From left: Edinburgh Museum Collections Centre; Kelvingrove Museum & Art Gallery; Wasabi Disco; Scottish Parliament; Edinburgh Swimming.
Crack Club, and two other poetry/short story nights, three Fridays a month, for free. In talking about free or cheap events, it’d be a crime not to mention the Forest Café in Edinburgh – in fact, they could probably field a whole article on their own. In the space available, we’ll just have to restrict ourselves to mentioning the Golden Hour, their monthly music-and-reading extravaganza. More information about all their events is at www.theforest.org.uk. (Niki Boyle)
MONEY-SAVING MUSEUMS
If you’ve exhausted the National Galleries or the National Museum of Scotland and you’re jonesing for new exhibits The Edinburgh Museum Collections Centre offers something a little bit different. It’s the central reserve for Edinburgh’s museums, making it an intriguing limbo for various exhibits. The Centre is open for visits the first Tuesday afternoon of every month with tours at 2pm and 3pm. Group visits can be organised for any time by calling 0131 556 9536. Tours around the Scottish Parliament building are also free, and are a must for properly understanding Enric Miralles’
controversial work of architecture. Opening times are restricted when the government is in session so visit www.scottish.parliament.uk for booking information.
Flexing your artistic muscles needn’t be a costly exercise – The Drawing Room features free monthly experimental drawing sessions in the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, while in Glasgow, The Burrell Collection’s art workshops for adults take place every class Wednesday. two-hour accommodates 15 people – email BurrellL&A@csglasgow.org to book. The Gallery of Modern Art’s Unsettled Objects exhibition is also free until March next year, and a one-off talk on the collection is being given on Thu 18 Mar, at 6.30pm. Each
Checking out Glasgow’s libraries could also be worthwhile – aside from occasional author events, there are a multitude of monthly book groups at various locations around the city. See tinyurl.com/ycchffu for your local one. If you like the idea of a natter but are more of a film buff than a bookworm, a Film Discussion group meets in the GFT the second Wednesday of every month. There are also free opportunities to get together and share a musical experience – The Merchant Sinfonia
meets on Tuesdays on a weekly basis at City Halls, Candleriggs, and welcomes all musicians regardless of experience. And, unless specifically stated otherwise, everything you’ve just read about won’t cost a penny. (Niki Boyle)
KIDS GO FREE
Like the Vegas slots, a day out with a family of four can drain your resources in the blink of an eye. So, until they start bringing in a wage of their own, here are a few places where children can have fun for zero pounds. Glasgow City Council gets a big thumbs up, with its range of free museums, most of which have events for all ages. The Kelvingrove Museum & Art Gallery runs its regular Family Fun Weekends, the Burrell Collection holds its ‘Burrell for Families’ on alternate Saturdays and the Gallery of Modern Art’s Art Club every Saturday morning has heaps of free materials. Visit www.glasgowmuseums.com for details. The Council also comes up trumps by allowing children under 18 to swim for free in all its pools.
CONTINUED OVER >> 21 Jan–4 Feb 2010 THE LIST 21