, Doorway 4, Teviot Place, University of Edinburgh.
Lunchtime Concert: Will Pickvance Piano Speak. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.
Dean Village Association 44th AGM: after the AGM Councillor Lesley Hinds will give a talk about Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership. 7.30pm, Dean Parish Church Hall, 65/67 Dean Path (corner of Dean Path and Ravelston Terrace). The Dean Village Association is a charity established in 1971 to represent the views and interests of Dean Village residents.
John Knox and Ministry: a Panel Discussion and Book Signing. Jane Dawson, author of John Knox, will be joined by Calum MacLeod, Richard Holloway and Rosalind Marshall to discuss Knox and his ministry at St Giles’. The discussion will be followed by psalm singing, a book signing and refreshments. 7-8.30pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free: all welcome. Please register via eventbrite here if you plan to come along.
Health All Round Conversational English Coffee Mornings: meet people and practice your English at this friendly, informal gathering, facilitated by an ESOL teacher. A creche is available for which places must be booked in advance. 9.30-11am today and every Wednesday, Tynecastle Community Wing, Tynecastle High School, McLeod Street. All welcome. For more information please contact Magda on 0131 337 1376/email albapolska@healthallround.org.uk or Maysoon at maysoon@healthallround.org.uk.
Botanic Cottage Updates & Stories: an informal talk to tell you more about the Botanic Cottage as it is rebuilt stone-by-stone. For ages 10+. 1-1.30pm, Blue Shed, Demonstration Garden, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. No booking required.
JD Fergusson’s Modern Scottish Painting: a new edition. In 1939 Scottish artist and sculptor JD Fergusson was commissioned to write a fully illustrated book on modern Scottish painting. The Second World War made this difficult and the first edition was published in 1943 without illustrations. Alexander Moffat and Alan Riach discuss the new edition of Fergusson’s work, which they have edited, introduced and annotated, and which finally brings the author’s project to fruition, illustrated with colour reproductions of Fergusson’s own work. Come along for an enlightening evening with two of Scotland’s most respected arts academics and practitioners, discussing issues of nationalism and Scottish identity in art which are as relevant to modern day Scotland as they were when the book was first published. 6.30pm, Word Power Books, West Nicolson Street. Free – all welcome: donations also welcome!
Make a Summer Hanging Basket with Bridgend Growing Communities. All materials supplied. 2-3pm, Gilmerton Library, 13 Newtoft Street. Free but booking is essential as there are just 10 places: please call the library on 0131 529 5628.
Edward Hollis: How can storytelling change the places in which we live? Part of a series of events sponsored by the Royal Society of Edinburgh in support of the Evergreen Project, exploring the relationship between culture, narrative and how we think about the places in which we live. Edward Hollis is an architect and Reader in Interior Design at Edinburgh College of Art (University of Edinburgh); his books bring together understandings of place and place-making in the city with creative writing and storytelling. 6pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but please book via the NLS website here or by calling 0131 623 3734.
An Introduction to Maps at the National Library: NLS is home to one of the largest map collections in the world – everything from town plans to world atlases, railway maps and star charts. Learn about the range of maps available and view some highlights from the collection. Includes an introduction to the Maps Reading Room. 2-3.30pm, Maps Reading Room, 159 Causewayside. Free but please book via the NLS website here or by calling 0131 623 3734. For more information about this workshop please email maps@nls.uk.
LGBT Good Death Workshop: Maxwell Reay, NHS Mental Health Community Chaplain, offers a unique opportunity to explore what makes a good death, with explorations around death, dying and the issues faced by LGBT people in particular. Discover ways of being involved in your own funeral and how your wishes, or the wishes of loved ones, can be honoured and celebrated. 6.30-8.30pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. Booking is essential: please contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or email alison@lgbthealth.org.uk.
‘Back to the Future’: LGBT Film Nights Consultation. An informal evening to find out what type of film events people would like to see in the Centre’s programme. Everyone is welcome to come along and have a say, whether you’ve been to film nights before or not; Jules will lead a fun and creative workshop to help generate ideas for future LGBT film events. 6.30-8pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. Please book online here or contact Jules on 0131 523 1104 or at jules@lgbthealth.org.uk
