17 Things To Do in Scotland this February
We made this selection of the most interesting events and exhibitions to pencil in your calendar! The locations are varied throughout Scotland which makes for a great excuse to go out and explore new places and seek inspiration.
EVENTS
SEEDS OF THOUGHT DRAWING SESSION
11 February 2020
2pm - 3.15pm, Free
Seeds of Thought drawing sessions are relaxed, informal and open to all - beginners and experienced alike. Facilitated by artist/graphic designer Tarneem Al Mousawi, this is an opportunity to take a break from your day to sketch, doodle, discuss and get some new ideas and inspiration for your drawing.
Just bring yourself, a sketchbook and pencil!
LOCATION: CCA, Glasgow G2 3JD
PUBLICATION STUDIO EQUIPMENT INDUCTION
20 February 2020
11am - 12noon, £4 + £1 booking fee
A book-binding induction at Publication Studio Glasgow, CCA. You do not need to bring anything along on the day, all materials will be provided (for induction only), but it might help if you have a publishing project in mind to discuss with us on the day.
After this one hour induction you will be able to use Publication Studio on your own for your own publishing projects.
LOCATION: CCA, Glasgow G2 3JD
GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL 2020
26 February - 8 March
£11.50 / £9.30 concessions / £6.50 children
Glasgow Film Festival is one of the leading UK film festivals. GFF programme regularly features: new local and international film from all genres; mainstream crowd-pleasers to groundbreaking art-house experimentation; the return of well-loved classics alongside rare cult gems; with filmmaker guest appearances, interactive workshops and discussion panels to complete the mix!
Click here to read the full programme and buy tickets
LOCATION: Multiple Venues across Glasgow (see on map)
THE LIGHTHOUSE BUILDING TOUR
Every Saturday 1.00pm
£5 (£3 concessions) and are on a first come first served basis
Each tour lasts around 40 minutes and is a great opportunity to learn about The Lighthouse building, but also about the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the city he was born in.
LOCATION: Glasgow G1 3NU
COOLEST WALK ON EARTH
Sun 23 Feb 2020
10am - 1pm
Join an expert geologist and a Ranger on a guided walk to discover how the landscape of Holyrood Park has been shaped and sculpted by ice through the ages.
Explore areas of the park to learn how to identify distinctive land features left by glaciers.
LOCATION: Edinburgh EH8 8HG
KELVIN HALL VOLUNTEER-LED TOURS
Tue & Thu at 11am
Sat & Sun at 1.30pm
Free and no booking required.
Join our volunteer tour guides for a free 45-minute tour of Kelvin Hall and take a peek behind the scenes in Glasgow Museums' store.
LOCATION: Glasgow G3 8AW
STANDING STONES OF STENNESS WALK
Wed 12/02 | Wed 19/02 | Wed 26/02
Join the Orkney Ranger Service for a free guided tour of our oldest stone circle, and explore the fascinating links with the nearby Neolithic village of Barnhouse.
LOCATION: Stromness KW16 3JZ
SCOTTISH SNOWDROP FESTIVAL 2020
25 January – 11 March 2020
Entry to some gardens is free
Organised by Discover Scottish Gardens, many of the gardens are open especially for the festival, which in 2020 runs from 25 January – 11 March. Entry to some gardens is free, though some do charge a small fee or encourage visitors to leave a donation.
FREE PRINTABLE EVENT CALENDAR!
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EXHIBITIONS
MARY CAMERON: LIFE IN PAINT
2 November 2019 – 15 March 2020
Free Admission
An exhibition celebrating the life and career of pioneering Edinburgh-born artist Mary Cameron (1865-1921).
Mary Cameron: Life in Paint places this forgotten artist back in the spotlight. It explores the fascinating story of Cameron’s life and career, charting her creative journey from elegant family portraits to breathtaking Spanish scenes. The exhibition features over forty rarely-seen artworks from public and private collections, complemented by historic photographs and archival material.
LOCATION: City Art Centre, Edinburgh EH1 1DE
CLASSICAL EDINBURGH
9 Nov 2019 - 8 Mar 2020
Free
This exhibition is a celebration of Edinburgh’s neo-classical architecture, as seen through the eyes of two architectural photographers, working half a century apart. Edwin Smith (1912-72), once described as “a genius at photography” provided the photographs for The Making of Classical Edinburgh by A J Youngson, published in 1966. The exhibition will be a homage to Smith’s photography, and a reflection on the changes in Edinburgh’s townscape over the last 50 years.
LOCATION: City Art Centre, Edinburgh EH1 1DE
MONET’S SEASCAPE MASTERPIECE
31 January- 22 March 2020
10am - 4pm, last entry is at 3.15pm
This is an early work by Monet, painted with an unusual combination of palette knife and brush. He commented later on his admiration for moonlight scenes but also on the difficulties involved in painting nature at night.
LOCATION: Banff AB45 3SX
JOCK MCFADYEN GOES TO THE PICTURES
14 November 2020 - 7 March 2021
Free Admission
This major exhibition by artist Jock McFadyen displays his urban and rural landscapes, as well as figurative paintings, alongside works from the City Art Centre’s collection of historic and contemporary Scottish art. The show will include new and existing works by McFadyen as well as his selections from the City’s collection, ranging from ‘old favourites’ by renowned Scottish artists, to artworks that have rarely been seen by the public.
LOCATION: City Art Centre, Edinburgh EH1 1DE
Image Source: City Art Centre
BENEATH THE SURFACE
16 Nov 2019 - 1 Mar 2020
Admission Free
Beneath the Surface features work by nine contemporary artists based in Scotland. Each of them articulates a minimalist aesthetic through abstraction in their work, ranging from constructions, drawings and paintings to ceramics, glass and tapestry. Eschewing narrative and observed reality, the artworks have an economy of gesture in common - a limited tonal palette or a monochrome colour plane.
LOCATION: City Art Centre, Edinburgh EH1 1DE
SCOTLAND’S COASTS
29 February - 17 May 2020
Free no booking required
Scotland's coast has shaped life in Scotland for thousands of years, influencing how we work, rest and play. This exhibition, drawn from Historic Environment Scotland's archives, explores Scotland's relationship to the sea and its impact on everyday life.
LOCATION: Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0WP
THE ART OF SNOWDROPS
1 Feb - 31 March
Free Admission
Herbarium specimens allow the National Collection of Galanthus to be seen and enjoyed all year round. In 2019 we started the process of pressing and recording examples from our collection and these were scanned at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for scientific and aesthetic enjoyment. Our exhibition showcases our progress so far.
LOCATION: Cambo Gardens, Fife, KY16 8QD
ROMANTIC SCOTLAND THROUGH A LENS
1 February - 29 March 2020
10am - 4pm, last entry 3.30pm
Presenting photography from the archive, this exhibition explores life in 19th century Scotland and how its rugged ruins, fishing communities and rural life have contributed to understandings of Scottish identity and history.
LOCATION: Glasgow Cathedral, G4 0QZ
INDUSTRY AND AESTHETICS
28 January - 19 April 2020
This travelling photographic exhibition contains stunning images which form part of the National Record of the Historic Environment which is maintained by Historic Environment Scotland. They were taken as part of the ongoing mission to document the nation’s industrial places.
LOCATION: Stirling FK8 1EJ