Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is spreading festive cheer in Edinburgh by hosting two free workshops in November encouraging families to get inspired this Christmas with Gifts from the Garden.
Focusing on foraging and cost-saving methods to fill your home, the Grow How session and Little Seedlings Club workshop in Dobbies’ Edinburgh store will inspire gardeners of all ages and abilities.
Grow How, a 15-minute session that takes place on Saturday 4 November at 10:30am, will give gardeners a guide on seasonal activities. Horticultural experts will show how gardens can be foraged to create sustainable wreaths and natural decorations for the Christmas tree and home.
Dobbies’ Little Seedlings Club takes place in the morning on Sunday 5 November and is suitable for children aged 4-10 years old.
The gardening workshop is great for children who have an interest in learning about wildlife, plants and the environment, and takes place in a friendly group setting.
This educational and interactive children’s workshop will explore the changes that happen in the garden during winter, what natural items and foraged, alongside a look the history of popular decorative items like wreaths and Christmas trees.
In a bid to showcase sustainable ways families can get the home feeling festive this year, Dobbies’ CSR and Community Communications Executive, Chloë Bell, explains why these events are perfect for gardeners of all abilities.
She said: “We are always looking for ways we can bring the outside in, there’s no better way to get in the festive spirit than with some craft activities. The workshops in Edinburgh are suited for every member of the family, welcoming everyone to come together and decorate the home this Christmas.
“When decorating for the seasons, we encourage sustainable practices where possible, and foraging is the best way to use what is already in your garden.
“If you are lucky enough to find them in your garden, Pinecones and Acorns make for wonderful Christmas tree decorations and Moss, Fir, Eucalyptus and Holly leaves make a great base for a wreath.”
For more information about November’s events and to make a booking, visit dobbies.com/events
Save the date! Acorn Print Studio is very excited to be taking part in the wonderful Fungi & Folklore exhibition by @myceliart.collective at @grantonhub on the 28th and 29th of October from 11am-4pm
As well as the exhibition and meeting some of the artists there will be workshops and a chance to learn about fungi folklore.
For more information check out the eventbrite link below:
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Beyond the Little Black Dress Until 29 Oct 2023 Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3 Ticketed (concessions available)
From design classics to cutting-edge catwalk creations, this exhibition deconstructs the little black dress and examines the radical power of the colour black in fashion. The exhibition will chart a century of fashion in a series of themed, immersive displays. Iconic early pieces by Yves Saint Laurent, Dior and Jean Muir will be juxtaposed with recent looks by ground-breaking contemporary designers and brands like Gareth Pugh, Simone Rocha and Off-White.
Rising Tide: Art and Environment in Oceania Until 14 Apr 2024 Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 Free
Delve into the most important and pressing issue of our time, humanity’s damaging relationship with planet Earth. This urgent issue is felt especially deeply in Australia and the Pacific Islands where sea levels are rising due to climate change and the oceans are filling with plastic. Rising Tide considers our relationship to the natural environment through contemporary artistic responses to climate change and plastic waste by Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander artists.
Uniquely Scottish Silver Until 26 May 2024 Grand Gallery Free
Uniquely Scottish Silver brings together five distinct Scottish silver object designs: mazers, quaichs, thistle cups, ovoid urns and heart brooches. Discover some of the earliest and rarest survivals within the Scottish silver smiths’ craft.
National Museum of Scotland Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Audio-Described Access Evening: Beyond the Little Black Dress 12 Sep 17:30 – 19:00 Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Age 8+
Explore the Beyond the Little Black Dress exhibition supported by an audio-described tour of key objects, for those who are blind, partially sighted or visually impaired.
Film Screening: Fashion Reimagined 16 Sep 14:00 – 16:30 Auditorium, Level 1 Tickets £6 – £10 Age 14+
Join us for a screening of this 2022 documentary film following fashion designer Amy Powney of cult label Mother of Pearl, a rising star in the London fashion scene. Documentary Fashion Reimagined follows designer Amy Powney as she embarks on a three-year journey to create a sustainable clothing collection and transform the way we engage with fashion.
Medieval to Modern: Animal Illustration Workshop 16 Sep 10:15 – 16:00 Studio 2, Level 4 Tickets £5 – £6 Age 16+
Join natural history artists Rebecca Jewell and Sandy Ross Sykes to create your own artwork in the style of a Medieval Book of Beasts, inspired by our Library Archives and Natural History collections.
Magic Carpet: Maths in Motion Special 27 Sep 10:30 – 11:00 and 14:00 – 14:30 Grand Gallery, Level 1 Free with booking required
Bring your little ones for a fun session on the Magic Carpet exploring maths in motion. Discover shapes, numbers, time and more through songs, action rhymes, objects and sensory play. Suitable for children ages 2–4 and their adult helper.
In Conversation: Black British Design 27 Sep 19:00 – 20:30 Auditorium, Level 1 Tickets £6 – £10 Age 14+
Join Maria Casely-Hayford and Sequoia Barnes in a conversation exploring Black British fashion. Discover the trailblazing career of fashion designer Joe Casely-Hayford OBE in this conversation with Sequoia Barnes and Maria Casely-Hayford.
Fashionably Late 06 Oct 19:30 – 22:30 £16 – £22 including exhibition entry Strictly 18+
Our legendary Museum Lates return in October restyled for one night only as Fashionably Late. Join us for an evening of fun, frolics and fashion in the beautiful setting of the National Museum of Scotland at night.
National Museum of Flight East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF Open daily 10:00 – 16:00
Brick Sundays 03 – 17 Sep 12:00 – 16:00 Free with museum admission
Inspired by our current Brick History display, each Sunday we will have a different build theme. Choose to make something inspired by the theme or build your own creation. For something a bit more energetic, take part in our speed build challenge and see if you can make it to the top of the champions’ board.
Doors Open Day 2023 23 & 24 Sep 10:00 – 17:00 Free
Visit the museum for free over Doors Open Days East Lothian weekend and learn about the history of aviation from the First World War to the present day. Immerse yourself in interactive galleries, supersonic experiences and our historic hangars and airfield.
Conservation Hangar Tours Until 31 Mar 2024 Free with museum admission Booking required
See behind the scenes of the work carried out in the museum’s Conservation hangar with a guided tour and find out more about objects from the collection that aren’t normally on display.
National Museum of Rural Life Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR Open 10:00–17:00 daily
MooFest 16 & 17 Sep 10:20 – 15:30 Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Join us for a celebration of all things cattle at the National Museum of Rural Life.New for 2023, this weekend of cattle-inspired activities, talks and tastings for young and old alike.
What do you think makes a strong community? How can we improve or change things for the better? Are you interested in climate and environmental issues?
You are warmly invited to come along to a relaxed and informal workshop and be part of a conversation about these questions. We’ll have free refreshments on offer and the discussion will be supported by a couple of facilitators who will help guide the discussion. No previous knowledge is required, we simply hope you will bring along your thoughts, opinion insights and hopes for your community’s future.
Please let me know if you’d like to take part in one of these sessions by emailing lynne.porteous@heartofnewhaven.co.uk and letting me know whether the morning or evening workshop works best for you. Please also let us know if you have any specific dietary requirements.
This event is organised by Restoration Forth, Heart of Newhaven and WWF (World Wildlife Fund) to gather information on community resilience. Your contribution is voluntary and confidential, but the anonymised results from discussions will be used to build a better picture of people’s perceptions, attitudes and practices around the Firth of Forth and the local community
Women from across Scotland are being invited to attend an event at the Scottish Parliament which aims to inspire them to get involved in politics.
Elect Her, in partnership with the Scottish Parliament, is organising a day to celebrate women in political power on Saturday 24 June and is calling on women from all ages and backgrounds from across Scotland to apply to be part of it.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Moray, Perth and Kinross, Stirling and South Ayrshire have some of the lowest rates of women participating in politics and women from these areas in particular are encouraged to join us.
Rt. Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament said: “The Parliament has made good progress on equal representation, but we can’t take anything for granted and there is still much more to do.
“We need women across Scotland to join us to learn from and inspire one another to become politically engaged and active.
“Only by inspiring and engaging those who would never have thought politics was for them will we create a more equal distribution of political power across all levels in Scotland.”
Hannah Stevens, Chief Executive of Elect Her said: “We are really excited to be returning to the Scottish Parliament on 24th June, following the success of our event in 2019. If we want our democracy to truly work for all people in Scotland, we need women in all of their diversity represented across every sphere of politics.
“We’re not short of women who care and are working for change in Scotland, and it’s these women we need in the corridors of power. We’re hoping you’ll join us at Scotland’s Women GatHER to explore your role in Scotland’s democracy, come together in celebration with fellow women to discover how we can lead the change in politics.”
The day will consist of a programme of free workshops and activities as well as hearing from stories of women already in elected office. For those unable to travel, there will also be regional hubs based across Scotland and online workshops to enable women from across the country to take part remotely.
The event comes on the back of the publication of the Gender Sensitive Audit which aims to increase representation and participation of women in the Scottish Parliament.
Edinburgh Tradfest has launched its 2023 programme of traditional live music, storytelling, dance, workshops, talks, ceilidhs, and special events taking place at various venues across the city, thanks to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and the William Grant Foundation.
Over the 11 days of the Festival, hundreds of artists and musicians will perform, including American folk singer, two-time winner, and six-time Grammy nominee Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi, who will kick off the festival at the Assembly Rooms on Friday 28 Aprilsupported by special guests Roo Geddes and Neil Sutcliffe.
Over the opening weekend the programme is packed with music, dance, song, and special events including a screening of award-winning documentary film Heading West: a story about a band called Shooglenifty; performances from Orcadian powerhouse FARA, legendary pipers Rona Lightfoot and Allan Macdonald, Austro-British, singer-songwriter, folk-punk musician Alicia Edelweiss; tenor banjo player Ciaran Ryan and his band; and live music (Fri-Sun) until late at the Traverse Theatre Bar.
Plus, at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, the festival kicks off with the return of Pomegranates – a weekend of dance, performance, and workshops run by the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland to celebrate International Dance Day (29 April); and the second North Atlantic Song Convention run by the Traditional Music Forum takes place, with delegates from around the world gathering in Edinburgh to celebrate and learn about our rich song traditions.
Unmissable highlights continue during the first weekwith Two for Joy a new piece of music commissioned specifically for the festival, composed and arranged by award-winning harpist Ailie Robertson, and performed by Neil Sutcliffe, Alice Allen, Alastair Savage, Josie Duncan, and Heather Cartwright. Two for Joy explores the use of birdsong in music and folklore, and the positive impact it can have on our mental health.
Musicians also performing during the first week are BBC Radio Scotland Young Musician of the Year 2023 Amy Laurenson with her newly formed trio; Mississippi Delta songbird Bronwynne Brent who was crowned Female Vocalist of The Year by Americana UK in 2019; Swedish nyckelharpa player Fredy Clue; America’s masters of old-time, bluegrass, classic country and Cajun music The Foghorn Stringband; trailblazing cellist Juliette Lemoine(who counts SAY-award winning pianist Fergus McCreadie among her A-list backing band); award-winning singer and composer Kim Carnie; Northumbria’s Kathryn Tickell OBEwho has twice won ‘Musician of the Year’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, performing with her band The Darkening; and Gnawa musician Omar Afif in a collaboration with local sax wizard Steve Kettley.
At the Scottish Storytelling Centre the week one programme is packed with fantastic events including a talk on naturalist Nan Shepherd (author of The Living Mountain) conducted by Erlend Clouston; a performance by the Scots Opera Project of the acclaimed The Seal-Woman written by Marjory Kennedy-Fraser and Granville Bantock in 1924; Shapeshifters which returns with more terrifying and tragic folktales from Scotland including the Seal Killer of Duncansby Head and Saba the deer mother told by storyteller Fiona Herbert with song, harp and fiddle from Emma Durkan; open-floor storytelling at the Waverley Bar with Ailsa Dixon; and for younger audiences, folklorist Allison Galbraith will be telling stories from her latest collection Funny Folk Tales for Children.Plus, to celebrate Deaf Awareness Week, Solar Bear will present a panel discussion and a series of new films created and developed over the last three years exploring deaf folklore, deaf identity and disability.
Week two of the Festival also offers a packed programme including spring ceilidhs at the Scottish Storytelling Centre; the traditional May Day March – Fighting Back Together (6 May) which travels down the Royal Mile culminating in a rally against unjust labour laws and the cost of living crisis at The Pleasance; a performance of the ancient and much-loved border ballad of Thomas the Rhymer narrated by Julia Munrow and with music by John Sampson; tales of bees, birds, and international stories performed by Susan Strauss (Oregon, USA) chosen from her book Tree with Golden Apples; the launch of Stuart McHardy’s new book The Nine Maidens: Priestesses of the Ancient World;and Donald Smith presenting his recently published Storm and Shore a bardsaga for our times, reflecting our need for contemporary solace and sanctuary close to nature.
At the Traverse the musical talent continues with a Hands Up For Trad concert for #WorldPlayAStrathyspeyDay (6 May) with musicians Graham Mackenzie, Madeleine Stewart, Rory Matheson and Adam Sutherland performing a mix of trad strathspeys, reels, marches and the official strathspey written for the new king; a performance by Rory Matheson and Graham Rorie whose album We Have Won The Land celebrates the success of the Assynt Crofter’s Trust in buying back the North Lochinver Estate from a Swedish land speculator 30 years ago; music from daughter/father duo Dirk and Amelia Powell from Louisiana who bring their deeply rooted Cajun, Appalachian and original sounds to the festival for the first time; nu-folk singer-songwriter and ukulele musician Zoë Bestel; 2022 MG ALBA Musician of The Year nominee fiddle player Ryan Young; the Edinburgh Folk Club returning with husband and wife combo Jim and Susie Malcolm; and, to close the festival, award-winning musical geniuses Ross Ainslie (Treacherous Orchestra, Salsa Celtica) and Tim Edey (Chieftains) will raise the roof with an unmissable festival finale of foot-stomping tunes topped with great banter.
This year the festival also presents its first ETF Spotlight which will showcase some of the most exciting new performers emerging in folk and traditional music today including high energy folk band Falasgair; guitarist and singer-songwriter Heather Cartwright; folk musician and activist Maddie Morris; and the Madeleine Stewart Trio which includes Rory Matheson (piano) and Craig Baxter (bodhran).
Throughout the Festival there will also be workshops for all levels including the Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin weekend for 13-18 year olds; Cajun and Appalachian tunes/songs with Dirk and Amelia Powell, fiddle tunes with Ryan Young, a Shetland tunes workshop with Amy Laurenson; and storytelling with international storyteller Susan Strauss (Oregon USA).
Finally, Edinburgh Tradfest is delighted to host this year’s Rebellious Truth lecture/recital presented in collaboration with Celtic and Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh, which will explore mental health issues in the music industry.
Led by Gaelic singer, composer, researcher and broadcaster Mischa Macpherson who will be joined on stage by Celtic and Scottish Studies musician-in-residence Fraser Fifield. This event is free but ticketed, and will be live-streamed.
Speaking at yesterday’s launch, Alan Morrison Head of Music at Creative Scotlandsaid: “With its potent mix of music, dance, song and storytelling, Tradfest is a true reflection of Scottish culture – past, present and future.
“Newly commissioned work sits alongside favourites from the treasure trove of Scotland’s heritage, all of which is enriched by the international artists who are threaded through the programme. At a time when respect and tolerance for different cultures is under global threat, Tradfest offers a shining example of how we can celebrate both our shared humanity and our distinct traditions.”
Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “We are super excited about the scope of this year’s festival, not to mention the quality of the performers from Scotland and overseas: from Grammy-winners to homegrown superstars; visiting virtuosos to emerging talent; tunes with centuries of tradition to new writing.
“We have it all. Every day of the festival is brimming with talent and we encourage everyone to connect with their favourites and try something new. You can be assured of a warm welcome.”
Steve Byrne, Director of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland): “TRACS is delighted to contribute a rich offering from across the traditional arts to this year’s Tradfest.
“The festival is a fantastic platform for singers, dancers, musicians and storytellers to follow in the great Edinburgh spring tradition of celebrating our traditional cultures both local and global.”
Daniel Abercrombie, Programme & Events Manager, Scottish Storytelling Centre:“Tradfest is a chance for us to celebrate a range of traditional arts through live performance and participation.
“The Storytelling Centre’s programme has themes of nature and the environment running through it with ceilidhs, long-form storytelling, dance and song events, sitting alongside Celtic opera, BSL digital storytelling and family events. Something for everyone this spring!”
Musician Amy Laurensonsaid: “I’m delighted to be performing at this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest in May.It’s an absolute pleasure to be part of today’s event and to give everyone a taste of what to expect to hear from us.
“Winning Young Trad Musician of the Year was absolutely fantastic and I am super excited to see what the next year holds.”
Edinburgh Tradfest 2023will run from Friday 28 April – Monday 8 May.
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
Garden Centre hosts two free sustainable workshops in Edinburgh
Dobbies, the UK’s leading garden centre, is hosting two free interactive workshops in its Edinburgh store this February, to help residents get their garden in shape.
Dobbies’ February Grow How session will be held on Saturday 4 February and will focus on teaching customers how to sow Sweet Peas, the scented favourite. The workshop will emphasise the importance of sowing in early February for earlier blooms.
Customers in Edinburgh will also learn the right temperature for optimum growing and frequency of watering to ensure a successful transition from seed to flower.
Dobbies’ Edinburgh store will also host its monthly Little Seedlings workshop on Sunday 5 February, perfect for kids aged 4-10.
This educational session is all about The Wonder of Weeds, shining a light on the various kinds of weeds, also known as wild flowers, found in the garden; how they spread, how they can be removed and what they can be used for. Children will also learn some fun facts and the health benefits of weeds.
Dobbies’ Partnership and Events Manager, Sarah Murray, said: “We’re passionate about getting our customers in Edinburgh into gardening and are looking forward to our Grow How and Little Seedling Club sessions.
“Our February workshops are a great chance to learn more about your outdoor space. Grow How will showcase beautifully fragrant and easy to grow Sweet Peas – you can even plant them in pots so you don’t worry about having a big garden space.
“Our Little Seedlings workshop will get kids interested in weeding, where they’ll understand the dos and don’ts, how to prevent them, and some of the health benefits associated with them.”
Sustainability is at the heart of Dobbies’ Edinburgh workshops, and the horticultural experts will highlight the great selection of environmentally friendly products that can be purchased in-store.
For more information about the two workshops and how you can take part, visit: www.dobbies.com/events
A selection of traditional Ukrainian art workshops for both children and adults
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).
