Santa's stocking
Each year as the clock counts down to Christmas, most of us end up frantically tearing around the shops in the hunt for that perfect gift. What starts out as Christmas cheer can quickly turn into festive frustration as we hurriedly grab presents for everyone and try to beat the crowds.
   
This year, why not consider some creative gifts? If you're at a loss for ideas, have a look at our suggestions for a few interesting and original gifts. From a piece of unique contemporary art to theatre tokens, you're sure to find something that suits. And... most importantly our suggestions may help you avoid the headache. Click on the link below to read our ideas to help you fill Santa's stocking.
Books and poetry
Visual arts and crafts
Theatre
Dance
Music
This year Gavin Wallace, Head of Literature, has again drawn up a list of his top five books for gifts this Christmas:
William McIlvanney – Weekend (Sceptre)
Steven Poole – Unspeak (Little, Brown)
Margaret Atwood – Moral Disorder (Bloomsbury)
Jackie Kay – Wish I was Here (Picador)
Robin Robertson – Swithering (Picador)
Read a poem from Swithering by Robert Robertson, 'On Pharos' our poem of the month in April 2006.
More superb stocking fillers for young and old are the winners and shortlisted books from the Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year awards. The Book of the Year Award went to James Meek for The Peoples Act of Love - one of our top five recommendations last year!
For younger readers, check out the BRAW website for a variety of titles as well as the books shortlisted books for the Best Children's Books of the Year awards.
The winning books were:
Early Years (0 - 7 years) - Little Lost Cowboy by Simon Puttock and Caroline Jayne Church
Younger Readers (8 - 12 years) - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J K Rowling
Older Readers (13 - 16 years) - Roxy’s Baby by Catherine MacPhail
Visit booksfromscotland.com for a huge variety of over 15,000 titles including fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, classics, food and drink, travel, guidebooks, history, academic, music, film and much more.
Own Art - visual arts and crafts
If you are looking for a really special gift for a loved one this year, consider investing in an original work of contemporary art. Through the Own Art scheme you can buy a work of contemporary art or craft interest free. You can borrow up to £2,000 or as little as £100 and pay back the loan over 10 months – interest free! (*typical 0% APR).
There are over 40 galleries involved in Own Art across Scotland so why not move out of the busy shopping centres and have a more relaxing, enjoyable time browsing some of Scotland’s best galleries for a unique gift? We've highlighted a couple of exhibitions below but for more information on Own Art and for a list of the member galleries visit the Own Art area of this website.
  
Glasgow Print Studio's Christmas Show has a fantastic selection of art works and crafts for sale in all styles, sizes and prices, with gift vouchers also available. So why not buy something original this Christmas!
Every year Peacock Visual Arts give local, national and international artists the opportunity to submit artworks for the always popular Christmas exhibition. Until this year, the standard size of the works would be A5. 2006 sees a 'down-sizing' of the works to A6 - postcard size!
For those of you who are new to the project: its aim is to demonstrate the versatility and talent of local, national and international artists.
The exhibition shows work by new talent alongside 'big names'. Amongst the artists showing their small-scale work this year are Michael Visocchi, Barbara Rae, David Bellingham, Sadie Main, Colin Kirkpatrick and David Blyth, who have been working on a series of new prints with Peacock's printmakers.
Tickets to the theatre can also be a great gift – and make for an unforgettable experience. Most of Scotland’s theatres offer gift vouchers and season tickets and some are signed up to the theatre tokens scheme – www.theatretokens.com.
Dance classes are a fun and interesting gift this Christmas. Booking for the spring term at Dance Base, the National Centre for Dance, opens on 17 December. Log on to the Dance Base website to get a full listing of available dance classes.
For classes in the north east, visit the citymoves website. Read our feature on Glasgow's new website, Dance in the City, a new resource catering for all things dance related in Glasgow - from classes to shows, you'll find it here.
Visit the Scottish Music Centre website and browse through a choice of CDs and scores across a range of different genres. For some stunning Gaelic music, log on to the macmeanmna website to find a gift with a difference. |