UPCOMING EVENTS

All events can be booked on the Members Page


28th MARCH, 2023

Visit to the Great Tapestry of Scotland, Galashiels

The Great Tapestry of Scotland is where the people’s story of Scotland begins. The tapestry, hand-stitched by 1,000 people from across Scotland, tells a compelling account of Scotland’s history, heritage and culture through 160 panels, from the country’s land formation millions of years ago, to the present day.

PLEASE NOTE: There will no longer be an official visit to the Great Tapestry of Scotland, housed in Galashiels, as the gallery cannot offer us a guided visit, only a ten minute introductory talk, which is offered to all visitors. The tapestry is best viewed in small numbers.
Should members like to visit on the morning of Tuesday, 28th March, Jane Drysdale, from the committee, will be there for a few hours.
Both train and car take approximately an hour from Edinburgh. Trains depart hourly to Galashiels and there is a walk of 5 minutes from the station to the exhibition.  A variety of ticket types are available, including an Adult ticket @ £10.50. There is a café in the gallery and a number of cafes in the vicinity. The centre is fully accessible and there is a lift to the first floor, where the tapestry is displayed.             .
If you intend going on that day, email Jane: visits1@edfas.co.uk


17 APRIL 2023

2pm

St Mary`s Cathedral Song School, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh EH12 5AW

Prof. Elizabeth Cumming is a historian of Scottish art & design & was the first curator of the present City Arts Centre. She will share her extensive knowledge of the work of Phoebe Anna Traquair, a remarkable figure in the Arts & Crafts movement.


Stirling & Forth Valley Arts Society trip, 26 April, 2023

DOVECOT STUDIOS and SURGEONS’ HALL MUSEUM – 26 APRIL 2023

Our spring 2023 visit is a full day filled with pattern and colour at Dovecot Studios and the most historic pathology collections in the UK at Surgeons’ Hall Museum in Edinburgh.
At the Dovecot Studios we will have a guided tour of the exhibition “Kaffe Fassett the Power of Pattern” followed by a tour of the Tapestry Studio.
Kaffe Fassett is one of the most successful artists and designers working in contemporary craft today. His career spans over 50 years with a prolific oeuvre that encompasses knitting, needlepoint, mosaic, quilting, textile design, painting and drawing. His books and projects have encouraged millions to make and to create, with his designs being used and interpreted by quilters around the globe.
The exhibition explores Fassett’s world, drawing on original artworks from invited international makers as well as Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably, textiles works, photographs and archival material to illuminate the work of this distinctive, influential artist and designer.
After lunch we will walk the short distance to Surgeons’ Hall Museum. The museum is one of Scotland’s oldest. It was opened in 1832, uncovering centuries of surgical development with a re-constructed anatomy theatre as a centrepiece. During the guided tour we will be told the true story of Burke and Hare.

Itinerary:
9.00am Coach available at Forthside, Stirling (next to Gabe’s Café by the Vue cinema)
9.15 Depart for Edinburgh
10.30 Coffee / tea & biscuits on arrival
We will be split in two groups for the tour of the Kaffe Fassett exhibition
12.30 Talk on the Tapestry Studio
1.15 Lunch of soup and sandwiches
2.15 Walk to the Surgeons’ Hall Museum and divide into two groups. While the first group is on
“History of Surgery” guided tour the other group can explore the galleries
4.30pm Return to Stirling, arriving before 6pm

TO BOOK, PLEASE FILL OUT THE BOOKING FORM ON OUR MEMBERS PAGE


18TH JULY, 2023

Visit to Drummond Castle & Gardens, and Monzie Castle, Crieff

The coach will leave from outside Saltire Court, Castle Terrace, at 8.30am sharp and we expect to return by approx. 5.30/6.00pm.

Drummond Castle and Gardens are situated 2 miles south of Crieff in West Perthshire. The estate is in the ownership of the Willoughby family, direct descendants of the Drummond family. Members will be able to walk round Drummond Castle Gardens at their leisure. The gardens were established in the 19th century, based on the heraldic features of the Willoughby and Drummond families. Of particular interest at the centre of the garden is the John Mylne obelisk sundial, erected in 1630, with faces showing the time in different capitals of the World.

We will then drive to Crieff Golf Club, where a light lunch (included in the price) will be taken.

After lunch we will travel 3 miles to Monzie Castle, owned by the Crichton family since 1856.

The oldest part of castle was built by James Graham in 1634 and then passed to the Campbell family, one of whom, Alexander Campbell, was in charge of the disastrous Darien expedition. A later Campbell, who was more successful in the West Indies, commissioned John Paterson, previously clerk of works to Robert Adam, to enlarge the castle with completion in 1795. In 1908 Monzie was seriously damaged by fire and Sir Robert Lorimer was instructed to rebuild the house on the insurance proceeds. The building as you see it is particularly noteworthy since Lorimer supervised the furnishings from top to bottom, with important furniture still in situ by Whytock & Reid of Edinburgh.

Tickets, priced at £65 per head, include travel, coffee on arrival at Drummond Castle, all entrance fees, guided tours, lunch and tea at Monzie Castle.

Please note that a certain amount of walking will be required around the gardens and the approach to Monzie Castle, so stout shoes are needed.


SEPTEMBER

Society Tour

Spring tour to Northern Ireland tbc

Visiting historic houses & other places of interest

Led by Charles Guest