ABERDEEN hosts its first feis in almost a decade when organisers re-establish the city’s Gaelic festival of learning from February 11 to 13. Open to children and young people aged between three years and eighteen years, the feis will offer tuition in music, song, drama and traditional dancing, ranging from songs, games and taster music sessions for 3-5 year olds to instrumental and step-dancing classes for 8 to 18 year olds. The event, held at Cults Academy, is open to all children and young adults, irrespective of their musical ability and familiarity with Gaelic, and will provide an opportunity to engage with the language in a relaxed setting.
feisean.org
A GROUP of tenants from Port of Leith Housing Association’s (PoLHA) sheltered housing units have come together to create a new book of personal stories from their working lives.
Women at Work: Stories and Memories from the Women of Leith shares stories from eleven women, most of whom have worked and lived in Leith for most of their lives. The book has been created in partnership with Edinburgh Art Festival and Citadel Arts Group and designed by graphic designer Rumana Sayed.
It was inspired by the women’s trip to Turner Prize-nominated artist Ciara Phillips’ Every Woman artwork for Dazzle Ship Scotland in Leith which was co-commissioned by Edinburgh Art Festival and 14-18 NOW: WW1 Centenary Commissions.
polha.co.uk
AMAZON UK has announced The Kindle Storyteller Award, a new literary prize recognising newly published work. The prize is open to all authors who publish their book through Kindle Direct Publishing on Amazon.co.uk between February 20 and May 19 this year.
Readers will play a role in the competition with the award shortlist compiled based on a number of factors that measure customer interest in the titles. A panel of judge will then select the Kindle Storyteller 2017 winner. The winning author will be rewarded with a cash prize of £20,000 and a marketing campaign to support the book on Amazon.co.uk, as well as the opportunity to have their book translated for international sales.
amazon.co.uk/storyteller
THE ANNUAL Spring Fling in Dumfries and Galloway has unveiled the range of 93 artists, makers and designers selected for one of Scotland’s leading open studios event in 2017.
The 15th annual Spring Fling takes place across Dumfries and Galloway from May 27-29 and will include 15 new participants as well as regular exhibitors such as the Langholm-based landscape painter Julie Dumbarton and watercolour artist Hazel Campbell from near Castle Douglas.
Visitors will be able to see jewellery, ceramics, sculpture, paintings, photography, original prints, metalwork, glass, textiles, furniture and more.
In addition to those based in the area there will be seven guests from Cumbria, the Scottish Borders, Ayrshire and Northern Ireland who are taking part through Spring Fling’s Neighbours Scheme.
spring-fling.co.uk
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