A new series of animal-themed activity sessions for pre-5s groups has been launched at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. “Animal Parade”, “Animal Speak” and “Elephant Tales” take place in the natural history section and are open to nursery schools and other pre-fives groups at pound;10 per group. The sessions run for about 45 minutes and include dressing up in safari suits and looking through binoculars.

www.glasgowmuseums.com

T 0141 276 950567

Youth theatre

Skill-up, the annual gathering for youth theatre leaders, goes north next week, taking the great and good in their field. For its second conference, Promote YT, the national agency, goes to the Craigmonie Centre at Drumna-drochit, on the shores of Loch Ness. Director Colin Bradie’s credo is that because “young people are the future of our cultural landscape, it is essential that the people inspiring, instructing, and leading them are highly skilled and working examples of best practice”. He has recruited Guy Hollands (TAG and Citizens Theatre), Francis Gallop (scenographer and dramaturg), John McGeoch (Arts in Motion), Robert Softley (Birds of Paradise), Gerry Ramage (Solar Bear), John Batty (Eden Court), Jeni Herbert (Mellow Yellow), Julie Ellen (Playwrights Studio), Maggie Kinloch (RSAMD) and Kenny McGlashan (SYT) to lead the discussions and workshops.

T 0131 3136810

E info@promoteyt.co.uk

Athletics

One of the highlights of the Scottish schools’ sporting calendar takes place at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, on Thursday with the Secondary Schools’

Indoor Track and Field Championships. It is a busy time for young athletes with the final of the Sportshall Athletics in Dundee on February 24. The action moves outdoors with the Scottish Power Scottish Secondary Schools’

Cross Country Champ-ionships in Irvine on March 10.