AroundTown
Dr Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Sun 5 Feb, 3–5pm. £7 (£5). Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Burlesque art class with a relaxed atmosphere, music, drinks and interesting models. In honour of the upcoming sapfest that is Valentine’s Day, the sketchers celebrate with a gory ‘Matters of the Heart’ session. Scottish Screenwriters Mon 13 Feb, 6pm. £3. CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. Open sessions for screenwriters, from the novice to the professional. Symposium on Emerging Practice Fri 17–Sun 19 Feb, times vary. £tbc. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. A weekend of cross-art form provocations, discussions and presentations organised by Vanishing Point and Collective, aimed at (and indeed featuring) Scotland’s many emerging arts practitioners and organisations, with a particular focus on ways of supporting new talent in the arts world. Wet Plate Masterclass Sat 18 Feb, 1–4pm. £25. House for an Art Lover, Bellahouston Park, 10 Dumbreck Road, 353 4776. Learn an early photographic process that can give some remarkable aesthetic results and go away with your own wet plate portrait. Ages 16+. Booking essential. Millinery Course Sun 19 Feb, 10.30am–4pm. £65. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. If you want to get ahead, get a hat, our dad always told us. Let top contemporary milliner William Chambers help you with that, as, inspired by the 19th-century designs on show at the museum, you learn techniques and decorate a hat however you fancy. Textiles for Beginners Sundays, 19 Feb–4 Mar, 1–4pm. £40 for the three- week course. Burrell Collection, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, 287 2550. A practical course in age-old techniques such as embroidery, weaving and felting. FREE Zeitgeist – German Objects in the Collections Sun 19 Feb, 1–3pm. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, South Nitshill Industrial Estate, 276 9300. Explore Dürer prints, Meissen porcelain, contemporary art and more, and discover more about the links between Scotland and Germany. Write Camera Action Mon 20 Feb, 7pm & 9pm. £5. CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. Creative workshop for film writers, directors and actors. Ages 18+. Introduction to Photo Etching Sat 25 Feb, 10am–5pm. £72 (£66). Glasgow Print Studio, Trongate 103, 552 0704. Learn how to work with a digital image to prepare it for photo etching. Some experience of etching and computer skills required. Bespoke Atelier Beginners’ Weekend Sat 25 & Sun 26 Feb, 12–5pm. £110 for the weekend. Glue Factory, 22 Farnell Street, Garscube Industrial Estate, Maryhill, 07818 824014. Weekend workshop in designing, creating and printing your own textiles, led by the two young artists behind Bespoke Atelier. The Victorians Rediscovered Taster Sessions Sat 25 Feb, noon–2pm or 2–4pm. £20. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Have a taster of ribbonwork, embroidery, botanical illustration or embossing in this informal, sociable workshop. Booking essential. Embroidery with the Royal School of Needlework Sun 26 Feb, 10.30am–4pm. £65. Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Argyle Street, 276 9599. Learn Berlin wool work, a technique popular with the Victorians, from the Royal School of Needlework, famed for their work on Kate Middleton’s wedding dress. FREE Meditation – In a Nutshell Mon 27 Feb, 7–8.30pm. Inner Space Glasgow Meditation Centre, 277 High Street, 552 7446. A workshop on achieving inner well-being through meditation. 48 THE LIST 2 Feb–1 Mar 2012
EDINBURGH Activities & Events
✽✽ Edinburgh International Festival of Middle Eastern
Spirituality and Peace Fri 3 Feb–Sat 24 Mar, times vary. Prices vary. Various venues, Edinburgh, mesp.org.uk With spiritual retreats, workshops and conferences, the festival welcomes guests from across the UK and further afield. The Middle Eastern Film Festival is included under the MESP banner, with a series of events and screenings this year focusing on Kurdish cinema, plus there are exhibitions, concerts and talks. Public Astronomy Evening Fridays, 6.30–7.30pm & 8–9pm. £4 (£3). Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8404. Hear about the history of the Observatory, journey through the solar system, observe the skies (weather permitting) and touch a real piece of outer space. Booking essential. FREE National Libraries Day Sat 4 Feb, 10.30am & 11.30am. Central Library, George IV Bridge, 242 8100. Find out even more good reasons to love your library with these tours of the Central Library as part of a national day celebrating our wondrous temples to free reading. FREE Victoria’s Singles’ Night Sat 4 Feb, 8pm–1am. Victoria, 265 Leith Walk, 555 1638. A bit of light hearted matchmaking fun, with speed dating and the intriguing postman game. Smug couply types, decamp to Boda for the evening please. FREE Edinburgh BlogTogether Tue 7 & 21 Feb, 6–8pm. Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street Leith, 555 1979. Sofi’s provide the blogging essentials (extension leads and biscuits) so you can focus on the serious business of expounding your opinions online, and meeting others who like to do the same. Real life human contact – it’s all the rage. FREE Sofi’s Knitting Club Tue 7 Feb, 7.30pm. Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street Leith, 555 1979. Friendly monthly knitting session for all y’all purlers and garterers out there. Knitting Mistress Rhiannon will show you the ropes (or should that be skeins) for a small donation, or you can simply work on your own project.
La Tête et les Jambes
Theatre Tour Sat 11 Feb, 10.30am. £12.50 (£9.50). The Edinburgh Playhouse, 18-22 Greenside Place, 0844 847 1660. See behind the scenes at the country’s largest purpose-built theatre. The Black Dinner Sat 11 & Sun 12 Feb, 11am–2.30pm. Included in castle admission. Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. One night in November 1440, the 16-year-old Earl of Douglas and his younger brother David were invited to dinner with James II, not knowing that a beheading was on the menu. Hear the story of how it happened at this living history event. Café Voices Wed 15 Feb, 7–9pm. £5. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Songs, stories and music in this special session entitled ‘Cupid’s Arrow’ in honour of you-know-what-day with Janis Mackay and David Campbell. FREE Conservation Work Day Sun 19 Feb, 10am–3pm. Holyrood Park, 652 8150. A chance to help maintain the outstanding natural beauty of Holyrood Park, with gorse cutting in the morning and a litter pick in the afternoon. Places limited. Booking essential.
✽✽ RBS Museum Lates: Night of the Mummy Fri 24 Feb, 7–11pm. £10 (£8). National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Following an exceedingly popular first event, the National Museum once again opens its doors after dark to give adults a chance to play, with food and drink, live music from Sparrow and the Workshop and Bwani Junction, live comedy from Bright Club, a Silent Disco and even facepainting adding to the fun. Combined tickets for this event and the Fascinating Mummies exhibition also available (£18/£16). Booking essential. See preview, page 47.
✽✽ Neu! Reekie! Fri 24 Feb, 7pm. £5 (£4). Scottish Book Trust, Sandeman
House Trunks Close 55 High Street, 524 0160. A relative newcomer to the arts scene, this spoken word, film and music night describes itself as ‘playing host to the sinister and the sanguine’. Guid Crack Club Fri 24 Feb, 7.30–10pm. By donation. Waverley Bar, 1 St Mary’s Street, 557 1050. Regular storytelling club involving song and music aplenty. Storytellers including guest Peter Snow tell tales of ‘Women Fair and Foul’.
FREE Coolest Walk on Earth Sun 26 Feb, 9am–noon. Holyrood Park, 652 8150. Guided walk through Holyrood Park discovering how the magnificent geological features around Arthur’s Seat and the crags were sculpted by ice. Exhibitions FREE Design & Democracy Until Fri 23 Mar. Times vary according to Parliament sessions, see scottish.parliament.uk for details. Scottish Parliament, Horse Wynd, Holyrood, 0800 092 7500. Work by 15 new designers demonstrating how design can alter the way we live. FREE Admiral Cochrane – The Real Master and Commander Until Sun 19 Feb. Daily 10am–5pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Last chance to catch an illuminating display on this brilliant naval commander and literary inspiration. FREE Scott’s Last Expedition Until Sun 25 Mar. Mon–Fri 10am–8pm; Sat 10am–5pm; Sun 2–5pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Treasures from the Library’s collection relating to Captain Scott’s ill-fated expedition to the South Pole, now a century ago, including letters and photographs from the explorers themselves. Fascinating Mummies Sat 11 Feb–Sun 27 May. Daily 10am–5pm. £9 (£7.50; children £6; family ticket £26). National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Find out about the complex and intriguing rituals surrounding death in Ancient Egypt.
Fairs & Markets FREE Morningside Makers Market Sat 4 Feb, 11am–4pm. Columcille Centre, 2 Newbattle Terrace, 447 7404. Monthly boutique craft and design market. Edinburgh Antique Fair Sat 11 Feb, 10am–4.30pm, Sun 12 Feb, 10am–4pm. £3. Lowland Hall, Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, 335 6210. An excellent selection of antiques and vintage items. Down Under Live Sat 18 Feb, 10am–4pm, Sun 19 Feb, 10am–3pm. £10–£15. EICC, 150 Morrison Street, 300 3000. Advice, products and ideas for anyone thinking about moving to Australia or New Zealand.
Scotland’s French Institute is celebrating all things sport with a new series of monthly talks, inspired by athlete, sports journalist and Tour de France founder Henri Desgrange. Simon Roger, deputy sports editor at Le Monde, explains the adoration of tennis player Yannick Noah, voted France’s favourite celebrity for the eighth time last year. Then, ahead of the Scotland v France 6 Nations match at Murrayfield, rugby specialist Arnaud David will reveal some secrets about French captain Thierry Dusautoir. ■ Institut français d’Ecosse, Edinburgh, Fri 3 & Fri 24 Feb.