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Make Your Own Spider – Art Workshop

This delightful FREE workshop is suitable for ages 10+. You will be guided through this process to create your own ‘Pavuk’ to take home!

At this Ukrainian ‘Pavuk’ – Straw Spider – workshop you will get to make your own traditional, geometric hanging straw ornament. Made from straw, the Pavuk is seen as a symbol of the universe, protection, and harmony, and is said to bring warmth and good fortune to the home.

 

This delightful FREE workshop is suitable for ages 10+.  But children from age 10 -11 must be accompanied by an adult, this adult is included within the same booking (no additional ticket required).

Artist led, you will be guided through this process to create your own ‘Pavuk’ to take away at the end of the workshop and hang up in your home!

Whilst available use this Eventbrite link to sign up to secure in advance your space.

A limited number of drop-in places will also be available on the day and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

This Ukrainian Straw Spider Workshop and European Communities Day has been made possible thanks to #NationalLottery players.

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Petrykivka Painting Workshop

Suitable for ages 8+ this delightful FREE workshop is open to both beginners and the more experienced.

Originating from the village of Petrykivka in Ukraine, this traditional decorative painting style is recognised by UNESCO on their listing of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Suitable for ages 8+ this delightful FREE workshop is open to both beginners and the more experienced. This workshop is being lead by Nataliia Spyrydonova, you can find out more about her on her instagram handle @tasia_s._ova, she will be guide participants step-by-step through this process so that you get to create your own colourful work of art to take home.

Do remember to wear clothing suitable for painting.

Avance places can be booked through this link: Petrykivka Painting Workshop Tickets, Saturday, May 16  •  Starts at 12:45 PM | Eventbrite On the day there will be a limited number of drop-in places available and these will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Children from age 8 -11 must be accompanied by an adult, and this adult is included within the same booking (no additional ticket required).

This Petrykivka Painting Workshop and European Communities Day has been made possible thanks to #NationalLottery players.

Motanka Doll Making Workshop

In this workshop, you will take part in a special tradition passed down through generations in Ukraine. Guided by the artist Mariia Miskova you will create your own Motanka doll to take home.

Mariia’s work is supported by the organisation Mission of Innocents, you can find out about their work and important purpose here: missionofinnocents.org

This FREE workshop is suitable for ages 10+. Children ages 10 – 11 must be accompanied by an adult, and this adult is included within the same booking (no additional ticket required).

Whilst available sign up in advance to secure your free space using this Eventbrite link.

A limited number of drop-in places will also be available on the day and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

This Motanka Doll Workshop is part of European Communities Day, and both are made possible thanks to #NationalLottery players.

 

 

Exhibition – Bulgarian Kukeri Dancing in Scotland

Kukeri is a centuries-old Bulgarian tradition intended to dance away the evil spirits and welcome the arrival of spring.  

You are warmly invited to view this free exhibition, a display of wonderful masks and drawings by children from the First Bulgarian School Nadejda Stancioff – Lady Muir Edinburgh – all inspired by Kukeri Dancing a vital part of Bulgaria’s global intangible cultural heritage. 

This exhibition will be open over the festival period, having initially opened on March 30th. It is an initiative and production of the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland in partnership with Bulgarian Cultural and Educational Centre Scotland and Two Destination Language. Free and open to all (no booking required): daily Mon-Sat 10am-5pm with late nights until 8pm Mon-Wed until 21 May 2026 at the Edinburgh Central Library (Grand Stairway) 7-9 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EG.

 

European Communities Day

Everyone is welcome to this vibrant FREE event celebrating community, culture, and creativity! Enjoy a day of hands-on art workshops, craft demonstrations, and lively family ceilidh dancing and the opportunities to connect with and learn about the work of Scottish based organisations supporting European communities in different ways.

Taking place at Out of the Blue Drill Hall, in Leith, this special event brings together Edinburgh’s diverse European communities while strengthening connections with the Scottish communities that they now call home. It’s a chance to share experiences, build relationships, and together celebrate the rich diversity of European cultures.

Find out more and book your free place in advance for family ceilidh dancing and art activities via the links below. Some spaces will be available on the day.

CeilidhKids Workshop Tickets, Saturday, May 16  •  Starts at 2 PM | Eventbrite

Paper Art Garden Workshop Tickets, Saturday, May 16  •  Starts at 11 AM | Eventbrite

Motanka Doll Workshop Tickets, Saturday, May 16  •  Starts at 11 AM | Eventbrite

Petrykivka Painting Workshop Tickets, Saturday, May 16  •  Starts at 12:45 PM | Eventbrite

Make your own Straw Spider Mobile Workshop Tickets, Saturday, May 16  •  Starts at 2:30 PM | Eventbrite

Drop by anytime between 11am – 4pm, and be part of a joyful, creative, and welcoming day.

This event has been made possible thanks to #NationalLottery players and the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh.

          

 

Free, drop-in – Connecting Europe Fair

Drop by anytime between 10am – 4.30pm to this FREE event. A variety of stallholders will be on hand to provide information and answer questions on the opportunities they offer to young people (aged 16 – 35) to travel, study and work in Europe.  All those attending can enter a free draw to win a pair of InterRail passes; and why not take a photo to celebrate Europe Day in our free photo booth – with prizes for the three best photos taken on the day!

 

SORRY SOLD OUT – Russia’s campaign against Europe: hybrid war, disinformation, influence

Features talks from leading experts from Poland and Germany on this topic, along with a panel discussion led by leading journalist Allan Little, who has had widespread experience and knowledge of Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe. He has won many awards for his work as a journalist. The event will look at the scale of the campaign, and how Europe can respond.  Experts on panel include:

– Aleksandra Kozioł, European Security Analyst at the Polish Institute for International Relations, Warsaw. She works on European security, with a focus on EU security policy as well as Russian domestic and foreign policy  

– Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security in the Department of Political Science and International Studies, Birmingham University. He specialises in the management of contemporary security challenges. 

Sorry this event is sold out. However, if there are returns they will be available at the event registration table, from half an hour before the event begins today. For more details visit this Eventbrite link. 

This event is supported by both the Consulate-General of the Republic of Poland, the Consulate-General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Edinburgh, and the Institut français d’Ecosse.