Holmliaskolenes Musikkorps: Norwegian School Marching Band. A youth wind band from Oslo, Holmliaskolenes Musikkorps has 35 members, all aged between 8 and 23 years; this is its first visit to Scotland. The band plays original band music, jazz and popular music – come along and enjoy half an hour of marching band music in the castle grounds. 3-3.30pm, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South. Free.
Making Well: Pace: Walking By Design. A series of walks and exhibitions offering new routes linking Edinburgh’s green spaces and creative initiatives. Garden Walks in Gayfield Square start today; 20 minute lunchtime strolls to retrace and renew the garden pathway noted in 1876. Guest walkers, performers and activity groups will join in to explore history and health in Gayfield’s local park. 12.30-1.30pm, today and every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until 27th August, Gayfield Creative Spaces, 11 Gayfield Square. Free. The Pace Exhibition runs at Gayfield until 31st August. For more information see Gayfield’s website here. Longer Walks By Design in and around central Edinburgh will begin on Sunday 16th August, and there will be a talk, Mapping and Marking in Edinburgh, at Gayfield this evening – see separate listings.
Selling Dreams: Fashion Photography. Susanna Brown, Curator of Photographs, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, explores the development of fashion photography, from its roots in Victorian society portraiture to today’s most dazzling fashion images, rich with colour and poetic narratives. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.
Edinburgh Art Festival Explorers Free Summer Art Workshops: for children in the age group P5-P7 (there will be workshops for younger children on 13th & 14th August – see listings). 10.30am-4.30pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Booking is required and may be made by emailing alchemyarts@gmail.com or calling 07853 872 073. Also at same times on Wednesday 12th August 2015.
Museum Outreach Crafts: a craft session for ages 5-10 with Edinburgh Museums and Galleries Outreach and Access workers. See some items from the museums’ collections and be inspired to make something amazing! 2-3.30pm, West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, 19 West Pilton Grove. Free.
Making Well: Pace: Mapping and Marking in Edinburgh. Pace co-curator Anna Feintuck and National Library of Scotland Map Curator Christopher Fleet present an illuminating discussion about Edinburgh’s history of map making and manufacture. As a centre of cartographic industry, Edinburgh was home to world renowned map makers such as John Bartholomew and Son. Learn more about these maps of Edinburgh and the tales they can tell – as well as those they choose to hide – and discover Gayfield’s history as a bustling centre of light industry and creative manufacture. A Q & A session will follow the talk. 6.30pm, Gayfield Creative Spaces, 11 Gayfield Square. Free but booking is required and may be made via eventbrite here.
Edinburgh Art Festival – Spotlight Tours of Scottish Art: People, Places, Ideas. Guided tours of the City Art Centre’s Scottish Art collection, focusing on people, places and ideas. 11am or 3pm, (meet at reception) City Art Centre, 2 Market Street. No booking required, free – suggested donation £2. Also at same times on Thursday 13th August and Saturday 15th August 2015.
Record Breakers To Go: come and dine in the Record Breakers Restaurant – will you be a champion? For ages 5-12: children under 8 years must be accompanied by someone over the age of 12. 11am-12 noon, Drumbrae Library Hub, Drum Brae Drive. All welcome!
Edinburgh Art Festival: Karen Forbes: British Sign Language Walk. An informal accompaniment to Hanna Tuulikki’s SING SIGN: a close duet, open to BSL users and non-users alike. BSL interpreter Karen Forbes will lead a walk up the Royal Mile, exploring a selection of the closes branching off from it; she will expand upon the signs featured in SING SIGN, weaving literal translations of current street names with elements of their history. 3.10pm, starting at White Horse Close, 27 Canongate. Free but booking is required and may be made via eventbrite here.
Bohemia Moon Art & Craft Fair: over 35 stalls with artist-makers from all over Scotland. Summer cafe open for light refreshments. 10.30am-4.30pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Free entry, all welcome – dog friendly! Also at same times on Wednesday 12th August.
Polar Explorers Holiday Club: games, lunch, drama, Bible stories, crafts and lots of fun! All children who have finished P1-P7 are welcome. 10am-2.30pm, The Old Kirk and Muirhouse Church, Pennywell Gardens. Advance booking may be made by calling 0131 332 4354 but you can also just turn up at 9.45am on the day to register – please note children must be accompanied by an adult for the registration process. Free – this project is funded by The Old Kirk and Muirhouse Church. Also at same times on Wednesday 12th August.
Woodcraft: a tree-mendous event – get creative with timber and discover the wonderful world of woodlands. 2-3.30pm, Water of Leith Visitor Centre, 24 Lanark Road. £4 per child, accompanying adult free. Booking is essential and may be made by calling 0131 455 7367 or emailing admin@waterofleith.org.uk
St Mary’s Cathedral Tours: free tours of Scotland’s largest cathedral, a renowned masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott. 10am today and every Tuesday in August, St Mary’s Cathedral (meet inside West Door), Palmerston Place. Free. Also at 2.15pm each Friday in August.
Baby Clothes Bring and Swap: trade your children’s old clothes for some new outfits. Clothes must be clean, undamaged, labelled with the size and suitable for babies and children aged 0-6 years; they can be brought into the library in advance. The swap will take place immediately after Bookbug (which runs 10.30-11am), and if you would like to bring some baking to share, the staff will put the kettle on! Any leftover clothes will be donated to charity. South Queensferry Library, Shore Road. All welcome – please invite your friends and neighbours.
Read All About It! An introduction to online newspaper resources at the National Library. The session will include demonstrations of a range of resources, plus tips on how to search and find the information you need. 10am, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Booking is essential and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or online here. For more information about the workshop please email enquiries@nls.uk.
Passion: a contemporary journey to the cross. A unique performance created and directed by accomplished dance artist and theologian Claire Henderson Davis, fusing dance, poetry and music into a compelling work. For ages 12+. 7pm, St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place. Free but tickets are required, and may be obtained from the Fringe Festival Box Office by calling 0131 226 0000, online here, or on the door (sta). Also at same time on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th August. Claire will also run a workshop 10am-3pm on Thursday 13th August at St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Lothian Road.
Scottish Politics after the Election: Professor Ewan Cameron will put the 2015 UK election in its historical context by analysing historically the issues that it generated and considering what these might mean for the future. 1-2pm, Anatomy Lecture Theatre, Doorway 3, Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place. Free and open to all, but please register via eventbrite here. This talk is part of a series of public lectures which aim to challenge popular beliefs and reassess intriguing events. For more information click here.
Colinton Community Council Meeting: 7pm, Colinton Bowling Club, Redford Road. For more information please contact secretary@colintoncc.org.uk.
LGBT Language Cafe: a groundbreaking new project offering four facilitated sessions for LGBT people whose first language is not English. Each session will offer games and activities to help you improve your spoken English and the opportunity to meet other people in a safe and supportive environment. 6.30-8pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information and to book your free place please contact Jules on 0131 523 1104 or jules@lgbthealth.org.uk – or just turn up on the night.
Quiz Night: with prizes for first, second and third places. 9pm, The Old Chain Pier, Trinity Crescent.
