Artist Talk: Claire Davies. Claire is a visual artist based in Nottingham. She graduated from Intermedia at Edinburgh College of Art in 2009. In this talk Claire will speak about her recent work since receiving the Edinburgh Emerging Artist bursary, which is funded by Edinburgh City Council and Creative Scotland and supported by Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop. Claire works in a variety of media, from video and installation to more recently work with sound and apps; her practice primarily resources the spectacle and mystery of outer space, creating works considering our existence within this parallel journey. 6pm, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, Hawthornvale. Image: Avatar Therapy (c) Claire Davies.
SMHAFF: Good Girl/Flink pike (in Norwegian with English subtitles). Resourceful filmmaker Solveig Melkeraaen is used to succeeding in everything she does; when she receives a diagnosis of severe depression, she tries everything to return to her old self. Electroconvulsive therapy is the solution and quickly gives Solveig her life back, but the treatment raises questions about what it really means to be herself. This personal documentary explores perfection, control and fear with exuberance and wit. A discussion on issues raised by the film will follow the screening. 6pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £6/£4 and may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online here. Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival 2015.
The Collector: A Lurch into the Unknown. Colin Beattie MSP talks about social and political turmoil in the 17th century, via a journey through his own collections. Hear about the 1584 ‘Black Acts’ — asserting the supremacy of the king in religious and political matters — and the 1718 ‘clearance’ eviction letters. Beattie also discusses the Civil War, the Commonwealth and the Glorious Revolution. 6pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required; please call 0131 623 3734 or book online here.
Lunchtime Concert: The Michael Garrett Experience. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.
SPL Poetry Workshop: poet and SPL programme manager JL Williams facilitates this writing workshop, in which participants will write, read and discuss poems. Please bring paper and a pen or pencil, or laptop/tablet of choice. 6pm, Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be purchased via eventbrite here. For further information please contact SPL on 0131 557 2876.
Lunchtime Concert: The Edinburgh Quartet play Part Summa, Tavener Ikon of Joy/Sorrow and Schubert String Quartet No.10 in E flat. 1.10pm, City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, 25 Nicolson Square, Edinburgh. Free.
Merchiston Community Council. Members of the public are welcome to attend; if you have any issues you’d like to discuss, you can either make them known to the community council in advance by completing the contact form here, or just come along. 7pm, Merchiston Tennis and Bowling Club, Polwarth Terrace.
SMHAFF: Purple. Brought to you by Edinburgh-based artists and scholars, this theatrical fantasia challenges the boundaries of gender and identity. Youth is the highest currency; passion, a force which trespasses time and geography; forgiveness, the act which consumes nine lives. The performance will be followed by a Q and A session. For ages 16+. 7.30pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £6/£4 and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 or online here. Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival 2015.
LGBT: The Thrive Programme. The Thrive Programme is a training programme demonstrating how most symptoms and problems in life are created or exacerbated by people’s limiting belief systems and unhelpful thinking styles. It enables people to understand the importance of their cognitive processes and to realise that the way they think, feel, and react to situations has a profound effect upon how they experience life. By undertaking the programme, people learn how to develop psychological skills needed to thrive. Details of the programme may be found at www.thriveprogramme.org. 6-8pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or email alison@lgbthealth.org.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Derek Offord: French and Russian in Imperial Russia. Professor Offord’s new two volume book explores the profound impact of the French language and culture on Russian high society and consciousness in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, examining the functions of French in various spheres, domains and genres. The author discusses the development of national self-consciousness in Russia and the importance of francophonie in European culture, whilst introducing readers to the debate over the positive and negative effects of bilingualism/multilingualism and biculturalism/multiculturalism. 6.30pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets may be obtained from the shop’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8229, emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk or via eventbrite here. This event is held in conjunction with the Dashkova Centre at the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh University Press.
Leith Folk Club: Nancy Nicholson + support Martin White. As writer, singer and storyteller, Nancy Nicolson communicates the life and culture of Scotland with rare warmth and energy and her own brand of wit and wisdom. She covers every subject from bootleg whisky to the Second Coming, playing and singing melodeon tunes and songs that hit the mark every time. 7.30pm, Victoria Park House Hotel, 221 Ferry Road. Tickets cost £7 and may be reserved by completing the online form here or texting the club’s dedicated booking line on 07502 024 852. Reserved tickets must be collected by 7.30pm on the night.
Play Poland Film Festival: the largest mobile film event in the UK, presenting and promoting contemporary Polish cinema. Today’s film is Carte Blanche (in Polish with English subtitles), based on the true story of Kacper, a beloved history teacher who begins to lose his sight. This screening will be preceded by an introduction by Dr Malgorzata Bugaj (University of Stirling and University of Edinburgh). 8.40pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online here; prices vary.
The Old Chain Pier Pub Quiz: prizes to be won! 9pm, The Old Chain Pier, Trinity Crescent.
