february 2010
Valentine’s Day is celebrated all over the world on February 14. In Finland Valentine’s Day is known as ‘Ystävänpäivä’, meaning ‘Friends Day’. Unlike many other countries where Valentine's Day is mainly a day of romance, in Finland it is a day when close friends send cards and gifts to each other. It is a day of appreciation and recognition of all that we have.
Amongst the things we are blessed with is the gift of language. Communication is language; it is what connects us with others. This month, we celebrate International Mother Language Day, observed every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. This is a time to open up dialogue with other people, other societies, other cultures. Let’s get talking!
Communication is all about making yourself heard. If you’re a young person wanting to lend your voice, why not get involved in Adobe Youth Voices with Eastside? Check our website for more details of how to be part of the debate.
It’s half term again and there’s plenty on to keep the kids entertained. Our highlight of the month is the Imagine Children’s Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre, running Feb 11-27. Don’t miss the world premiere of a beatbox concerto with Artists in Residence Shlomo and Anna Meredith, and the The Bibliomancer's Dream installation - a magical library of books on The Clore Ballroom in the Royal Festival Hall. Get stuck in and be inspired!
If you’re more the arty type, we’ve a series of exciting comic art workshops running at Eastside. Run by professional artists, these workshops will give you a taste of what it’s like to work in the industry and give you loads of handy tips to improve your skills. Best of all, they’re absolutely free! Search for Graphic Truths to find out more.
Top tip: In the spirit of giving, why not volunteer some of your time at a local charity? Check out http://vinspired.com/ and get involved!
