Arcadia Scotland

Art and Culture

BP Portrait Award 2013: Throughout the Beginning of January, Aberdeen Art Gallery

Contemporary portrait paintings created by entrants in the 34th year of the competition. The most prestigious painting competition in the world offers a first price of £30,000 and is aimed at encouraging artists to focus and develop portraiture in their work.

Cinderella: 2-5 January, His Majesty's Theatre, Times Vary

It's not Christmas without a man dressed as a dame, a girl dressed as a boy, an evil baddy with a mustache and a cow. Yes, it's panto season and this one stars Elaine C Smith as the Fairy Godmother.

Politics with a Punch--Modern Satirical Cartoons: Throughout the Beginning of January, Aberdeen Art Gallery

Display of satirical cartoons by Ralph Steadman, David Low, Martin Rowson and Steve Bell with topics ranging from Thatcher to Hitler.

Music, Comedy and Dance

Johann Strauss Gala: A Viennese Party: 10 January, Music Hall, 7.30pm

Rainer Hersch conducts an evening of Straussian music and dance, with waltzes and polkas galore.

Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Paris Masterworks: 11 January, Music Hall, 7.30pm

A concert of music from, or inspired by, Paris, with Mozart's Symphony No 32 and Concerto for Flute and Harp K299, featuring Alison Mitchell and Sivan Magen; Debussy's Danses Sacrée et Profane for harp and string quintet; and Bizet's Symphony in C. Joseph Swensen conducts.

Lectures, Sports and Local Festivals

Julie Davidson: Looking for Mrs Livingstone: 6 January, Macrobert, 7.30pm

Award-winning journalist Julie Davidson talks about her research into the footsteps of explorer and missionary Mary Livingstone. Booking is essential.

Stuart McBride: 15 January, The Lemon Tree, 7pm

The author of the DS Logan McRae series launches his latest novel of grisly murders and police investigations set in an overtly grey Aberdeen.