Tag: arts

BBBRRRacing: Fancy a day at the beach?

Zoo Arts Extra Beach Day

Forget about the Christmas shopping: stock up on some real happiness!

beach

Sunday 14 December

12 noon from North Edinburgh Arts (or meet us there).

Bring your family and friends for an afternoon of sand, sea, sky, fire, food & art!

All Ages: Children should be with a responsible adult.

There are limited spaces for unaccompanied children, so please book early and sign a permission form if your children want to come by themselves.

Time: 12noon at North Edinburgh Arts, returning approx. 4pm

Cost: Free (a £1 deposit secures your place and your snacks & drinks). Donations welcome.

A pleasant walk from NEA to the small beach on West Shore Road (25 minutes).

ZAE will provide: snacks & hot drinks, fire, extra waterproofs, etc. plus creative materials & activities.

If you prefer not to walk, please meet at NEA to get full directions and maybe even give or receive a lift. If you travel by bus Get the 24 at 12.05 or 12.35 from Pennywell Road to Granton, before West Harbour Road on Waterfront Avenue. The walk from there is less than 10 minutes.

Zoo Arts

Follow Zoo Arts Extra on Facebook here to keep up to date with all of their events

Circle celebrates launch of The Sandpit Volcano

‘No-one really knew what it was. People walking past stopped and stared …’ 

sandpit volcano5Local familes celebrated the launch of their latest book ‘The Sandpit Volcano’ at North Edinburgh Arts Centre yesterday. The group from Circle’s Haven project wrote the story during Haven’s Storytelling Week project in August, and this was the first opportunity to see the end product. 

The Sandpit Volcano tells the tale of brave kangaroos, crabbit crustaceans and creepy castles with flags made from used underpants – delightful!  Children who were involved in the creation of the story read and performed it at North Edinburgh Arts and it really is a fantastically fun tale!

The Haven Project was again supported by Edinburgh-based author Mike Nicholson, who worked with the group on a similar project last year – a swashbuckling tale of pirates on the seven seas.

The Sandpit Volcano was created during an intensive week for all involved – from a day of ideas and discussions following a trip to Cramond, working with Mike to develop story ideas and then producing artwork and storyboards – but it was both interesting and fun for all involved and everyone is delighted with the finished product.

Angela Austin worked on the artwork with the group. “This was a great group to work with – everyone was really enthusiastic and there was lots of energy and ideas”, she said. “People can be creative and really good at art without realizing the talent they have, and I think this project has shown that”.

One proud mum said: “The project was interesting and it was a good laugh too. We’re all really pleased to see the way the book has turned out – my bairns will be reading it as a bedtime story tonight!”

sandpit volcano1

 

 

 

Opportunities for children in local theatre project

penny
Children to participate in 1d Tenement Opera
As you may know, we are developing a couple of street scenes in the 1d Tenement Opera which include young children. Altogether we need six children and some of you have already said that your children are interested in participating.
If anyone else has children who are interested in participating, please let me know by Friday 7th November.

The children will be required for the following rehearsals:

Saturday 8th November 12 noon – 2pm at North Edinburgh Arts
Saturday 15th November 12 noon – 2pm at North Edinburgh Arts
Saturday 29th November 12 noon – 2pm at North Edinburgh Arts
Saturday 6th December 12 noon – 2pm at North Edinburgh Arts.

The children will also be required for rehearsals from 2nd January – 17th January. Performances are on 15th, 16th & 17th January.

Please get in contact with me or Kate Wimpress, if you would like to discuss this further. People who have already expressed an interest – again, please confirm this to me by 7th November.

Visit to National Library of Scotland Monday 8 December

I have heard back from some of you, but if there is anyone else who should like to come, please let me know by 7th November.

Stephanie Knight, North Edinburgh Theatre Project

NEA

Autumn arts festival tackles mental health stigma

striking sculpture at Summerhall
striking sculpture at Summerhall

A national festival aiming to tackle the stigma of mental health launches across Edinburgh and the Lothians this weekend.

The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival aims to challenge preconceived ideas of mental health as well as celebrate the artistic achievements of those with lived experience of mental health issues.

More than 65 events will be taking place across Edinburgh and the Lothians exploring this year’s theme of personal,  political and social power. The programme includes film, theatre, music, dance, photography, comedy, storytelling and guided walks, with many of the performances and activities free of charge.

The festival, which is celebrating its seventh year in Lothian, officially launched yesterday with Out of Sight/Out of Mind, an exhibition featuring work by artists with experience of mental health issues.

The exhibition, which is free, opens to the public at Summerhall, Edinburgh today and will also appear at Ocean Terminal, Central Library, Edinburgh University Chaplaincy Centre and Portobello Library throughout the month.

Linda Irvine, Strategic Programme Manager, Mental Health and Wellbeing, NHS Lothian, said: “One in four people in Scotland will experience mental health problems at some point in their life. We know the arts have the power to tackle the stigma associated with mental ill health and promote recovery.

“This year’s festival features a number of inspiring and provocative events, from hard-hitting theatre to family storytelling events and there really is something for everyone.”

Jane Crawford, Co-ordinator of The Consultation & Advocacy Promotion Service (CAPS), an independent advocacy organisation for people who use or have used mental health services, said: “The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival is a very powerful focus for people to convey their feelings and experiences of mental health in a creative way. Advocacy is all about giving people a voice and this can be done in many different ways – not just by speaking. Poetry, painting, sculpture, comedy, song all allow people to give expression to their experiences.”

Other highlights of the festival include: 

  • Voices of War at Edinburgh Castle, an evening of poetry and reflection   exploring the pioneering work of World War I psychiatrist Captain WHR Rivers, Thursday 9th Oct, 7.30 – 9pm
  • Lothians on Film is an exciting selection of short films made in and around the Lothians. The selection includes documentary, fiction, animation and film art and will be shown, for free, at various locations across Edinburgh and the Lothians from Thursday 2nd October to Friday 10th October.
  • Resilience: Legislative Theatre is radical, participatory theatre giving power back to the people of Edinburgh. Audience members will be invited to propose, discuss and debate new ideas for legislation. The event is free and takes place on Saturday 11 October at Out of the Blue, Edinburgh from 3 to 9pm.
  • The International Film Awards 2014 The annual film awards ceremony will honour the very best of the films submitted by filmmakers from all over the world. Expect to be moved and inspired by the stories shown in the excerpts. Thursday 16 October at the Filmhouse Cinema, Edinburgh
  • The Wellbeing Mela is a free, fun, family day to celebrate diversity and promote positive mental health and wellbeing amongst Edinburgh’s varied minority ethnic communities. Music, dance, complementary therapies, relaxation workshops and lots more will be happening on Sunday 19 October at Out of the Blue, Edinburgh

The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation in association with the following national partners: the University of Strathclyde Glasgow, See Me, VOX Scotland, NHS Lothian, NHS Health Scotland, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire Recovery Network, Healthier Scotland, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Bipolar Scotland.

A full programme of events taking place in October is available at www.mhfestival.com

HEY! I’M ALIVE!

Arts group seeks funds for project to highlight cystic fibrosis

HEY, I'M ALIVE! image

Creative Electric is a critically acclaimed, award-winning company who create contemporary performance based on real experiences. Often their work is interactive, sometimes its personal, at times its one to one.

Their work has been performed in both Scotland and Sweden, in theatres, studios, art galleries, nightclubs, on trains, in fields, city centre squares – and on rooftops! By creating work in non-traditional theatre spaces Creative Electric aim to engage with audiences who may not necessarily attend traditional arts venues.

Creative Electric are now trying to raise funds to support an exciting new project, as Director Heather Marshall explains:

“We are working with Arches Live to create HEY, I’M ALIVE! an immersive theatre experience that explores the impact that Cystic Fibrosis has on a young person and their family and friends. It’s a project that we’re really excited about as we feel that it raises awareness of the condition whilst also giving opportunities to emerging artists, including a young performer with CF.

“Because people with Cystic Fibrosis are not meant to socialise with one another (the risk of infection is too high) we are faced with the challenge of not being able to reach out to as many young people with CF as we would like. And so we’re hoping to live stream the production so that it can be shown to young people at home and in hospital. Jordan, our performer with CF feels that its important that other young people see that they’re not alone and hopes that HEY, I’M ALIVE! is a way to reach out to some of his peers throughout the UK and hopefully across the world.

“The costs of staging the production are mounting and so we’ve launched a crowd funding site to help pay for the live streaming, Jordan’s travel & support and childcare costs for one of our emerging artists who is also a young mum. We’ve attached further information about HEY, I’M ALIVE! in the hope that you may be able to support the project. This may be through a donation on our indiegogo page

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/hey-i-m-alive

or promoting the project via your social media -we’re using the hashtag #electricHIA.

“We’d love to be able to name you as one of our supporters and will make sure that you are mentioned in all press and marketing related to the production. If you require further information please contact me on Creative_electric@hotmail.com

 

The HEY, I’M ALIVE! team

and

Heather Marshall

Director, Creative Electric

www.creative-electric.co.uk

photo

Lecture celebrates the life of Scottish arts champion

Community council salutes arts legend

Portrait outside New Parliament House, 2005

Edinburgh-born artist and colossus of the Scottish arts scene Professor Richard Demarco is giving a lecture at Edinburgh College this week at an event celebrating his contribution to cultural life. The Portobello Demarco Lecture on Thursday night (11 September) is being held by Portobello Community Council to honour one of the area’s most famous figures. 

The free lecture will take place at the CRE:8 auditorium at Edinburgh College’s Milton Road Campus on Thursday at 7.30pm.

Edinburgh-born Demarco will talk about his remarkable life and achievements within the Scottish and international art worlds, of which he has been a crucial figure for more than 50 years.

Throughout this time, the 84-year-old Traverse Theatre co-founder has organised scores of plays, exhibitions and events, including a long-standing association with the Official Edinburgh Festival. His work has earned him a number of national and international honours. Earlier this year, Demarco was presented with the annual Edinburgh Award, which honours people who have made major contributions to the city. This followed his European Citizen of the Year 2013 Prize last August, given by the European Parliament for his exceptional achievements.

demarco3Professor Demarco said: “My lecture in Portobello will focus on how the history of art and science in the decades which followed the Second World War must consider the future of education so that art is not divorced from such a history.”

Jon Buglass, head of the Centre for Creative Industries at Edinburgh College, said: “We’re delighted to host the lecture and play our part in honouring one of our cultural greats, someone who has arguably done more to promote the arts in this country than anyone else in recent times.

“Professor Demarco is an inspirational figure whose influence on our country’s artists and the way that we present art is enormous. I’d urge our students and anyone else with an interest in arts to learn from his vision. Without his commitment to supporting our country’s talent our cultural landscape would be very different and far worse off.”

Geoff Lynn, chair of Portobello Community Council, said: “Portobello Community Council is delighted to be able to play host to such a venerated and colourful figure as Richard Demarco. His early life growing up in Portobello, his dedication to the artistic and cultural life of this city and beyond. It should be a great evening.”

The event is free but booking is essential. Tickets can be booked here.

 

Dare you enter … The Twilight Zone?

twilight zoneI’m writing to tell you about a programme at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery for after-school clubs and family groups called The Twilight Zone.  

Get the gallery to yourselves after-hours or come at the weekends and enjoy fun, interactive tours or creative workshops. Visits are free of charge to community groups.

Read all about it here:

www.nationalgalleries.org/TwilightZone

twilight

Meg Faragher

Families and Communities Learning Co-ordinator

National Galleries of Scotland

Scottish National Portrait Gallery

1 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JD 

Tel: 0131 624 6428

M: 07814751087

mfaragher@nationalgalleries.org

Say what you see: Surveillance Gallery opens on Saturday

Take to the Streets at North Edinburgh Arts!

Take-to-the-streets-212x300

Surveillance Gallery is an exciting new exhibition space opening in Muirhouse. The outdoor gallery will occupy the public walkway outside North Edinburgh Arts and will exhibit a range of work from artists with connections to North Edinburgh – from local art groups to established photographers.

The works are to be pasted and painted directly onto the exterior walls, giving local artists a platform to showcase their work in a unique space. The Grand Opening is 1pm on Saturday 16th August.

NEA

 

Old Town street art
Old Town street art