WHALE Arts Summer Festival: fun activities for children and families. Today: Superhero Film Day 2 – sounds and special effects; film and screen your movie! For ages 5-18 years. Please bring a packed lunch. 10am-3pm, WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove. Free but please book by calling 0131 458 3267 or emailing info@whalearts.co.uk – or ask in the Centre.
Dr Book’s Surgery. Stuck for something to read? Looking for new and exciting authors to explore? Dr Book will dispense reading advice and suggestions to cure all of your reading ailments – you’ll even get your own reading prescription to take away with you! Consultations available for children aged 5-11 years and parents looking for reading ideas for their children. 2-3pm, Central Children’s Library, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is essential and may be made via eventbrite here.
Lunchtime Concert: Piano Speak with Will Pickvance. 12.15pm, St Giles Cathedral, High Street. Free.
Origami Cranes: learn the story of Sadako and set an origami record for the library. For ages 5-12 years. 3-4pm, Muirhouse Library, Pennywell Road. Free.
Edinburgh Gay Men’s Book Group: an inclusive group where you can meet new people and read and discuss interesting books. 7 (doors open)-9pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact info@gaybookgroup.co.uk.
Set and Stitch: bring your knitting needles along to this workshop and join artists Vala Jonsdottir and Hannah Imlach as they take you through different knitting and crochet techniques on the way to making a communal wool work. Tea, biscuits, chat, laughter, knitting and crochet! The evening will include a tour of Phyllida Barlow’s exhibition set, and Ginger Twist Studio will be running a pop-up shop. 6-9pm, The Fruitmarket Gallery, 45 Market Street. £8 per person: please book via eventbrite here (transaction fee applies).
A Tale of Two Canals: explore the history of the Union and the Forth & Clyde Canals and the building of the Falkirk Wheel with the Scottish Waterways Trust – free walking tours packed with quirky facts and fascinating stories! Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult; please wear sturdy boots or shoes and waterproof clothing. 1-3pm, The Falkirk Wheel, Lime Road, Tamfourhill. Book your free place via eventbrite here. Also at same time on 29th July and 5th August 2015.
Record Breakers Rapid Racers: make and race a super-powered car! 2-3pm, Drumbrae Library Hub, 81 Drum Brae Drive. Free.
Painting Minibeast Paperweights: for ages 5-12 years. 3.30-4.30pm, Granton Library, Wardieburn Terrace. Free.
Summer Fun In The Courtyard: free family activities every week in July. Today Puppet State Theatre Company will stage its award-winning show, The Man Who Planted Trees. 11.30am, Sanctuary, St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. Free: participants will also receive a voucher for use in the Undercroft Cafe.
LGBT Icebreakers: if you want to meet new people, are just coming out, or don’t feel confident going out on ‘the scene’, try Icebreakers – an informal, fun and friendly social group for LGBT people and anyone questioning their sexuality or gender identity. For ages 18+. 7.30-9.30pm, The Regent Bar, Montrose Terrace. For more information please contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or email alison@lgbthealth.org.uk.
Guided Tour of the National Library: a tour of the building and an introduction to the Library’s collections and history. 10.30am, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is essential and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or online here.
World Press Photos 2015: the acclaimed annual press photography exhibition returns to the Scottish Parliament; this year the expert jury gave awards to 42 photographers from 17 nationalities, with the overall prize going to Danish photographer Mads Nissen. This international touring exhibition will visit 100 cities in 45 countries. 10am-5pm, Monday to Saturday, The Scottish Parliament, Holyrood. Free. Closes 22nd August 2015.
Michael Peto Photographs: Politics in Focus. Hungarian-born photojournalist Michael Peto (1908-70) moved to London in 1939; his photography was first published in The Observer in 1949. As well as documenting social issues and power brokers, Peto became a distinctive observer of performers and is perhaps best known for his images of dancers Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev. This exhibition of portraits and photographs has been specially selected from The Peto Collection (University of Dundee) for display in the Parliament; it forms a powerful portrait of social, political and cultural life in the 1950s and 60s. 10am-5pm, Monday to Saturday, The Scottish Parliament, Holyrood. Free. Closes 22nd August 2015.
All images above © University of Dundee The Peto Collection
Introduction to Maps at the National Library of Scotland. NLS is home to one of the largest map collections in the world, with a collection including everything from town plans to world atlases, railway maps and star charts. Learn about the range of maps available and view a selection of highlights. The session will include an introduction to the Maps Reading Room. 2pm, Maps Reading Room, 159 Causewayside. Free but booking is required and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or online here.
Poets Against Humanity: subtly divesting itself of any sort of coherent ideology, this show returns for its fifth attempt at destroying poetry. Vicki Jarrett Chung, Freddie Alexander and Jennifer Lynn Williams form tonight’s panel. 8-10pm, The Banshee Labyrinth, Niddrie Street. Free.
Freemachines: develop new IT and creative skills. For ages 12-14 years. 5-7pm, Granton Library, Wardieburn Terrace. Free.
