If the long autumn nights get you down then East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture (EDLC) Trust’s Feel Good fortnight programme of events could be the thing to give you a boost.
The Feel Good Book & Arts Festival has gone from strength-to-strength since it was launched in 2015 and it returns for 2017 with a wide range of exciting activities.
Sandy Marshall, Chair of EDLC Trust, said, “Research has shown that creativity in any form, including attending a cultural event or space is a real contributor to a sense of well-being, so why not try out one of our arts activities?
“From Relaxing Reads, insights into the rock scene of the 60s, 70s and 80s to a conversation with a top Scottish crime writer, there will be something happening at a time and place to suit all.”
East Dunbartonshire’s Cultural Services team has put together a varied programme of events to help promote that feel good factor.
The Festival welcomes award-winning writer Val McDermid, one of the biggest names in crime writing, to Bearsden Community Hub Main Hall on Thursday 19 October (7pm) where she will be in conversation with acclaimed journalist Graham Spiers discussing her life and work. The show, which costs £12, will include a Q&A session with the audience and will be followed by a book signing.
The free Heroines in the Archives session has been created by the Glasgow Women’s Library and celebrates the lives and historic contribution of women in Scotland. The event, for over 16s, is being held in Bearsden Community Hub Lesser Hall on Tuesday 17 October (10am-12pm) and William Patrick Library on Thursday 19 October (1-3pm).
If you’re a rock fan, there’s a chance that you listened to your favourite bands on the Tom Russell Friday Rock Show, or bought records from his shop in Bishopbriggs. Tom will be giving us a unique insight into the rock scene through the 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond at Kirkintilloch’s William Patrick Library on Tuesday 17 October in a free talk starting at 7pm.
There’s also an array of events in the Feel Good programme aimed at children and families.
Feel Good Fun - WordSculptures is a fun drawing and sculpture workshop. Be inspired by words, shapes and scale and work with a real life artist designing and creating totally unique sculptures during a fast paced fun packed day of creativity. Costing £10, the session is aimed at 8-11 year olds and will be held on Monday 16 October in the Milngavie CE Centre from 11am-2pm and Bishopbriggs War Memorial Hall on Friday 20 October (11am-2pm).
The Story Stars stroll will have all the fun of a regular session whilst out and about in the great outdoors enjoying songs, rhymes, storytelling and musical mayhem. Costing £1.50 per child, the session aimed at 0-4 year olds will leave Bishopbriggs War Memorial Hall on Tuesday 17 October at 2pm. The session will be inside the hall if the weather is unsuitable.
Living Lines is a free, fun, family drop-in session at the Auld Kirk Museum in Kirkintilloch on Saturday 14 October where you can try and make your own Zoetrope and dress up as a Victorian. The sessions are on from 11am-1pm and 2-4pm.
Or you can learn how to do some comic style drawings of yourself or a family member at the Comic Lines session at the Lillie Art Gallery in Milngavie on Saturday 14 October (2-4pm).
Councillor Jim Gibbons, Convenor of the Place, Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets Committee, said, "There’s something for everyone to enjoy within the programme - which is available online or in all Trust buildings - all aimed at promoting feeling good and how to improve individual wellbeing. Come along, join in the fun and take some time out to feel good.”
To book a place at one of the sessions, please visit edlc.co.uk or call 0141 777 3143.
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