Calling all local creatives, makers, and entrepreneurs.
Ready to elevate your brand and conquer social media? Join us for two special workshops this Saturday 9 March at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.
Rachel of Rachel Henderson Interiors will share her expertise on developing your brand and social media presence through two hands-on, creative workshops. Join us for one or both!
1:30pm – 3.30pm: Branding & Vision Board Workshop
4pm – 6pm: Social Media Workshop
Lunch and refreshments provided; and childcare is available.
Free but limited spaces available, so advance booking is essential. You can attend one workshop if that is of most interest, or book your space for both.
The workshops are aimed at local adults living in North Edinburgh (Muirhouse, Pilton, Drylaw, Granton). Part of the Make It Happen project, proudly supported by the Scottish Ecosystem Fund 2023-24.
MagicFest set to start – with top performers including Kevin Quantum
Future Magicians introduces tomorrow’s stars of stage magic today
A multitude of magicians are putting the final touches to a vast array of mind-boggling tricks and illusions as they prepare to gather in Edinburgh for MagicFest.
They range from established stars like the city’s own Kevin Quantum to new generation of teenage performers ready to baffle and delight audiences in the Future Magicians show.
Back following a successful 2023 debut, the show is a great addition to the annual Edinburgh International Magic Festival, which runs from 20-31 December and is now in its 14th year.
This time around there will be four young performers (three of them from Edinburgh) taking to the stage.
Each has been working with a leading magician to perfect a 10-minute act to display their skills and help them on the road to becoming a professional performer. They are:
Brooklyn-Ellis Carr from Newcastle, who at 16, has already attracted more than two million social media views for his magic videos, and who has been mentored by Edinburgh’s Elliot Bibby.
Brooklyn-Ellis said: “I’ve always wanted more opportunities to perform on stage and Future Magicians offers exactly that. With Elliot’s help I’ve managed to create a mind-blowing act that I absolutely cannot wait to share. I’m so excited to get out on that stage and give it my all.”
Jack Moodie (stage name Magic Jack) is 17 and already a veteran street magician having gone down a storm while busking during the Edinburgh Fringe.
Jack said: “I did some Fringe street performing for the last two years, which was great. But Future Magicians gives you the chance to be on stage. It’s such great opportunity for young magicians. I took part last year and it’s great to be back again.”
At 15 Jamie Leonard, is the youngest of the group, but performing tricks is nothing new as he fell in love with the art when he was given a magic set aged seven.
He says: “I want to develop my skills and to really make people believe what they are seeing is magic. And I love just getting out on stage and performing for all you people. That’s the best bit.”
They will be joined by Oscar Urwin, who had an even younger start when he was given a magic set by his aunt and uncle aged three.
Describing his love of the art he said: “For me card magic is the most skilful. No relying on props, it’s all on the magician in the moment. I love it.”
Festival organiser, co-founder and performer Kevin Quantum, says the festival offers great entertainment for the festive period. He said: “MagicFest has everything from small-scale children’s shows to big shows for all the family and even something for the over 18s only.
“It’s a brilliant way to get away from everything have a load of fun.
“The range of magicians is superb and includes some of the best in the business. But I’d also really urge people to come along to see Future Magicians.
“These guys may be young but they’re oozing with talent and I’m looking forward to the day when I can sit there and watch their TV specials.”
Kevin himself has a Christmas Special, at Church Hill Theatre, which is full of magic, variety and heaps of audience participation featuring special guests – international illusionist Oliver Tabor and local award-winning magician Fraser Stokes.
There are also new collaborations with Edinburgh Castle’s The Castle of Light, Wonder and Co (the capital’s new magic shop) and The Joker and the Thief pub.
The only event of its kind in the UK, MagicFest offers:
Kevin Quantum’s Christmas Special: Straight from sell-out shows in Edinburgh and Australia, Kevin returns with a high-energy, wonder-packed family show at the Church Hill Theatre.
Future Magicians: A welcome return for this very special MagicFest initiative where you get to see tomorrow’s magicians today. We take a group of would-be young magicians and pair them with professional tutors to prepare a special 15-minute magic act – which they then present on stage for you.
Vincent Gambini: This is not a magic show: What makes magic magic? Is there really a Magic Circle Emergency Hotline for magicians in distress? A critically acclaimed performance of and about sleight-of-hand magic, its invisible mechanics, clichés, and what it tells us about live theatre and make-believe. Vincent Gambini presents astonishing close-up magic that invites us to question how enchantment and wonder are made within a theatrical situation.
Cameron Gibson and Friends: Edinburgh magician Cameron Gibson presents a fast-paced magic and variety show that will knock your proverbial socks off. From classic sleight of hand to mind-reading and comedy, it has something for everyone. Every show features special guests from the world of magic and variety – so you never quite know what wonders await…
Richard Wiseman: Mind Magic: Enter the strange world of illusion, magic, and mystery. How do magicians produce objects from thin air and defy gravity? Does the paranormal exist? Join psychologist, best-selling author, and member of the Inner Magic Circle Professor Richard Wiseman as he explores the limits of the human mind. A fun hour for all the family.
Elliot Bibby: The Best of Bibby: After a complete sell out at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival with the Insane Magic boys, Elliot is back with a solo hour of magic. Bringing the best he has to offer from 10 years of professional shows in this comedy magic extravaganza.
Tricky Ricky: Festive Funtime: After sell-out performances last year, the Trickster returns with more festive fun and lots of his puns in a show starring Jingles the Reindeer and his mischievous rabbit Sonny the Bunny. It’s cabaret for kids and grown-ups.
Gary James: Wonderland: A fast-paced family-friendly show with jaw-dropping magic inspired by wide-eyed childhood memories and a career in entertainment. Gary captures the excitement and mystery from his childhood visits to the legendary Lothian Road store called Wonderland.
Gary Dunn: Jokes & Tricks: One of Scotland’s favourite family entertainers returns to MagicFest for another show filled with mad magic and silly jokes.
Kevin Quantum: Edinburgh Magic: Unlock hidden Edinburgh and enjoy magic that’s fooled the greatest minds associated with the city, from Harry Houdini to King Charles. Amazing moments tied to the secret stories hidden in the cobbles and closes of the capital.Objects float before your eyes, money multiplies, time stands still…
Vincent Gambini: Out of Thin Air: Stories about magicians at magic conventions, an attempt at presenting a show in which nothing happens, and magic poems about you, the spectator. Deft sleight of hand, strange poetry, and low-key spectacle.
Richard Wiseman: The World’s Greatest Card Trick and Other Mysteries: The world’s greatest card trick was invented in 1942. It has been performed by many famous magicians, amazed and astounded millions of people, and made Winston Churchill late for Parliament. In this intimate show, a small group of people join magician Professor Richard Wiseman as he reveals the unknown genius behind the trick and demonstrates other jaw dropping mysteries from the mind of this master magician.
Cameron Gibson: Street Magic Masterclass: Spend a morning with professional magician Cameron Gibson to gain hands-on experience in simple yet mind-blowing magic that you can do. You will master tricks with everyday objects that you can use to entertain and amaze your friends and family.
Close-Up Magic at The Joker & The Thief: Astonishing close-up magic at The Joker & The Thief pub with resident magician Tim Licata, one of Scotland’s most entertaining sleight-of-hand artists.
Tickets now on sale – full line up and times www.magicfest.co.uk.
Assemble a space satellite or perform a surgery: Edinburgh Science addresses the problem of pupils not choosing STEM subjects by getting them hands-on with science
Edinburgh Science is pleased to announce the return of its annual Careers Hive, a week-long free schools event with a Public Open Day on Saturday, 11 November.
Initially developed in 2016, Careers Hive inspires S1-S3 pupils to pursue a STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and maths) career through hands-on activities, discussions with STEM professionals and workshops to equip them with skills and confidence to progress in their chosen field. Careers Hive addresses the problem of young people not choosing STEM subjects by encouraging and showcasing where they will lead.
Between 6 and 10 of November at the National Museum of Scotland, Careers Hive can be accessed by pre-booked school groups only with a Public Open Day on Saturday, 11 November.
Thursday will also see the return of Teacher CLPL (Career Long Professional Learning) Session which will provide activity ideas and discussions to take back to the classroom. The session is free to attend for any educators (e.g. teachers, youth group leaders) and doesn’t require them to have attended Careers Hive itself to benefit from.
Pupils will be able to experience:
Grand Gallery Interactive Exhibition with four themed zones where they engage with STEM professional and try out different hands-on activities related to real jobs, e.g. perform a keyhole surgery, insulate a house, build a robot or assemble a model of a space satellite.
Panel Discussions in the Auditorium during which they hear from STEM professionals about their education and career stories;
Workshop in the Learning Centre where they explore how the skills and interests they are developing at school help them face the challenges in the future.
This year’s speakers include an award-winning climate activist, environmental scientist, and ethical influencer Laura Young aka Less Waste Laura who started, and continues to lead, the campaign to see single-use disposable vapes banned across Scotland and the UK;
Zoe Clark, Mission Manager within launch team for Spire Global, a space company harnessing the world’s largest constellation of 100+ multipurpose satellites collecting data to enable organisations to make smarter, better, faster decisions in a rapidly changing world impacted by climate change.
Zoe started at Spire Global through an apprenticeship programme, working alongside attending college and is very passionate about inspiring young minds to pursue a career in STEM;
Documentary director, tv presenter and wildlife photographer Libby Penman whose new documentary Back from the Brink, showcasing the amazing work of conservationists fighting to save wildlife across Europe, is now available on BBC iPlayer.
Laura McLister, Head of Learning at Edinburgh Science said:“Our world is facing some of its toughest challenges yet and whether it is tackling the climate emergency, harnessing the capabilities of AI or responding to global health crises, skills in STEM have never been so useful.
“However, despite so many inspiring opportunities out there many young people believe STEM subjects and jobs are not for them. Careers Hive challenges this perception head on.
“Over 2,500 young people from across Scotland will visit the National Museum of Scotland where we will help them discover what a job in STEM really entails and share the incredible opportunities that exist if they continue to study STEM topics at school.
“Aimed at inspiring the next generation of problem solvers, Careers Hive offers a unique chance for S1–S3 pupils to try hands on activities and speak directly to career professionals working in STEM industries, who will showcase some of the fascinating jobs available and inspire the young people to think about what problems they want to solve to help build a better world.”
A teacher participating in Careers Hive said: “One pupil told me as we entered the Museum ‘to be honest, I’m here for the day out of school’.
“Come the end of the visit, he was telling me which STEM careers he was interested in, and how the event changed his perceptions about STEM. It opened all the pupils’ eyes to the wider range of STEM jobs rather than just a scientist or an engineer.”
Careers Hive is supported by a range of funders.
Edinburgh Science Learning projects reach around 60,000 people every year.
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.
1:30pm – 3.30pm: Branding & Vision Board Workshop
Find out more and book your place at:
A selection of traditional Ukrainian art workshops for both children and adults
