An Exhibition to Celebrate the Sixtieth Birthday of HRH The Prince of Wales Graciously loaned by Her Majesty The Queen

To celebrate the 60th birthday of HRH The Prince of Wales on 14 November 2008, ten of the Royal Collection's finest drawings by the Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) will travel to museums and galleries across the United Kingdom in 2008-9. The exhibition will visit The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum in Stirling from 8th August to 2nd November 2008.

The Royal Collection contains the world's most important group of drawings by Leonardo da Vinci. These delicate works are preserved in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle and are among the greatest treasures of the Collection. Leonardo's drawings are the richest, most wide-ranging, technically brilliant and endlessly fascinating of any artist, and this exhibition has been selected to demonstrate the extraordinary scope of his interests. It includes studies for painting, sculpture and architecture; a beautiful portrait of a young woman and a caricature of a grotesque old man; two exquisite studies of a dissected human skull and two of plants; a drawing of an arsenal, probably intended for a treatise on warfare; a highly accurate map of the river Arno, surveyed by Leonardo himself; a design for a dragon costume and an apocalyptic image of a deluge. The drawings demonstrate all the techniques and materials that Leonardo routinely used - metalpoint, pen and ink, brush and ink, watercolour, and red and black chalks.

READ MORE

Stirling's only outdoor music festival The Scribbler's Picnic will take place on Sunday, August 24 from 12noon - 6pm.
There will be five stages of music including an eclectic mix on the main stage, acoustic cafe, folk club, and two young bands stages.

Alongside the feast of music there will be a range of displays from local organisations and clubs, and a variety of charity stalls.
There will be bouncy castles for the kids and a licenced bar and bbq for the adults.

The family funday is held to showcase local musical talent and all proceeds go toward five cancer charities CHAS, Strathcarron Hospice, Maggies Centres, Macmillan Cancer Support and Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Previous artists who have supported the day and came along to play include The Hazey Janes and Jack Bruce (Cream).
Charity patrons include Eddie Reader and Dougie McLean.
The event is held in memory of local musician, teacher and writer (The Scribbler) Graham Whitelaw who died of cancer in 2001.
More than £40,000 has been raised for charity by The Scribbler's Picnic over the last six years.

FIND OUT MORE at
What's On in Stirling

Lieutenant Colonel Francis William Saunders MBE, ERD has been granted ‘Freedom of the City’ in recognition of his long-standing commitment and contribution to the public life of the City of Stirling as a soldier, politician and citizen.

Stirling Provost Fergus Wood conferred Freedom of the City on Colonel Saunders - the first time the city has bestowed its highest honour on an individual since receiving city status in 2002.

The honour was granted during the joint TA’s Centenary and Pipers Trail Veterans Day Civic reception hosted by Provost Wood and Brigadier David Allfrey MBE Commander 51 (Scottish) Brigade as part of the weekend of Veterans Day celebrations.

Frank has a remarkable war record. He was part of the British Expeditionary Force in 1939 and was evacuated on the fall of France. He saw action with the Western Desert Force and the 8th Army in North Africa, with the 2nd Polish Corps of the 8th Army in the Italian Campaign and with 3rd Corps during the Civil War in Greece. In 1947 he was relegated to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and retired from the reserve in 1961.

Stirling Council hosted two weeks of celebrations for Veterans Day, which included the UK’s first Veteran-themed Film Festival, the Veterans Day Parade on Saturday 12 July with the Pipers Trail, Band of 7 SCOTS and up to 500 Veterans marching through the city centre, Military Tattoo, squadron fly-through and a service at the Church of the Holy Rude.

The circus that changed Big Top entertainment forever, explodes into 2008 with the greatest family entertainment ever assembled beyond the Great Wall of China.

Direct from China, a cast of more than 30 world-class acrobats, deadly martial arts exponents form the Shaolin Temple, and artistes from the internationally acclaimed Peking Opera have been specially assembled to create a lavish and thrilling all-action show to match the celebrated "One Hundred Entertainments" for the great Emperors.

Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 June

FIND OUT MORE

Stirling will host Scotland's premier Veterans Day event on Saturday 12 July 2008.

Veterans Day recognises and honours the contribution of our veterans past and present and acknowledges the skills our veterans have to offer and are able to pass on to young people.

A series of events will lead up to Saturday 12 July. Highlights include:
Pipers Trail procession of pipebands sweeping down from the castle Esplanade through the city centre to celebrate the Territorial Army's 100th anniversary
a spectacular Gala Day with RAF flypast
musical events
many displays
exhibitions in King's Park
UK's first -ever veterans themed film festival at the macrobert arts centre
exclusive interview with festival patron, veteran and The Longest Day star Richard Todd
displays in schools and libraries across the Stirling Area

On Saturday 12 July, the whole family can enjoy an exciting free day out in Stirling's Kings Park with music, displays and exhibitions, a tattoo, parachute jumps and all the spectacle of an RAF flypast. Schools will display their veterans project work, advice and information for veterans will be available, and there's the chance to find out about The Stirling Project's ongoing work to re-build a Stirling - the namesake aircraft which played a major role in the Second World War.

Visit the Stirling Veterans Day website

Arranged as part of a wider series of events to celebrate The University of Stirling's 40th Anniversary Alumni Reunion weekend. The lectures are not only fascinating, they are also free. And everyone is invited. While you are visiting the campus, why not take one of the university tours? These run from midday until 3.30pm and give an insight into some lesser known aspects of University of Stirling life.

Find out more in the Whar's On Around Stirling Guide

Join us for three days of no limits music experience.

The 11th Le Weekend festival boasts an impressive line up of international artists from 9 countries, has shed some of the more experimental vibes of previous years and has emerged with accents of pop and a greater general appeal.

The voice is the most intimate instrument of expression and at this year’s festival we have at least two of the most beautiful around in Victoria Bergsman from Taken by Trees and the iconic haunting sound of Annette Peacock who has not performed in the UK for over 20 years.

Le Weekend ventures outside of the heavy Tolbooth walls this year into the even more imposing space of the Church of the Holy Rude. BIG LUNG, David Fennessy’s new piece for organ and percussion will explore this beast of a machine filling the church’s gothic halls.

This year the hub of the festival will be the cafe bar, where the National Jazz Trio of Scotland will keep the intimacy direct with their delicate melodic twisted grooves. Bill Wells, from the trio, will also launch his very own Real Book, DJs will play some discreet tunes and Monorail will have well chosen product for sale.

Tickets: Day Pass £15/£10 Festival Pass £35/£25
Book at www.leweekendfestival.com or call 01786 27 4000

From 7 May to 1 June 2008, the MacRobert filmhouse, with the support of the School of Languages, Cultures and Religions at the University of Stirling, will be screening a series of films on the theme of 'Revolutions', to coincide with the University's 40th anniversary celebrations.

The series offers an opportunity to see a selection of films by revolutionary film-makers of the past four decades, with a variety of films encompassing many genres, nationalities and styles by directors including Fellini, Roeg, Visconti, Kiarostami, Loach and many more. All screenings are open to the general public.

Some of the screenings will be preceded by a brief introductory talk. Professor Bill Marshall (SLCR, University of Stirling) will introduce Get Carter on 10 May, Dr Sarah Neely (Film, Media and Journalism, University of Stirling) will introduce Stella Does Tricks on 23 May, Dr Pedram Khosronoejad (University of St Andrews, Anthropology Dept) will introduce Five on 30 May and Lizelle Bisschoff (Director of the Africa in Motion film festival) will give a brief introduction to Night of Truth on 31 May.

For further information, please see the MacRobert programme or website, or contact Dr Cristina Johnston (cristina.johnston@stir.ac.uk).

Week 1
Wed 7 May, 7.45pm
Amarcord (Fellini, 1973)
Fri 9 May, 8.15pm
The Killing of Sister George (Aldrich, 1968)
Sat 10 May, 5.15pm
Get Carter (Hodges, 1971)
Sun 11 May 5.15pm
Death in Venice (Visconti, 1971)

Week 2
Wed 14 May, 7.30pm
Cabaret (Fosse, 1972)
Fri 16 May, 8.15pm
Performance (Roeg, 1970)
Sat 17 May, 5.15pm
Sans Soleil (Marker, 1982)
Sun 18 May, 8.15pm
Distant Voices, Still Lives (Davies, 1988)

Week 3
Wed 21 May, 7.30pm
To Sleep With Anger (Burnett, 1990)
Fri 23 May, 5.15pm
Stella Does Tricks (Giedroyc, 1996)
Sat 24 May, 1.30pm
Kirikou et la sorcière (Ocelot, 1998)
Sun 25 May, 5.15pm
Fate (Demirkubuz, 2001)

Week 4
Wed 28 May, 7.30pm
Badasssss! (van Peebles, 2004)
Fri 30 May, 8.15pm
Five (Kiarostami, 2004)
Sat 31 May, 8.15pm
Night of Truth/Nuit de la vérité (Nacro, 2005)
Sun 1 June, 5.15pm
Kes (Loach, 1969)

STIRLING Council's Countryside Service is inviting people who want hands-on conservation experience to come along to Doune Ponds on Sunday 20 and Tuesday 22 April, 2008. Volunteers are being urged to take part in this month’s Countryside Action Days, to remove some more fences on the site and spring-cleaning bird hides. The fences are no longer needed to protect the trees from rabbits and removing them opens up the site making it look more natural.

For both days please meet in the car park at Doune Ponds at 10am or 1pm or come and find the Countryside Rangers on the site anytime until 3pm. There will be a variety of work to suit most ages and abilities. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear for outdoor practical work. Tools and light refreshments will be provided but bring a packed lunch if attending all day. Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult.

This is just one of a series of conservation tasks planned over the coming year throughout Stirling Council area. The next Community Action Day will be on Sunday April 27 in Strathblane. Further information will follow or visit our Countryside web pages for an update.

Please contact Stirling Council Countryside Ranger Claire Bird on 01786 443159 for further information or to volunteer.

This year throughout March and around Stirling the Blend will host Festival some wonderful roots music concerts. After the success of last year’s Rural Blend, some of our very best young traditional players are once again featured in Killin, Brig O’Turk and Balfron. The main 4-day event covers the spectrum of traditional music, with the fiery finesse of Daimh, Lau and Jenna Reid. The new generation of singers is represented by Lisa Knapp and Siobhan Miller and a wealth of experience and passion from the acclaimed fado singer Dona Rosa and our very own Rona Lightfoot and Margaret Bennett.

There is a strong youth element this year too, with children from Raploch schools coming in on Blend Friday as part of the musician in residency programme, and on Saturday afternoon some of these young learners get the opportunity to play in the auditorium. Also the Blend marks the launch of the debut album by Sgiobalta, a group of young local musicians well known to the Tolbooth. There will also be a great range of classes and sessions.

The Tolbooth thanks Get Reel, the Brig O’Turk Village Hall Committee, Rev and Mrs Lincoln, along with communities of Killin, Balfron and Brig O’Turk whose enthusiasm and commitment have helped contribute to the Rural Blend.

March 7th sees the much-anticipated cinematic release of what is set to be this year's most heart-warming documentary. Filmed over three years, We Are Together tells the remarkable and moving story of a group of AIDS orphans from South Africa who use the power of song to overcome hardship and loss. With unforgettable characters, soaring music and a plot full of surprises, We Are Together has been wowing audiences at film festivals around the world, winning an impressive 13 international awards last year, including Audience Awards at both Tribeca and Edinburgh!

We Are Together is the debut film from Rise Films co-founders Teddy Leifer and Paul Taylor. Through the Rise Foundation, a registered charity, the two have pledged to donate all proceeds from the film and accompanying soundtrack to support the Agape orphanage featured in the film and other AIDS related charities in South Africa.

We Are Together will be screening at the Macrobert University of Stirling between 4-7 April.

www.wearetogether.org

Volunteers needed to climb 219 mountains for people affected by cancer. Adventurers are being challenged to climb more than 200 mountains to raise cash for people affected by cancer. Macmillan Cancer Support in Scotland want people to sign up to take part in its Conquer a Corbett challenge, which raised over £40,000 for the charity in 2007.

Last year fundraisers climbed 129 of the Corbetts for Macmillan, but this year the charity want to have someone climb every single one of the country's 219 Corbetts - the name of all Scotland's hills and mountains between 2500ft and 2999ft high.

Conquer a Corbett runs throughout May. Anyone with a moderate level of fitness can take part, as along with some very challenging mountains suitable for seasoned mountain-climbers, there are easier hills that are suitable for those who have never climbed before.

All those who take part can choose which Corbett to climb, and choose when to do it ? as long as it's in May. Participants can climb more than one Corbett, and challenges can be completed in teams. In fact Macmillan recommends that inexperienced climbers don't take on the challenge alone.

Reloaded, the Tolbooth's platform for emerging bands, has brought together some of the top music industry professionals working in Scotland today to answer your questions! The Info Sessions at the Tolbooth, on Saturday 23 February, will give emerging bands and musicians the chance to learn from some of the best about releasing a record and gigging and touring.

There will also be a DJing workshop and the fantastic opportunity for emerging local bands to play live in front of a top A&R panel of record scouts and musicians. The day starts at 2pm with Releasing A Record featuring Emma Pollock (Delgados/Chemikal Underground), John Williamson (Belle & Sebastian Manager), Alex Papasimakopoulou (Everymatic PR) and Gavin Robertson (Broad St. Digital).

The second session on Gigging and Touring starts at 3pm and features Dee Bahl (Biffy Clyro Manager), Gareth Russell (Idlewild Bassist), Ally Gray (Dicelines Promotions/EmuBands) and Robert Hicks (Beyond Promotions).

Local bands playing in front of the crack A&R panel at 4pm will have to impress Ali Davidson (Warner Bros Records), David O'Hagan (Mercury), Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) and Francis McDonald (Shoeshine Records/BMX Bandits). However, those who miss out can bring their demos and chat to the panel after the session.

Event organiser, and Tolbooth music development officer, Stephen Hume said, "It is fantastic that we have been able to bring some of the very best people in the Scottish professional music scene to the Tolbooth. Stirling has a lot of emerging musical talent and I can't think of a better lineup to give them an insight into what it really takes to make it. We are really looking forward to bands coming from not just Stirling but from throughout Scotland to what really is an essential day for all aspiring bands."

The day ends with the monthly Reloaded band night, featuring the critically acclaimed The Twilight Sad, at 7.30pm.
Tickets: Reloaded Info Sessions, £3
The Twilight Sad, £6
Special offer: ticket for both, £8

The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum are delighted to host the first Stirling exhibition of artist Robert Euman. A graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, Euman works from his Edinburgh studio, regularly exhibiting throughout Britain in one-man shows and group exhibitions.

Influences in Euman's work range from European Symbolism to the minimalists of North America.

Euman chose the title Bridge to express his working methods. He creates a diverse mix of figurative and abstract subjects in his paintings. 'I see the work as each individual piece lying at a certain point on a bridge.'

READ MORE

Vue Entertainment, the UK’s leading developer and operator of state-of-the-art multiplex cinemas has invested £2.5m in the Forthside development of Stirling. The cinema will open on Friday 18th January 2008 and will be the first multiplex cinema to be opened in Stirling.

Guests can expect to be amazed when Vue opens to a stunning eight screen all luxury stadium seated cinema with wall to ceiling to floor huge screens, enhanced by the most progressive projection and Dolby Digital Surround Sound technology. All auditoriums will give guests a chance to upgrade their seats to 'Superior Seating'. These are leather seats offering an even higher level of luxury comfort, extra leg room and are placed in prime positions to view the big screens, making them the best seats in the house.

Following highly successful trials and introducing for the very first time in Scotland is Vue Evolution, a new concept screen complete with two and four seater sofa pods, luxury leather superior seats and enormous bean bags. This will create a unique environment for Vue customers to relax and enjoy their chosen movie in a level of comfort not seen before.

The Larger than Live screenings of music, sport and comedy are amongst other successful trials to Vue via satellite link up, offering guests greater choice of product on the big screen. These screenings have included Formula One, Ross Noble, Kylie: White Diamond and the most recently sold out performance of Take That.

Vue Entertainment’s CEO Tim Richards said: "This is a very exciting time for Vue as we are proud to open our latest state-of-the-art cinema in Stirling. We are dedicated to making a visit to the cinema into a total leisure experience and through our continuing research and development we remain committed to evolving new concepts in cinema design and comfort. We now look forward to welcoming and serving the local community of Stirling for many years to come."

Reserved seating option will be available, allowing customers to choose their seats when booking their tickets. The experience is further enhanced as guests can choose from a wide selection of refreshments in the fully licensed bar, Ben and Jerry’s counter and café. All tickets can be purchased and collected at any till giving customers a chance to save time queuing by purchasing their refreshments and cinema ticket in a single transaction.

In addition, disabled access is available throughout the cinema with upper level balconies in selected auditoria, each accommodating space for wheelchair users and providing a great view of the big screen at the same time. Innovations still to come include mobile ticketing where guests can have their tickets sent to their mobile phone and print at home ticketing.

For the latest news on the development and to register to receive news, offers and film times please visit www.myvue.com.