After 12pm, Talks & lectures

Award-winning traditional African acrobats from Ghana, West Africa. A breathtaking performance, not to be missed. A family friendly event (i.e. suitable for all ages).

The amiable bushcraft expert shares stories from his three decades roughing it in the bush.

Matthew Dalziel and Louise Scullion, proprietors of the Dundee-based art studio Dalziel + Scullion, talk about creativity's role in challenging, reflecting and shaping the future. They focus on the interplay between human activity and nature's complexities and the possibility for a more meaningful kinship with the…

Graphic design as an extreme sport. Andie Airfix talks about the challenges working with music’s ‘megastars’ including Metallica, Thompson Twins, Stones, Doa, Leppard, Zeppelin and more. Talk dates: May 10/11; (Def Leppard). 17/18; (Metallica). 12/19/24; (Music design; Early Days). 8/15/22/25; (Music design; Latter Days).

Presenter of the Today Programme for almost 20 years, James Naughtie talks about his career in political journalism and touches on his passion for music, giving an insight into his interesting life.

‘Idlers of the Enlightenment’: A Symposium with Idler editor Tom Hodgkinson, QI’s Director of Information John Mitchinson, and writer Mark Vernon. Learn about the lesser-known works and hitherto concealed philosophy of ‘idlerism’ as espoused by philosophers and writers such as Rousseau and Dr Johnson – diminishing any…

A look at the work of Janet Henderson, who helped to establish the organic, local sourcing and healthy eating scene here in Scotland, and a glance at the future of food culture in the country. Booking is essential.

A series of free talks taking place on Wednesday lunchtimes in various Aberdeen museums. Booking essential for talks at the Maritime Museum.

As the Lions head off to tour Australia, former Scotland internationals John Beattie and Peter Wright talk about life on the rugby team. David Barnes, author of Behind the Lions: Playing Rugby for the British and Irish Lions, also gets in on the conversation.

A free, hour-long peek backstage at the inner workings, characters, scenes and high points of The Pirates of Penzance.

Learn more about a specific component of Glasgow Museums' vast collection from an expert on the subject. Booking is essential.

Broadcaster and storyteller Morton shares everything he knows about the delicious golden liquid, from its history to secrets from its makers to songs and stories inspired by it. As it will be impossible to listen to these tales without having a few drams yourself, three single malt whiskies will be tasted.

Writer, perfume expert and jogger Alex Musgrave talks about his life in poetry and scent (he's Business Manager of Penhaligon's), with a chance to smell the perfumes he mentions. Ages 16+. Booking is essential.

Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the death of poet, artist and naturalist Alexander Wilson.

Artist Ilana Halperin talks to Bryony Bond about her current exhibition, The Library, as the pair lead a tour of the works.

Regular talks on museum staff's favourite objects from the collection.

Composer Tod Machover, conductor Peter Oundjian and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra take us through the creation of a new piece of music celebrating the City of Edinburgh and its Festival and co-created by members of the public.

Author, composer and founder of the European College of Hypnotherapy, Dr. Keith Hearne conducted the world's first sleep-laboratory into 'Lucid' dreaming at Liverpool University. Here he reveals his discoveries, and what these findings tell us about dreams, the unconsciousness, and how to induce our own lucid…

In the face of today’s ongoing technological revolution, author and journalist Ben Hammersley examines how we must consider today what we do not know for tomorrow. Chaired by journalist Robert Dawson Scott. Speech-to-Text Reported event.

How much have our attitudes to abortion moved on in the last century, and what is literature's role in the debate? We hear from two novelists who address this subject in their work. Kate Manning is the author of My Notorious Life by Madame X, a novel based on the true story of an infamous midwife in New York at the…