Cultural Events and Temporary Exhibitions in Aberdeen, Scotland + Beauty Event!

 Are you in Aberdeen, Scotland, and are wondering what cultural events are on at the moment? Do you think there isn’t much on? Well, think again, because here is a long list of cultural events and temporary exhibitions that are happening in Aberdeen this autumn.

The forms of art are inexhaustible; but all lead by the same road of aesthetic emotion to the same world of aesthetic ecstasy. (Clive Bell)

ABERDEEN ART FAIR

• When: 7^th – 9^th September 2018
• Where: Beach Ballroom, Beach Promenade, Aberdeen, AB24 5NR
• Booking required. £ Ticket prices vary

Visitors will see a range of original and contemporary art that is available to purchase from various artists and galleries. Prices vary between £50 and £30,000, allowing the art lover to buy cheaper works as well. There will be paintings, sculptures, contemporary art glass and designer furniture. For more info see here.

TECHFEST:Behind the Scenes of Scotland’s Early Silver: From Conservation to Display

• When: Wednesday 12th September 2018, 6.30pm
• Where: Sir Ian Wood Building, Robert Gordon University, Garthdee Campus, AB10 7GJ
• Booking required. £

This is only one of the events that caught my eye from the Techfest Festival. This festival is Aberdeen’s and North East Scotland’s Festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. For all the events that take place during this festival between 25th August and 22nd of September check the program here.

          This particular event about Scotland’s Early Silver is about the temporary exhibition that opened at National Museums Scotland (NMS) in Edinburgh in 2017. The presentation will be given by the conservator of the exhibition, Stefka Bargazova. This will be a unique opportunity for the ones interested in curatorship, conservation and about the entire process of an exhibition from conservation to display. Check more about it here.

NEOS 2018

• When: 8^th – 16^th September 2018
• Where: various locations (see map)
• Booking not required but please check availability

NEOS stands for North East Open Studios and is one of UK’s largest open studios events. Artists from North East Scotland will open the doors of their studios for visitors, in order to shed light on the creative process that involves the making of art. This is an amazing opportunity for the art enthusiast to see and learn more about an artist’s work and to see different sketches and works of art. Here is a map with all the studios available to be visited. For more details, please check the official website or the event booklet. Also, it is mentioned to check the  open studios before visiting as artists have varying opening hours.

EXPLORATHON ’18

• When: Friday 28th and Saturday 29th September
• Where: various locations at different times
• For some events booking is required. £ (some are free)

Explorathon is a series of events happening across Scotland (including Aberdeen) that have the general title of ‘Meet the Researcher’. It is part of a program called European Researcher’s Night and its events are held in collaboration with several universities.

                Some of the events include Scotland in Europe: Aberdeen and the Continental Revolution in Scottish Art, talk by prof. John Morrisons from University of Aberdeen, Pechakucha Aberdeen, a series of visual talks, each lasting about six minutes about creative projects happening in Aberdeen, as well as other events about medical research. For the event catalogue and details regarding booking, please see here and for the official website here.

The Grand Tour Part 1: The Eternal City

• When: 7^th April – 30^th September 2018 (however dates vary on different website so double check  before going)
• Where: Blairs Museum, South Deeside Road, Aberdeen, AB12 5YQ
• Ticket prices vary.

Exhibition that shows a rare collection of 18th century prints from Giovanni Battista Piranesi, renowned architect and artist. For more details, please see here.

LUNCHTIME TALKS

• When: Wednesdays, 12:30 – 1pm (29th August – 12th December 2018)
• Where: Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Shiprow, AB11 5BY
• No booking required. Free

They are free weekly talks covering a variety of interesting topics, from marine ecosystems to history and art. At the end of the talks there is usually a section left for Questions from the audience. To check the specific talks and their description, please check here.

THE NORTH BOATS

• When: 1^st September – 30^th of November 2018
• Where: Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Shiprow, AB11 5BY
• No booking required. Free

This a display of NESCol students’ artworks inspired by the museum’s collection of North Boats. For more information, please check here.

BEHIND THE SCENE TOURS

• When: Every Wednesday, 11am and 2pm
• Where: Aberdeen Treasure Hub, Granitehill Rd, Aberdeen AB16 7AX
• Booking required. Free

If you are an art lover and are sad about the Art Gallery being closed, you can book a tour at the Aberdeen Treasure Hub for a look inside the museum centre which will house Aberdeen’s collections of art, science, maritime history, sculptures and many others. For more details see here.

LOOK INSIDE COLLECTIVE

• When: 25^th October 2018, 2pm – 4.30 pm
• Where: Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Shiprow, AB11 5BY
• Booking is required. ££

This is a mixed media workshop that uses the collection of the Museum for inspiration. The Look Inside collectives of designers will lead the participants to create collages and other creative processes. For more information see here.

VIEW FROM THE DECK: SUE JANE TAYLOR

• When: on display until 28^th October 2018
• Where: Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Shiprow, AB11 5BY
• No booking required. Free

Nothing screams more like Aberdeen than an exhibition inspired by oil workers, oil rigs and equipment. Artist Sue Jane Taylor has visited several oil rigs over the years and has taken inspiration from the life of workers there as well as from the equipment and the machinery. The exhibition has previously been at Sir Duncan Rice Library so double check of its location in the Maritime Museum. For more information check here.

Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought. (Y. Harburg)

Exhibition: NIMITAAU Let’s Dance – Fiddle Dancing Through Scots and Eeyou Cultures

• When: 11^th July – 30^th September 2018
• Where: The Sir Duncan Ryce Library, 75 Bedford Rd, Aberdeen AB24 3UE
• No booking required, free.

The Gallery space of the Sir Duncan Ryce Library within the campus of University of Aberdeen regularly organizes temporary exhibitions. This time, the exhibition is about music, more specific, about the fiddle dancing tradition of the indigenous people of Northern Quebec and their links to Scottish culture. For more information, see here.

LUNCHBREAK CONCERTS 2018/19

• When: Thursdays – 12.45-1.30pm
• Where: Aberdeen Citadel, 28 Castle Street, Aberdeen AB11 5BG
• No booking required. Free

Every Thursday at 12.45 pm, Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums hold a Lunchbreak concert at the Aberdeen Citadel. It lasts for 45 minutes but there is an introductory talk before some of the concerts twenty minutes before, at 12 noon.

          The concerts are free of charge, and they encompass a wide range of talent and musical genres. There will be music by Mozart, Vivaldi, including thus, the classical, but it will also promote contemporary music. Compositions from North East Scotland as well as the Highlands and Islands will also be present. Find out the specific concerts here.

SOUND FESTIVAL: Promenade Concert

• When: 27^th October 2018
• Where: Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Shiprow, AB11 5BY
• No booking required. Free.

Family friendly promenade concert with three short music performances. For more info see here.

It is important for all of us to appreciate where we come from and how that history has really shaped us in ways that we might not understand. (Sonia Sotomayor)

OUR ABERDEEN

• When: Mondays, 2 – 3.30 pm (3^rd September – 8^th October 2018)
• Where: Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Shiprow, AB11 5BY
• Booking Required

These talks include various topics relevant to the history and community of Aberdeen. The talks are based on the analysis and viewings of different exhibits from the Museum. For details on each talk and more information, please see here.

Aberdeen City Centre Walking Tours by Scot Free Tours

• When: various times and dates
• Where: Mercat Cross, Castlegate, Aberdeen, AB11 5BB
• Walk-ups welcomed but you can also book to be sure. Free

If you want to learn more about Aberdeen then these guided tours will take you to the highlights of the city centre as well as exploring the city’s social history. For the official website please see here.

Clothes is just something you put on to cover yourself… fashion is a way to communicate. (Dries van Noten)

And because this blog is also about beauty, here is a bonus: No1 Magazine organizes a fashion and beauty event in Aberdeen!

No.1 is coming to Aberdeen

• When: 20th September 2018, 6.30 pm to 9 pm
• Where: Mercure Aberdeen Ardoe House Hotel and Spa, South Deeside Road, Blairs, Aberdeen AB12 5YP
• Booking Required. ££

No.1 Magazine is a Scottish beauty and lifestyle magazine.  During this event, fashion trends will be revealed by Stylist Kirsty Irvine from Debenhams and Benefit cosmetics will also be there for tips and tricks about makeup. There is a goody bag worth £50 as well as a subscription of three No1 Magazine issues. For more information and tickets, please see here.

                                                                                      

Useful Websites for finding out about more Events:

https://aberdeenfestivals.com/whats-on

https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/

http://www.aagm.co.uk/WhatsOn/whats-on.aspx

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/special-collections/events/index.php

https://www.visitabdn.com/whats-on/

https://www.blairsmuseum.com/

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/museums/exhibitions/