The Welcoming Edinburgh are providing a free course for parents to prepare New Scots (refugees and migrants) for working in the UK.
In this course, participants will learn how to search for jobs, write job applications and cover letters, improve interview skills, and learn about work culture in Scotland and UK employment rights.
The course takes place weekly every Thursday morning over 6 weeks and subsidies including childcare, and transport can be provided.
Classes start on Thursday 8th February at Granton Hub in Madelvic House and will run from 10:30am – 12:30pm.
If you are interested & want to know more, please visit our website, or come along to Granton:hub any time between 1-4pm on Tuesdays 12th and 19th December.
Stay as long as you like – simply say ‘hello’ or we can set you to work!
‘Walking like a Tortoise’ is a mixed media art exhibition based on a series of Granton walks at Madelvic House, the Granton Hub, 29 September to 1 October 2023.
Using maps of the area from 1870 to the present day, Tamsin Grainger skirted the urban and coastal landscapes of Granton, looking into hidden corners, seeing from unlikely angles and meeting those who live and work there.
Through photography, words, video, textiles and found materials, she asks how the act of slow walking can develop a sense of belonging somewhere, and how mindful noticing of the area, on foot, promotes appreciation of, and connection to what is home.
Tamsin been walking around Granton for 14 years now, alone and with other members of the community, and has become interested in the alterations that people and the climate have wrought.
Although places transform all the time, the built-up environment and natural spaces of Granton have recently been changing at a rapid pace; there are new no-go areas, streets and stations with new names, and views which have disappeared.
Slowly wandering the boundary and making artwork has stimulated a deeper understanding of local history and heritage, but how much of this will have soon vanished?
Is Granton disappearing and being replaced by the Edinburgh Waterfront?
You are invited to walk part of the boundary on 29th September in a free Community Walk (4-5.45pm), and to take the exhibition trail (29th September, 6-9pm, 30th September and 1st October 10am – 6pm) and to consider: ‘Where is the boundary of Granton?’
‘Is it important to you that things stay the same or do you welcome the changes which are happening?’ ‘Do you feel part of the decision-making process which is precipitating these changes?’ And, ‘Is belonging somewhere important to your sense of who you are?’
Make an important contribution to our collective memory-making by coming along to add your markers to the map and to discuss and share your views with each other. Granton residents and those who live in other parts of the city and country are all welcome.
Exhibition times: Friday 29th September 4-5.45pm Free Community Walk, the Granton Boundary.
Friday 29th September 6-9pm Private View with refreshments.
Saturday and Sunday 30th September / 1st October 10am to 6pm. All welcome.
New FREE Collage Animation workshops at Granton:hub!
Discover the hidden tales of North Edinburgh as you craft mesmerising animations using the captivating technique of stop-motion animation.
Dive into granton:hub’s archives and bring history to life through the medium of collage animation. Contribute to the ‘Filling the GAP’ archive and get a chance to showcase your unique animations at upcoming events.
You will be able to download and share your creations to inspire others with the vibrant spirit of the community. Join us for an extraordinary opportunity to ignite imaginations and bring local history to life!
Hosted at Madelvic House in Granton Park Avenue, Granton, EH5 1HS, this workshop promises to be a unique experience. Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of animation and discover the endless possibilities it offers.
This 2.5 hour long workshop will provide hands-on guidance and expert tips on creating captivating collages that come to life through animation. You’ll learn various techniques and gain valuable insights from an experienced professional in the field.
The city council is to receive over £50,000 to develop plans for the heritage and restoration of four key historic buildings and structures in Granton Waterfront.
The money will be used to develop ideas and proposals for the refurbishment of Granton Lighthouse; the Edwardian former Granton Gasworks railway station building platforms; Madelvic House, which is ‘B’ listed from the 1890s, and Granton Castle Walled Garden.
This first phase of funding will support the creation of high-quality sustainable development plans over the next 12 months, with the potential that Historic Environment Scotland and Heritage Fund will then award further funding to deliver the projects in the coming years.
Council Leader Cammy Day said:“We have ambitious plans to make Granton Waterfront a new sustainable coastal town for Edinburgh.
“In keeping with our plans for the whole city we’re creating a £1.3bn 20 minute neighbourhood with 3,500 net zero homes, a new primary school, lots of green spaces. We want to make sure people can get around and access other parts of the city easily so we’re putting in active travel routes and improving transport links as well. You can see work has started to make the iconic Granton Gasholder a multi-functional public space and hundreds of the sustainable affordable homes we’ve planned are .
“As part of this project we have strong community support to protect the heritage of the area and bring its listed buildings back to life for local people and visitors to use and enjoy. The funding announced today will help us to develop our plans to secure future funding to make this happen.
“This project along with the refurbishment of the Gasholder demonstrates the Council’s commitment to celebrate the historical legacy of the area making sure that its heritage is revitalised for future generations to come.”
Join us at granton:hub to launch Kenneth G. Williamson’s book, Edinburgh, Granton and Leith Railways, a collection of historic photographs on Sunday 28th of May 2023 from 2pm – 4pm.
With a wealth of superb rare and previously unpublished images, Kenneth G. Williamson tells the story of Edinburgh, Granton and Leith railways.
‘In 1861, the Caledonian Railway, in its efforts to gain a foothold in Granton and Leith, opened a line from Slateford to Granton with a connection to Granton Harbour, where the Edinburgh, Dundee & Perth Railway (NBR) was already established. The CR further built, at great expense, an elevated line to Leith Docks in an effort to establish itself in one of Scotland’s busiest ports. Significant dock traffic never materialised and the CR’s 1903 Leith New Lines failed. The North British Railway meanwhile, in their attempt to keep the CR out of Leith, opened Leith Central station in 1903 – the largest station constructed in Britain from scratch in the twentieth century. The station was much larger than necessary and as such was never used to its full potential. It was converted in 1955 to a Diesel Maintenance Depot and in 1972 closed completely.’
This is one story, come along on the day and enjoy many others!
A small number of books will be available for purchase or bring your own copy for signing.
Join us for ’Rooted in Community: Artistic Expressions from North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes’, an exhibition showcasing the work of local artists as part of Create Community Wealth – a collaborative community wealth building project, delivered in partnership between WHALE Arts, North Edinburgh Arts, SCOREscotland and Passion4Fusion.
The project aims to support local people living in North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes to explore their creative and enterprising ideas, to tackle social exclusion and improve wellbeing and local economic prospects through creativity.
The exhibition, ‘Rooted in Community’, is a celebration of community and diversity, highlighting the unique experiences and diverse cultures of people living in North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes.
Through their work, the artists explore themes such as community, identity, grief and mental health, inviting us to reflect on our own experiences and engage with the world around us.
From colourful paintings to representative photography, sculpture, portraits and pencil drawings, we invite you to take a journey through the works on display, each one telling a different story about life in North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes.
Through their art, these talented individuals demonstrate the power of community and the importance of self-expression.
For many of the artists featured, this is their first exhibition, and the Create Community Wealth team are delighted to support them in showcasing their work publicly.
The exhibition is a testament to the importance and power of community, providing a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talent and connect with a wider audience.
As we come together to celebrate the creativity and diversity of our community, we hope that this exhibition will inspire us to continue to support and uplift one another, as we work towards building a more inclusive and equitable society.
Together with our partners, North Edinburgh Arts are extremely delighted to invite you all to the opening evening of the Rooted in Community Exhibition on Friday 28 April (6pm – 9pm) at Granton:hub (Madelvic House, Granton Park Avenue).
The exhibition is a celebration of community and diversity, highlighting the unique experiences and diverse cultures of people living in North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes. Through their work, the artists explore themes such as community, identity, grief, and mental health, inviting us to reflect on our own experiences and engage with the world around us.
From colourful paintings to representative photography, sculpture, portraits and pencil drawings, we invite you to take a journey through the works on display, each one telling a different story about life in North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes.
Come and see the amazing artwork by local artists!
29 – 30 April 2023, 11am – 6pm (daily)
Opening event: Friday 28 April, 6pm – 9pm
Part of Create Community Wealth – a collaborative community wealth-building project, delivered in partnership between WHALE Arts, North Edinburgh Arts, SCOREscotland and Passion4Fusion, that aims to support local people living in North Edinburgh and Wester Hailes to explore their creative and enterprising ideas, to tackle social exclusion and improve wellbeing and local economic prospects through creativity.
Full Price: £25 (£20 for granton:hub members and for state benefits/pension holders).
Why not destress, get expressive, be creative and enjoy a whole day relaxing at granton:hub, Madelvic House?
The Painting for Pleasure weekend workshop offers a wonderful and enjoyable creative experience with full 1-to-1 professional guidance & support at an affordable price. Welcome to all adults, whatever your age, creative experience or artistic ability. Enjoy the creative process and the time to practice painting for a whole day in the relaxing social atmosphere of Madelvic House.
Painting for Pleasure is a self-directed learning and art practice workshop. Meaning – you are free to choose from whichever area of visual arts and art materials you wish to explore and learn more about through artistic practice. With as much personal support and help, guidance and positive mentoring as you require to complete your first art project and more.
Granton:hub’s studio resident artist, Gareth Hutchison, will help you every step of the way. You can choose to use Acrylics, watercolours, oil painting to drawing, mixed media and collage. Art Materials are not provided, although Gareth does supply a small amount for you to try when necessary.
Painting for Pleasure weekend workshops – creating the time & place to practice creative painting.
For further details about ‘Painting for Pleasure’ weekend workshops and up-coming dates, please contact Gareth Hutchison at: g.hutchison@hotmail.com
EdinburghInternational Book Festival’s Citizen writing programme has been working in communities across Edinburgh and the Lothians since 2019.
The weekly local writers group, which meets on Monday evenings, has met online since the Covid lockdown, but will meet in person tonight for the first time in a very long time at Musselburgh’s Fisherrow Centre from 6.30 – 8pm.
As life slowly returns to normal (fingers firmly crossed!) another in-person workshop is planned for granton:hub at Madelvic House on Monday 21st November from 6 – 8pm.
Online weekly sessions will continue between the two ‘in-person’ workshops.
The local writers showcased a selection of writing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August and are now looking forward to presenting more of their work at Winter Warmer events in Musselburgh and North Edinburgh in December.
Provisional dates for the two Winter Warmer events are Friday 2 December in Musselburgh and West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre on Saturday 3 December – more details to follow soon.
Like to get involved, or just find out more? New writers of all abilities are always welcome – email Citizen programme’s Eleanor Thom at citizen.nea@gmail.com
New FREE Collage Animation workshops at Granton:hub!
Painting for Pleasure’ weekend workshops at granton:hub, Madelvic House.
Saturday 11th February. Starts 10am – 4.30pm. (other weekend dates available) Painting tutor: Gareth Hutchison.
Full Price: £25 (£20 for granton:hub members and for state benefits/pension holders).
