Arcadia Scotland

Art and Culture

Bruce Munro: Field of Light: Throughout the end of February, St Andrews Square

Installation artist Bruce Munro sets up 9500 glass spheres and then turns on the lights to make us all ohh and ahh.

Louise Bourgeois: A Woman Without Secrets:  Throughout the End of February, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art 1

Louise Bourgeois (1911–2010) was one of the great artists of the 20th century, who drew on her own private demons and made them into works of art. This major exhibition focuses on her sculptural work, including pieces such as Spiral Woman, Avenza and Cell (Eyes and Mirrors). It complements the Fruitmarket Gallery's exhibition of Bourgeois' drawings, which is running at the same time.

The Scottish Colourists Series: JD Fergusson: Throughout the End of February, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Two

John Duncan Fergusson was the most ebullient of the Scottish Colorists. He was the one most eager to absorb developments in French art, and his lifelong interest in the human form helped rekindle his artistic career when the dancer and choreographer Margaret Morris became his partner; she and her dance schools inspired some of Fergusson's most gorgeous images. This major retrospective of his work features more than 100 paintings, sculptures, works on paper and archive items.

Citizen Curator: Throughout the End of February, City Art Centre

A visual celebration of Leith and its heritage, featuring works chosen by local people and created by them.

Edward Lear in Greece: Throughout the End of February, Scottish National Gallery

Edward Lear, pioneer of Victorian nonsense, was a highly talented artist and a lifelong traveler who published many illustrated journals of his own trips to mainland Europe. This exhibition reflects his special love for the rocky and spectacular landscape of Greece, with watercolor images of Athens, Mount Atlas, Corfu, Sparta, Zante, Ithaca and Marathon painted between 1848 and 1864, recently restored and on show as a group for the first time.

Harry Papadopoulos: The Edit: Throughout the End of February, Summerhall

Photography by legendary photographer of the Scottish post-punk scene, featuring Orange Juice, Claire Grogan, the Dreamboys (with a very young Peter Capaldi) and others.

High Spirits: The Comic Art of Thomas Rowlandson: Throughout the End of February, The Queen's Gallery

Thomas Rowlandson was one of the leading caricaturists of the Georgian period, and if his work is more mellow and less pointed than that of his ferocious contemporary James Gillray, it's still no less capable of pointing up folly, gluttony and excess. Rowlandson was also a skilled artist in a realistic vein, and this exhibition uses his work to look at life in early 19th century England.

Imagining Power: The Visual Culture of the Jacobite Cause: Throughout the End of February, The Scottish National Portrait Gallery

An exhibition looking at the way the Jacobite's presented themselves in portraiture.

Mammoths of the Ice Age: Throughout the End of February, National Museum of Scotland

Ever wanted to see a woolly mammoth? This interactive touring exhibition (from The Field Museum, Chicago) allows you to feel mammoth fur, have a close look at their tusks and meet Lyuba, a detailed replica of a 42,000 year old baby mammoth.

Calton Hill: Journeys and Evocations Exhibition: Throughout the End of February, Scottish Storytelling Centre

An exhibition based around Donald Smith and Stuart McHardy’s book that examines the images and tales of Calton Hill. With support from the Culture Programme of the European Union.

Music, Comedy and Dance

Dan McKinnon: 19 February, Edinburgh Folk Club, 7.30pm

Canadian singer, guitarist and songwriter playing traditional music from the North Atlantic.

Fairport Convention: 20 February, The Queen's Hall, 6.30pm

Veteran folk group whose current line-up features founding member Simon Nicol with Gerry Conway, Chris Leslie, Dave Pegg and Ric Sanders.

Scottish Opera: Don Pasquale: 18, 20, 22 February, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 7.15pm

Donizetti's 1842 Don Pasquale, a romantic comedy in which the titular elderly bachelor decides to marry late in life chiefly in order to annoy his hotheaded nephew, has been a favourite in the repertoire for nearly two centuries. Renaud Doucet's production transfers the action to 1960s Rome and features Swiss bass-baritone Bruno Praticò as the Don himself, Nicholas Lester as the benevolent schemer Malatesta, Colin Lee as Ernesto and Ruth Jenkins as Norina.

Edinburgh Contemporary Music Ensemble: 22 February, Reid Concert Hall, 7.30pm

Edinburgh Contemporary Music Ensemble was founded in 2006 and specialises in playing new works by living composers.

The James Brothers: 25 February, Leith Folk Club, 7.30pm

The James Brothers aren't actually brothers and only one of them is called James: James Fagan is an Australian singer/guitarist/bouzoukist (as well as life/musical partner of ace fiddler Nancy Kerr), while Jamie McClennan is a Kiwi singer/fiddler/guitarist, but they do share a common love of folk, bluegrass, blues and bad jokes.

Richard Craig: 25 February, Reid Concert Hall, 1.10pm

Scots-born international virtuoso flute and piccolo soloist performing new works.

Lectures, Sports and Local Festivals

Ruth Ewan: Observers' Walks: Throughout the End of February, Calton Hill

Ruth Ewan and Astrid Johnston have created a downloadable audio guide to the history, geography and geology of Calton Hill and its environs, which you can get from the Collective Gallery website as an MP3 file and listen to as you explore the hill. Tam Dean Burn and Ruth Milne are the narrators. Bring stout footwear and suitable clothing for outdoors.

Colour, Rhythm & Dance: JD Fergusson and France: 17 February, Scottish National Gallery, 12.45pm

Art historian Elizabeth Cumming discusses the influence of France and French culture on the paintings of JD Fergusson.

Prof Alison McCleery: The Falkland Islands--Fact, Fantasy and the Future: 19 February, Appleton Tower, 2.15pm

Prof McCleery lays bare the facts about the Falklands.

Public Astronomy Evening: 21 and 28 February, Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, 6.30pm

Hear about the history of the Observatory, journey through the solar system, observe the skies (weather permitting) and touch a real piece of outer space. Booking is essential.