Let’s Glow: Exposed 15. The Edinburgh College Professional Photography Exhibition is one of the largest and most influential celebrations of new creative commercial photography in the UK, showcasing outstanding and award-winning images from the college’s HND Year 2 and BA Photography courses. Launch event tonight 7pm, then 10am-5pm Monday to Saturday, Out of the Blue, 36 Dalmeny Street. Ends 18th June 2015.
The Gallery on the Corner: Light Bulb Arts – a new exhibition. Light Bulb Arts is a social enterprise developed by artist Heather Lucchesi to deliver accessible art workshops to schools and the wider community, including work with Alzheimer Scotland and Art in Healthcare. Open preview tonight 6-8pm, then 11am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday, The Gallery on the Corner, 34 Northumberland Street. Ends 27th June 2015. The Gallery on the Corner was the first social enterprise developed by Autism Ventures Scotland, which creates employment opportunities and experiences for people with Autism Spectrum Condition.
Italian Cinema: La Citta Ideale/The Ideal City (15). Luigi Lo Cascio’s film about an ardent environmentalist who moves to Siena, his ‘ideal city’. There he lives self-sufficiently, without running water or electricity, until one night he gets caught up in a series of confusing and mysterious events; from that moment on, his joyful experience of life in the ideal city begins to waver. In Italian with English subtitles. 6pm, Italian Cultural Institute in Edinburgh, 82 Nicolson Street. Free: please reserve your place by calling the Institute on 0131 668 2232 or online here.
E-Book Surgery: find out about borrowing eBooks, e-magazines and audiobooks. 10.30am-12.30pm (drop-in), Newington Library, Fountainhall Road. Also at same times on 16th, 23rd and 30th June 2015.
Tiny Tales: Awesome Africa. Join storyteller Daniel Allison for a journey into the jungles, deserts and savannahs of Africa. Stories, songs and music to get young children roaring, stamping and shaking their stripes! For ages 1-3 years. 10am or 11.30am, Storytelling Bothy, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43 High Street. Tickets cost £5 (accompanying adult free) and may be purchased in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here (transaction fee applies to phone and online bookings). Please remember to book a free adult ticket for yourself when buying your child’s ticket.
Coda Presents Sorren MacLean. The singer/songwriter from the Isle of Mull will perform songs from his new debut album Winter Stay Autumn. 5pm, Coda, 12 Bank Street, The Mound. All welcome: free entry.
A Calendar of Memories: a new monthly session of stories, songs, laughter and reminiscence in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court. This event is hosted by the Life Stories Project, which aims to share stories with older people to help rekindle imagination, trigger memories and increase communication. 2pm, Storytelling Court, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43 High Street. Tickets cost £3 and may be purchased in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here (transaction fee applies to phone and online bookings).
Lee Miller – Battle Scars: Friends Behind Enemy Lines. Roberta McGrath, Reader in Photographic History, Theory and Criticism (Napier University) considers the long friendship between Lee Miller and Picasso in the context of the photographs and paintings in the current exhibition at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.
Leith Folk Club: Kevin Gore and Bobby Nicholson. 7.30pm, Victoria Park House Hotel, 221 Ferry Road. Tickets cost £7 and may be purchased online here or by texting the club’s reservation line on 07502 024 852.
The Speakeasy: an evening of insightful humour and storytelling mixed with theatre, music, songs and poetry. This month’s line-up is forensic mind reader Colin Cloud, spoken word artist Rachel Amey, comedian Des O’Gorman, hula hoop artist Miss Polly Hoops, writer and TV critic Julie McDowall, and award-winning writer Keir McAllister, who will perform an extract from his play The Last Laugh with co-star Larah Bross. Host: Jo Caulfield. For ages 16+. 8pm, Netherbow Theatre, Storytelling Court, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43 High Street. Tickets cost £7 and may be purchased in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here (transaction fee applies to phone and online bookings).
Henry Dyer Collection of Japanese Art Drop-In Session: a rare chance to see selected items from this unique collection of Japanese art, including woodblock prints, bound volumes of prints and paintings, photographs of Japan, and a facsimile of the 44 feet long painted handscroll Theatres of the East by the Japanese artist Furuyama Moromasa, the original of which is now under conservation at Restorient Studios, Leiden. Find out more about Henry Dyer and the amazing collection gifted by his family to the Central Library. 2-4pm, Boardroom, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required via eventbrite here. This event forms part of Edinburgh City Libraries’ 125th Anniversary celebrations.
Colinton Community Council: 7pm, Colinton Bowling Club, 49a Redford Road. All welcome. The agenda for the meeting is available on the Community Council’s website here.
St Andrew’s & St George’s West Summer Lecture Series: Building Stronger Communities. The Rev Dr Martin Johnstone speaks on Building Communities with Financially Poor People. In this series three noted speakers explore the issues from interfaith, academic, economic and practical perspectives. Martin Johnstone is the Secretary of the Church and Society Council of the Church of Scotland, tasked with facilitating the church’s engagement with national, political and social issues. 7.30-9.30pm, St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. All welcome: free admission.
The Annual Request Recital. Simon Nieminski, Cathedral organist, will play an entire programme by request; requests can be emailed to organist@stmaryscathedral.org.uk – Simon will play as many as possible, so come along and discover others people’s favourites! 7.30pm, St Mary’s RC Cathedral, York Place. Free: retiring collection.
The Glasgow Looking Glass: in October 2013 John Watson OBE sold a printing business in Glasgow whose first publication was called The Glasgow Looking Glass. For around 180 years the significance of this satirical comic book was overlooked; it is soon to be the centrepiece of two exhibitions, one at the Hunterian in Glasgow and the other in Geneva – why these places? And why is it so important? John McShane reveals the secrets of The Glasgow Looking Glass and the mysterious artist William Heath. 6pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required and may be made online here or by calling 0131 623 3734.
Future Libraries: the next 125 Years. A panel discussion on what’s happening next for libraries, with John Scally (National Librarian and Chief Executive), Philippa Cochrane (Scottish Book Trust), Professor Hazel Hall (Napier University) and Duncan Wright (Senior School Librarian, Stewart’s Melville College). The event will be chaired by Jeanette Castle (President of CLIPS Scotland) and introduced by Martina McChrystal (Acting Library & Information Services Manager, City of Edinburgh). 7pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required via eventbrite here. This event forms part of Edinburgh City Libraries’ 125th Anniversary celebrations.
Kitten on the Keys: weekly open mic night. 8pm, Boda Bar, 229 Leith Walk.
