:Sketchy Beats
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File:The former State Cinema, Great Junction Street, Edinburgh.jpg
File:Sculptures in the interior of Sketchy Beats Cafe, Edinburgh.jpg
Sketchy Beats is an arts concept combining live music, improvised dancing and life drawing.{{cite web|url=https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sketchy-beats-life-drawing-tickets-30671397977#|title=Sketchy Beats Life Drawing Tickets, Multiple Dates|website=Eventbrite|accessdate=2018-03-04}} The concept has received considerable praise and coverage in the Scottish press and in Scottish art circles.Timeout (magazine): 6 October 2015Scottish Television News (STV): 30 September 2015The Skinny (arts magazine): September 2015The Culture Trip (arts magazine): 16 December 2016
Sketchy Beats was conceived by Cosima Canneti an Anglo-Italian philosophy student in March 2015 and initially appeared as a monthly pop-up event in the basement of the Yellow Bench concept cafe on Leith Walk{{cite web|url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/whats-on/edinburgh/restaurants/sketchy-beats-cafe|title=Sketchy Beats Cafe - Cafes in Edinburgh|website=The Skinny|accessdate=2018-03-04}} in Edinburgh, with the support of Polish-born Monika Lisicka. The original format was split into three sections: live drawing of a live musician; live drawing of a dancer; and finally live drawing of a posed model. The latter sections were supported by a live DJ, who would often to continue to provide music for those who remained.
Following a crowdfunder event in late 2015,{{cite web|url=http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/sketchy-beats/|title=Sketchy Beats - arts café and event space., a Community Crowdfunding Project in Leith, Edinburgh, United Kingdom on Crowdfunder|website=crowdfunder.co.uk|accessdate=2018-03-04}} the concept removed to a new premises at 208 Great Junction Street in Leith and was specifically rebranded as Sketchy Beats Cafe.{{cite web|url=http://edinburgh.stv.tv/articles/1329748-sketchy-beats-founder-to-launch-arts-cafe-on-great-junction-street/|title=Edinburgh, Fife and East of Scotland news | STV News|website=edinburgh.stv.tv|accessdate=2018-03-04}} The arts events then moved to a weekly rather than monthly cycle.{{cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/scotland/articles/interview-with-sketchy-beats-edinburghs-cool-new-arts-cafe/|website=theculturetrip.com|title=Interview With Sketchy Beats, Edinburgh’s Cool New Arts Café|accessdate=2018-03-04}} The specifically non-profit cafe also houses other activities such as poetry slams and music jam sessions.{{cite web|url=http://www.channel7a.com/venue/sketchy-beats/|website=channel7a.com|title=www.channel7a.com/venue/sketchy-beats/|accessdate=2018-03-04}}
With a strongly international flavour, notable models include the Italian, Eve Casini, the French jazz performance artist, Ariane Mamon, Slovakian Theresa van Wald, and the Lucrezia Paterno Castello from Sicily.
In 2017 the range was expanded to include Stitchy Beats a knitting class held within an atmosphere of contemporary music.
On 30 May 2018 Sketchy Beats took over the abandoned State Cinema (attached to the rear) for a day of music, interpretive dance and sketching for the day as part of the Hidden Doors event in Leith (which also incorporated the old Leith Theatre).