Talks & lectures

Taking over the West End of Glasgow each year, the festival treats the ears to a great musical line-up, tantalises all the senses with a carnival and delves into the creative depths of local studios and exhibitions with the Hidden Lane Festival.

Improve your French conversation in a small group with an experienced tutor.

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).

Fiona Bruce and the BBC's team of experts descend on Scone Palace for this valuation day. Take along your heirlooms and car boot discoveries to see if you have a dusty treasure on your hands.

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…

An age-free arts festival with music, literature and spoken word, visual art and crafts, film and theatre as well as a programme of talks and debates. 2013 promises intimate venues, rising stars, unique collaborations, participation and mental stimulation.

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.

An illustrated talk by George Dalgleish, Keeper of Scottish History & Archaeology, on the work and lives of some of Scotland's historic goldsmiths from the 16th century to the present.

‘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.

The vibrant community of Leith shows off its festival skills with a fun-packed programme of events. Among the line-up of exhibitions, concerts, walks, talks and films is the anticipated Leith Festival Gala Day on Leith Links.

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.

Tom Murray, the Purse Bearer to the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, explains his complex role.

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.

A full day of discussions and performances based on the Sunday papers, with commentators, musicians, actors and poets bringing to life the day's news, section by section. Dress code? Smoking jackets and Sunday best, of course.