Before 9pm, Talks & lectures

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

Record-breaking endurance cyclist, rower and adventurer Mark Beaumont discusses his incredible experiences.

A weekend of talks, demonstrations and activities that investigate our relationship to the natural world as explored through writing, in celebration of the Year of Natural Scotland. Speakers include Sir John Lister-Kaye, TC Smout, Esther Woolfson, Ian Edwards and Fi Martynoga.

A weekend course that teaches you how to use your blog as an outlet for your ideas, passions and creative pursuits by getting tips on what to put in and what to leave out, how to write online content and how to create a community around your blog. Led by Dawn Barclay.

The Living Memory Association collects memories and records them for the future. We invite you to discover Leith history through local people's stories, memories and photo's.

Prof Peter Abrahams gives this Heritage Society Festival Lecture about the original Renaissance man's career as an anatomist and his extremely detailed drawings, which came from the study of 23 corpses that the artist personally dissected. Prof Abrahams discusses how the unique concepts found in these ancient renderings…

Author Lewis Foreman offers an introduction to English music.

Professor of Zoology Edward Burt gives a talk and 3D look at the creatures that live among – and eat – feathers on living birds, as well as the ways in which birds defend themselves. Probably not for the ornithophobic.

Lionel Shriver, the Orange Prize-winning author of 'We Need to Talk About Kevin', returns to Southbank Centre to discuss her new novel 'Big Brother'. This matter-of-fact, moving and masterful novel explores the arenas of our most complex relationships - food and family. Lionel Shriver appears in association with…

Ian Stoutzker, co-founder with Yehudi Menuhin of Live Music Now, discusses the organisation’s distinctive work and Menuhin’s vision with Director of Live Music Now Scotland Carol Main.

Join poet Jo Shapcott to find out about a new London poetry project. This summer, poets connected with London boroughs are writing new poems contemplating our post-Olympic, mid-austerity, 21st-century city. Each poem is then handed over to an artist - maybe a muralist, possibly a sculptor, perhaps even someone who…

A chance to meet and hear from Marieke Stolk, Danny van den Dungen and Erwin Brinkers, the members of acclaimed Dutch design studio Experimental Jetset.

Professor of Communication, Arts and Religion Jolyon Mitchell hosts a discussion with historian, broadcaster and author Bettany Hughes and Mona Siddiqui, Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies, on the relationships between research and the media and the demands of addressing different audiences.

William Fowler, Curator of Art Film at the BFI takes us on a journey through the life and films of Brighton-based DIY film maker & animator Jeff Keen, who died in 2012. A pioneer of experimental underground film, Keen was, until recently, one of British cinema’s best kept secrets. Tickets include one delightful…

How does one develop a good habit and how long does it take? Find out at this talk, followed up by a meditation session.

Margaret Atwood discusses the hugely-anticipated final novel in her dystopian trilogy. A man-made plague has swept the earth but a small group survives, along with the green-eyed Crakers - a gentle species bio-engineered to replace humans. Told with wit, dizzying imagination and dark humour, Booker Prize-winning…

Programme includes: Martin Creed: Face to face with Bach for organ (World premiere) .: Bach: works to be announced Martin Creed is one of the UK's most well known and versatile artists. As a visual artist, he won The Turner Prize in 2001 for his piece Work No.227 - the lights going on and off, and on the morning…

The writer talks about what lessons we can take from the 1970s outbreak of Dutch elm disease when tackling the current disease outbreak among ash trees.

The football experts are coming to Kelvingrove to help assess all your personal memorabilia. Bring along programmes, signed football shirts or other sporting collectibles and find out more about its history from the panel.

View the Hayward Gallery's latest exhibition away from the crowds and enjoy a private tour. Please note, this event is free but a ticket is required - booking essential.

The prize-winning poet gives a talk about his experiences as a writing, including a look at his latest collection, A Hundred Doors.

Experience the splendid Belsay garden after hours. Reflecting the display of TV and film costumes, there will be a Regency gardener re-telling of the landscaping of Belsay and maybe passing hints and tips too.