Hidden Door to open at old Royal High School this summer

Hidden Door is delighted to announce that we will be bringing the old Royal High School on Calton Hill to life for a ten day festival of live music, visual art, dance, theatre and spoken word.

The property, which has mostly lain empty since the school closed in the late 1960s, will be used to celebrate Scotland’s exciting new and emerging creative talent, before work begins to transform it into Scotland’s new National Centre for Music.

The festival will completely transform the entire complex from 9 – 18 June 2022.

Inside the vast building, forgotten rooms will be transformed into performance spaces and given over to artists to fill with installations. The audience will be encouraged to explore the myriad of passageways, corridors, nooks and crannies that make up this remarkable building.

One of the most impressive rooms, the central debate chamber, will host specially commissioned in-the-round performances and spectacular events that respond to the unique space.

Outside, a stage will be built for large music performances and a bar will take over the front terrace, giving festival goers a unique view on the city.

An early release of tickets are available NOW via hiddendoorarts.org/tickets or from Citizen Ticket.

Once the full programme is announced, ticket holders will be able to select which days they would like to attend.

National Museums Scotland listings to 15 February

Exhibitions & Displays 

National Museum of Scotland  
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 


 
OPENING SOON Audubon’s Birds of America 
12 Feb – 8 May 2022 
Member Preview Day, 11 Feb 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed, £0-£10 
 
This new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland will examine the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and biggest books.

Published as a series between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a landmark work which achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized ornithological illustrations.    

Audubon’s Birds of America (12 February – 8 May 2022) will showcase 46 unbound prints from National Museums Scotland’s collection, most of which have never been on display before, as well as a rare bound volume of the book, on loan from the Mitchell Library. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see so much of Audubon’s work in one place. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/Audubon 

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life 
1 Jul – 13 Nov 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed 

Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders.  

This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century. 

Sponsored by Baillie Gifford Actual Investors. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy 

The Typewriter Revolution 
Until 17 Apr 2022 
10:00–16:30 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this new exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons. 

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.  

Inspiring Walter Scott 

Until 8 Jan 2023 
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1 
Free entry 
 
On the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him. In this small exhibition we show how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.  
 
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition 

Scotland’s Climate Challenge 

Until 27 Mar 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1 
Free entry 

This small exhibition highlights the exciting work being carried out in Scotland to fight against climate change. It brings together just some of the technological responses that have been developed in Scotland or that are being used here in the effort to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

On show are a range of leading-edge equipment, much of it newly collected, alongside samples of natural material. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Visit nms.ac.uk/ClimateChallenge 

 
National Museum of Flight 
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF 
Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 – 16:00 

LEGO® Concorde Model 
Until 30 Jan 2022 
Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 – 16:00 
Free with pre-booked museum entry 
 
Master builder Warren Elsmore and his team have created a LEGO® Big Build of the National Museum of Flight’s Concorde.  

Six metres long and made of over 60,000 bricks, you can see the model on display alongside the real thing. The model is made purely from standard 2×4 LEGO bricks and took five days to build as part of our Brick Wonders exhibition in Spring 2021. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

 
EVENTS 

National Museum of Scotland  
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

Origami Dove Making 
Fri 21 – Sun 23 Jan 2022 
11:00-13:00, 14:00-16:00 
Grand Gallery, Level 1 
Free, drop-in 

Try out your origami skills and help to create a flock of birds to become part of Les Colombes (The Doves), a stunning installation symbolising love, hope and kindness. The artwork will make its Scottish debut in St Giles’ Cathedral as a highlight of the annual Burns & Beyond Festival in March 2022.  

This event is part of Burns & Beyond 2022. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/origami-dove-making 

Victorian Edinburgh 

20 Jan – 31 Mar 2022 
11:00 – 13:00 
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4 
£175 for 10 sessions (concessions available) 

Join this short course from National Museums Scotland and the University of Edinburgh, a great way to explore our collections and their wider history with experts.  

Victorian Edinburgh considers the complex challenges and changes wrought in the period 1837–1901 within Scotland’s capital city. It examines examples of the economic, social and political context in which ‘Edinburghers’ lived, and assesses their responses to the most important Scottish, British and international events. 

This course will be led by Helen Rapport PGCE, M.A., PhD. The University of Edinburgh Short Courses are presented by the Centre for Open Learning.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/VictorianEdinburgh 

Georgian Scotland 

20 Jan – 31 Mar 2022 
14:00 – 16:00 
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4 
£175 for 10 sessions (concessions available)  

Join this short course from National Museums Scotland and the University of Edinburgh, a great way to explore our collections and their wider history with experts. 

Georgian Scotland explores Scotland’s great changes and developments from 1714–1815. Making extensive use of National Museum Scotland’s collections, the course covers the Enlightenment and the growth of universities, trade, transportation and industry, as well as the impact of Jacobite rebellions and events overseas, from France and Spain to the American colonies. 

This course will be led by Helen Rapport PGCE, M.A., PhD. The University of Edinburgh Short Courses are presented by the Centre for Open Learning. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/GeorgianScotland 

Discovering Decorative Arts at the National Museum of Scotland 

20 Jan – 24 Mar 2022 
11:00 – 13:00 
Dunfermline Room 
£175 for 10 sessions (concessions available) 

Join this short course from National Museums Scotland and the University of Edinburgh, a great way to explore our collections and their wider history with experts. 

This course will introduce the magnificent decorative arts collections within the National Museum of Scotland. We will explore the historical developments of decorative arts and how they have influenced the modern methods and techniques used to create many of the beautiful objects on display in the National Museum of Scotland.  

This course will be led by Karen A Clulow BA MA FSA Scot. The University of Edinburgh Short Courses are presented by the Centre for Open Learning. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/DecorativeArts 

*NEW Spotlight On: Audubon’s Birds of America *

8 Mar 2022 
14:00-15:00 
Auditorium, Level 1 
Free, advance booking required.  
Suitable for those aged 12 and over. 

Join exhibition Curator Mark Glancy and Paper Conservator Lisa Cumming as they discuss how our upcoming exhibition Audubon’s Birds of America took flight.

Discover how Birds of America, one of the world’s rarest and most coveted books, was made, and learn about the ongoing conservation work to preserve these life-size, hand-coloured prints for future generations.  

Exhibition supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 

Boon now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

 
Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789 

City Art Centre reveals exhibitions programme for 2022

Paul Duke’s Muirhouse exhibition No Ruined Stone is among the highlights

Will Maclean, Fire Figure, 1985. © the artist. Private Collection
Will Maclean, Fire Figure, 1985. © the artist. Private Collection

A stunning range of exhibitions for 2022 including a winter photographic season of three new displays has been announced for the City Art Centre. 

All exhibitions will be free to attend. Further information on the individual shows, including an exciting and varied public events programme, will be announced later in the year.

National Treasure: The Scottish Modern Arts Association
21 May – 16 October 2022

The Scottish Modern Arts Association was founded in Edinburgh in 1907. Established by artists and their supporters, the organisation aimed to secure for the nation a representative collection of modern Scottish art. For more than fifty years, it actively acquired work by leading contemporary artists, building an outstanding collection of over 300 paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures. The majority of these artworks were transferred to the City of Edinburgh when the association disbanded in the 1960s, and they are now maintained by the City Art Centre.

National Treasure: The Scottish Modern Arts Association reveals the story of this unique collection, and the artists represented in it. Featuring work by the Glasgow Boys and the Scottish Colourists, as well as individuals such as William McTaggart, John Duncan, Anne Redpath and Joan Eardley, this major two-floor exhibition celebrates Scottish art at the dawn of modernism.

National Treasure is presented as part of Edinburgh Art Festival 2022.

Will Maclean: Points of Departure
4 June – 2 October 2022

Will Maclean (b.1941) is one of the outstanding artists of his generation. His work is anchored in the history, archaeology, and literature of the Scottish Highlands and the Highland people, as well as his family background and personal associations with the sea.

Perhaps best known for his wall constructions, this major retrospective will span almost fifty years of work and embrace every facet of his practice – his constructions, drawings, prints, sculptures, artistic collaborations, video productions and outdoor installations. Combining exquisitely hand-made pieces with found or (on occasions) mass produced objects, his work balances between simplicity and complexity and invites the viewer to linger, to admire and to ponder the universal themes which he explores.

Accompanied by a new publication, the exhibition will be drawn from public and private collections, with many of the exhibits going on public display for the first time. The exhibition promises to be a rich visual feast for anyone with an interest in Scottish art and history.

Will Maclean: Points of Departure is presented as part of Edinburgh Art Festival 2022.

Early twentieth century women filmmakers and photographers in Scotland (working title)
12 November 2022 – 12 March 2023

This ground-breaking exhibition presents the work of fourteen pioneering women photographers and filmmakers working in Scotland during the early 20th century.

The women are Violet Banks (1886-1985), Helen Biggar (1909-1953), Isabella Bird (1831-1904), Christina Broom (1862-1939), M.E.M. Donaldson (1876-1958), Jenny Gilbertson (1902-1990), Isobel F Grant (1887–1983), Ruby Grierson (1904-1940), Marion Grierson (1907-1998), Isobel Wylie Hutchison (1889-1982), Johanna Kissling (1875-1961), Isabell Burton-MacKenzie (1872-1958), Margaret Fay Shaw (1903-2004) and Margaret Watkins (1884-1969).

These women present different accounts of Scotland, covering both rural and city places and communities. The exhibition will show the breadth of their photography and filmmaking, offering a critical analysis of their work.

It explores the ways in which their work differs from their better-known male contemporaries, considers their different motivations and how these informed the work they made, and the different narratives we see emerging from their work in Scotland.

It is the first time their work will have been seen together, and it uncovers a previously untold story within the history of Scottish photography. Exhibits will be drawn from a broad selection of private and public collections.

The exhibition is a partnership project with Jenny Brownrigg, Exhibitions Director at The Glasgow School of Art.

Ron O’Donnell
Edinburgh: A Lost World (working title)
19 November 2022 – 5 March 2023

Edinburgh: A Lost World features black and white and colour photographs of forgotten Edinburgh interiors by Scottish artist Ron O’Donnell. During the 1970s and 1980s O’Donnell focused on photographing shops, tea rooms, public toilets, prison cells and factories all over Edinburgh, many of which are no longer in existence. In 2010 he returned to photographing shop interiors. This time, he concentrated on barbers, pet shops, auto repair businesses, shoe repair shops and book shops, including the smallest shop in Edinburgh.

For many years O’Donnell has had a curious and insatiable desire to document the city. As a hunter of unusual interiors, he would cycle around Edinburgh with his camera, a flash gun in a cardboard box, strapped with bungees onto his bike rack, and a tripod slung round his neck.

He found his camera was a key to accessing interiors – hidden spots that many people never saw. As a result, O’Donnell has created an impressive photographic archive of these lost places. The exhibition displays a selection of his photographs, revealing and documenting the dramatic shifts that have taken place in the capital over the years.

Paul Duke: No Ruined Stone
26 November 2022 – 26 February 2023

The artist Paul Duke grew up in the Muirhouse area of Edinburgh between the mid-1960s and early 1980s. In 2015 he returned to Muirhouse to develop No Ruined Stone, a photographic series exploring the built environment and its residents at a time of significant urban regeneration and social flux.

This exhibition presents a selection of photographs from the series; images that balance a documentary approach with highly personal insights. Duke embarked on this project determined to reconnect with his roots. While raising issues around social inequality and poverty, No Ruined Stone is underpinned by a message of human resilience and strength of character.

The exhibition is accompanied by the publication No Ruined Stone (Hartmann Books, 2018).

Auld Reekie Retold 
3 December 2022 – 19 February 2023

This exhibition marks the culmination of Auld Reekie Retold, the largest collections inventory project ever undertaken in the organisation’s history. Over the past three years, this ambitious project has recorded, catalogued and revealed thousands of items housed in stores and venues across the City.

Auld Reekie Retold connects objects in the collection, which has been growing steadily since the 1870’s, with people and places in the city, uncovering new stories from Edinburgh and its residents. Perhaps you’ve seen some of the stories online, or joined one of our digital events; this exhibition will be a chance to see some of the highlight objects uncovered by the team, and also to find out about the behind the scenes work involved in maintaining the collection.

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh’s collections belong to the City, and Auld Reekie Retold aims to give every citizen of Edinburgh a sense of ownership of and connection to its objects and their stories.

Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener said: “As we look ahead to 2022 at the City Art Centre it looks set to be a truly great year. The City Art Centre is one of the most accessible places in the Capital for art lovers and is home to Edinburgh’s art collection, one of the finest in the country.

“We’re delighted to be playing our part in the Edinburgh Art Festival and hosting some fantastic exhibitions. There are many highlights throughout the year beginning in Spring with ‘National Treasure: The Scottish Modern Arts Association’. The major two-floor exhibition will tell visitors the story of the unique collection and the artists behind it including works by William McTaggart and Joan Eardley.

“And then later in the year we’ll host the fascinating findings from ‘Auld Reekie Retold’. This fantastic project is allowing us to develop a fuller understanding and appreciation of what we have right here in our collections.

“The project has helped to uncover their stories, broaden participation with our Museums & Galleries and ensure their long-term relevance. This is the story of our great city that we all love. It needs to be told and I look forward to visitors discovering it for themselves this autumn.”

Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Culture and Communities Vice Convener said: “The City Art Centre’s 2022 programme of free exhibitions will give visitors the opportunity to revisit enduring favourites such as Will Maclean, some of whose works will be on display for first time. They might also discover new favourites like Ron O’Donnell and Paul Duke, who both give us their unique views of Edinburgh.

“I’m very much looking forward to ‘Early twentieth century women filmmakers and photographers in Scotland’, where the works of 14 pioneering women will be brought together for the first time. This will offer visitors the chance to hear the previously untold story of women’s fascinating role within the history of Scottish photography.

“Whilst it’s fantastic to look ahead to a busy year in our City Art Centre, I’d like to reassure people that we will continue to take measures to ensure the safety of visitors and our staff, and will adhere to the latest public guidance.”

In keeping with Government advice to support the safety of our visitors and staff, the City Art Centre maintains a range of safety measures and procedures throughout the venue, including a one-way system, screens at reception, hand sanitiser stations, extra barriers and signage and staff will of course be wearing face coverings while offering visitors a very warm, socially distanced welcome. Visitors are asked to wear face coverings.

National Museums Scotland – listings to 30 January 2022

Exhibitions & Displays 

National Museum of Scotland  
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 


 Audubon’s Birds of America 
12 Feb – 8 May 2022 
Member Preview Day, 11 Feb 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed, £0-£10 
 
This new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland will examine the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and biggest books. 

Published as a series between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a landmark work which achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized ornithological illustrations.  

Audubon’s Birds of America (12 February – 8 May 2022) will showcase 46 unbound prints from National Museums Scotland’s collection, most of which have never been on display before, as well as a rare bound volume of the book, on loan from the Mitchell Library. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see so much of Audubon’s work in one place.   

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 
 
Book now nms.ac.uk/Audubon 

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life 
1 Jul – 13 Nov 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed 

Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders.  

This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century. 

Sponsored by Baillie Gifford Actual Investors. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy 

The Typewriter Revolution 
Until 17 Apr 2022 
10:00–16:30 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this new exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons. 

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters 

Inspiring Walter Scott 

Until 8 Jan 2023 
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1 
Free entry 


On the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him. In this small exhibition we show how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.  
 
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition 

Scotland’s Climate Challenge 

Until 27 Mar 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1 
Free entry

This small exhibition highlights the exciting work being carried out in Scotland to fight against climate change. It brings together just some of the technological responses that have been developed in Scotland or that are being used here in the effort to cut carbon dioxide emissions. On show are a range of leading-edge equipment, much of it newly collected, alongside samples of natural material. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/ClimateChallenge 

++LAST CHANCE TO SEE ++ Extinction Bell 

Until 9 Jan 2022 
The Grand Gallery 
Free entry 

The Extinction Bell is a work by Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram that aims to raise awareness of biodiversity loss. A fire engine bell from National Museums Scotland’s collection has been adapted to toll at random intervals 150-200 times per day. Each ring of the bell symbolises the extinction of a species, representing the number being lost every 24 hours (according to a 2007 report from the UN). 
 
Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/ExtinctionBell 

National Museum of Flight 
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF 
Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 – 16:00 

LEGO® Concorde Model 
Until 30 Jan 2022 
Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 – 16:00 
Free with pre-booked museum entry 


Master builder Warren Elsmore and his team have created a LEGO® Big Build of the National Museum of Flight’s Concorde.  

Six metres long and made of over 60,000 bricks, you can see the model on display alongside the real thing. The model is made purely from standard 2×4 LEGO bricks and took five days to build as part of our Brick Wonders exhibition in Spring 2021. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

 
Events 

Online  

Museum Art Challenge 2021 
Until 2 Jan 2022 
Online, free 

Looking for something creative to do this December? The Museum Art Challenge invites you to make art inspired by our incredible collections. With five weekly themes to get you thinking, you can take part from near or far simply by emailing us a picture of your finished artwork.  

Take part nms.ac.uk/museumartchallenge 
 

National Museum of Scotland  
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

*NEW* Origami Dove Making 
21 – 23 Jan 2022 
11:00-13:00, 14:00-16:00 
Grand Gallery, Level 1 
Free, drop-in 
 
Try out your origami skills and help to create a flock of birds to become part of Les Colombes (The Doves), a stunning installation symbolising love, hope and kindness. The artwork will make its Scottish debut in St Giles’ Cathedral as a highlight of the annual Burns & Beyond Festival later in January 2022. 

This event is part of Burns & Beyond 2022. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/origami-dove-making 

*NEW* Victorian Edinburgh 

20 Jan – 31 Mar 2022 
11:00 – 13:00 
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4 
£175 for 10 sessions (concessions available) 

Join this short course from National Museums Scotland and the University of Edinburgh, a great way to explore our collections and their wider history with experts.  

Victorian Edinburgh considers the complex challenges and changes wrought in the period 1837–1901 within Scotland’s capital city. It examines examples of the economic, social and political context in which ‘Edinburghers’ lived, and assesses their responses to the most important Scottish, British and international events. 

This course will be led by Helen Rapport PGCE, M.A., PhD. The University of Edinburgh Short Courses are presented by the Centre for Open Learning.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/VictorianEdinburgh 

*NEW* Georgian Scotland 

20 Jan – 31 Mar 2022 
14:00 – 16:00 
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4 
£175 for 10 sessions (concessions available)  

Join this short course from National Museums Scotland and the University of Edinburgh, a great way to explore our collections and their wider history with experts. 

Georgian Scotland explores Scotland’s great changes and developments from 1714–1815. Making extensive use of National Museum Scotland’s collections, the course covers the Enlightenment and the growth of universities, trade, transportation and industry, as well as the impact of Jacobite rebellions and events overseas, from France and Spain to the American colonies. 

This course will be led by Helen Rapport PGCE, M.A., PhD. The University of Edinburgh Short Courses are presented by the Centre for Open Learning. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/GeorgianScotland 

*NEW*  Discovering Decorative Arts at the National Museum of Scotland 

20 Jan – 24 Mar 2022 
11:00 – 13:00 
Dunfermline Room 
£175 for 10 sessions (concessions available) 

Join this short course from National Museums Scotland and the University of Edinburgh, a great way to explore our collections and their wider history with experts. 

This course will introduce the magnificent decorative arts collections within the National Museum of Scotland. We will explore the historical developments of decorative arts and how they have influenced the modern methods and techniques used to create many of the beautiful objects on display in the National Museum of Scotland.  

This course will be led by Karen A Clulow BA MA FSA Scot. The University of Edinburgh Short Courses are presented by the Centre for Open Learning.

Book now nms.ac.uk/DecorativeArts 

National Museum of Rural Life   
Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR  
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

Clyde’s Winter Trail  
Until 9 Jan 2022  
10:00 – 17:00  
Free with pre-booked museum admission  
 
Spot the festive scenes that Clyde, the Clydesdale horse, and his friends have been creating around the museum as they get ready for the festive season.  
 
Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 

Visit: nms.as.uk/exhibitions-events   

 
Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789 

All our museums are open. This includes:

National Museum of Scotland
National Museum of Flight
National Museum of Rural Life
National War Museum

National Museums Scotland: What’s On

National Museums Scotland listings to 31 December 

Festive Fun at the National Museum of Rural Life 

National Museum of Rural Life 
Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR 
Open daily 10:00-17:00 

Willow Star Workshop with Anna Cross  
26 Nov 2021  
10:15–12:45, 14:00–16:30  
£35, suitable for adults (age 16+)  
 

Kick off the festive season by weaving a spectacular willow star with artist Anna Cross. In these half-day workshops for adults, both beginners and seasoned crafters alike will learn how to create their own beautiful decoration. A stylish alternative to traditional Christmas wreaths, you’ll want to display your large willow star year after year.  
 
Book now: nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events  
 
Children’s Workshop: Make a Willow Decoration  
Sat 27 Nov  
14:30–16:00   
£10 per child, suitable for ages 10+  
Advanced booking is essential  

Keen to learn more about the art of willow weaving? Then book a place on this 1.5 hour-long workshop with willow artist Anna Cross, suitable for children age 10+ with an accompanying adult. Anna will show you how to weave and decorate your very own willow star decoration to take home, perfect for hanging in your room or on the Christmas tree.  
 
Visit: nms.as.uk/exhibitions-events   

Festive Family Crafts  
27 Nov – 28 Nov 2021  
Sat: 10:30 – 16:00  
Sun: 10:30 – 15:30  
Free with pre-booked museum admission  
 
Festive family activities across the weekend, from drop-in craft sessions to a children’s willow weaving workshop with Anna Cross, the artist who created our Willow Sculpture Trail.  

Our family programming is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 
 
Visit: nms.as.uk/exhibitions-events  
 

Clyde’s Winter Trail 
27 Nov 2021 – 9 Jan 2022  
10:00 – 17:00  
Free with pre-booked museum admission  

Spot the festive scenes that Clyde, the Clydesdale horse, and his friends have been creating around the museum as they get ready for the festive season.  
 
Our family programming is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 
 
Visit: nms.as.uk/exhibitions-events 

 
Exhibitions & Displays 

National Museum of Scotland 

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

Audubon’s Birds of America 
12 Feb – 8 May 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed 
 
This new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland will examine the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and biggest books.  

Published as a series between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a landmark work which achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized ornithological illustrations.

Audubon’s Birds of America (12 February – 8 May 2022) will showcase 46 unbound prints from National Museums Scotland’s collection, most of which have never been on display before, as well as a rare bound volume of the book, on loan from the Mitchell Library. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see so much of Audubon’s work in one place.   
Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 

Visit: nms.ac.uk/Audubon 

The Typewriter Revolution 

24 Jul 2021–17 Apr 2022 
10:00–16:30 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this new exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons.

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters 

Scotland’s Climate Challenge 

24 Sep 2021 – 27 Mar 2022 
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1 
Free display 

This small exhibition highlights the exciting work being carried out in Scotland to fight against climate change. It brings together just some of the technological responses that have been developed in Scotland or that are being used here in the effort to cut carbon dioxide emissions. On show are a range of leading-edge equipment, much of it newly collected, alongside samples of natural material.
Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/ClimateChallenge 

Extinction Bell 

24 Sep 2021 – 9 Jan 2022 
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
The Grand Gallery, Level 1 
Free display

The Extinction Bell is a work by Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram that aims to raise awareness of biodiversity loss. A fire engine bell from National Museums Scotland’s collection has been adapted to toll at random intervals 150-200 times per day. Each ring of the bell symbolises the extinction of a species, representing the number being lost every 24 hours (according to a 2007 report from the UN). 
 
Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/ExtinctionBell 

 
Inspiring Walter Scott 

6 Aug 2021 – 9 Jan 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1 
Free entry 
 
On the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him. In this small exhibition we show how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.  
 
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition 

Events 

Online  

NEW Costume Conversations 
22 Nov 2021, 17:00 
Free Instagram live, follow @nationalmuseumsscotland  

Join the final instalment of our Instagram Live series exploring how one object can tell multiple stories.   
In Costume Conversations our expert panel will explore how clothes tell stories on stage and screen. We’re asking the big questions about costume interpretation to find out just what’s involved in fashioning the past in the present. 

View nms.ac.uk/CostumeConversations  

Celebrating Black Fashion 

26 Nov 2021 
19:30—20:15 
Watch online 
Free, with option to add a donation 

Join model and broadcaster Eunice Olumide as she shares her experience of a transforming industry with museum curator Georgina Ripley. Eunice and Georgina will also discuss Eunice’s recent book How To Get Into Fashion, focussing on creativity, diversity, and wellbeing.  
 
This event will be followed by a live Q&A chaired by Mal Burkinshaw, Head of the School of Design at Edinburgh College of Art.  

Part of Black History Month 2021. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/CelebratingBlackFashion 

Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789 

 

National Museums Scotland: What’s On listings

Climate Emergency 
 
Scotland’s Climate Challenge 

24 Sep 2021 – 27 Mar 2022 
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1 
Free display 

This small exhibition highlights the exciting work being carried out in Scotland to fight against climate change. It brings together just some of the technological responses that have been developed in Scotland or that are being used here in the effort to cut carbon dioxide emissions. On show are a range of leading-edge equipment, much of it newly collected, alongside samples of natural material. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/ClimateChallenge 

Extinction Bell 

24 Sep 2021 – 9 Jan 2022 
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
The Grand Gallery, Level 1 
Free display 


The Extinction Bell is a work by Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram that aims to raise awareness of biodiversity loss. A fire engine bell from National Museums Scotland’s collection has been adapted to toll at random intervals 150-200 times per day. Each ring of the bell symbolises the extinction of a species, representing the number being lost every 24 hours (according to a 2007 report from the UN). 
 
Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/ExtinctionBell 

And If Not Now, When? 
1 Nov – 14 Nov 2021 
10:30 – 16:30 
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Event Space, Level 2 
Free immersive installation, sign up on the day in the Grand Gallery

And If Not Now, When? is an immersive, reactive, sound and film installation by Edinburgh artists Philip Pinsky and Karen Lamond which invites you to experience a transformed urban reality to inspire hope and possibility.  
 
Confronted with a heightened version of a busy urban junction; heavy traffic, pollution and noise, you will walk through a sound and film installation, guided by a lighted path. As you do so, notice how your position in the room directly impacts the environment around you.

Watch and listen as your actions transform one environment into another and end the experience with a vivid and tranquil re-imagining of how we could all live peacefully in our cities. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Art and Science – Communicating the Climate Emergency 

4 Nov 2021 
19:30 – 20:30 
Online event 
Free, with optional donation 

As the eyes of the world turn to Scotland for the UN Climate Conference in November, join artists Luke Jerram and Philip Pinsky, along with National Museums Scotland curators, for a discussion about the urgency of the climate and biodiversity crisis. Explore how the research and technology being used to tackle these issues can be shared with the wider public, and consider how art can help communicate these critical messages and inspire change. 

Supported by players of the Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Further Exhibitions & Displays 

National Museum of Scotland 

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

NEW – Audubon’s Birds of America 
12 Feb – 8 May 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed 
 
This new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland will examine the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and biggest books.   

Published as a series between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a landmark work that achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized ornithological illustrations.  

Audubon’s Birds of America (12 February – 8 May 2022) will showcase 46 unbound prints from National Museums Scotland’s collection, most of which have never been on display before, as well as a rare bound volume of the book, on loan from the Mitchell Library. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see so much of Audubon’s work in one place.   

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 

Visit: nms.ac.uk/Audubon 

The Typewriter Revolution 

24 Jul 2021–17 Apr 2022 
10:00–16:30 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this new exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons. 

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters 

Inspiring Walter Scott 

6 Aug 2021 – 9 Jan 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1 
Free entry 
 
On the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him. In this small exhibition we show how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.  
 
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition 

Events 

Online 

Celebrating Black Fashion 

26 Nov 2021 
19:30—20:15 
Watch online 
Free, with option to add a donation 

Join model and broadcaster Eunice Olumide as she shares her experience of a transforming industry with museum curator Georgina Ripley. Eunice and Georgina will also discuss Eunice’s recent book How To Get Into Fashion, focussing on creativity, diversity, and wellbeing.  
 
This event will be followed by a live Q&A chaired by Mal Burkinshaw, Head of the School of Design at Edinburgh College of Art.  

Part of Black History Month 2021. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/CelebratingBlackFashion 


National Museum of Rural Life  
Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 


For Adults
 

NEW Willow Star Workshop with Anna Cross 

26 Nov 2021 
10:15–12:45, 14:00–16:30 
£35, suitable for adults (age 16+) 
 
Kick off the festive season by weaving your own large willow star with artist Anna Cross. In these half-day workshops for adults, you will learn how to create your own beautiful decoration. Suitable for beginners and seasoned crafters alike, Anna will guide you through the weaving process. 
Book now: nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

For Families 

NEW Children’s Workshop: Make a Willow Decoration 

Sat 27 Nov 
14:30–16:00  
£10 per child, suitable for ages 10+ 
Advanced booking is essential 

Keen to learn more about the art of willow weaving? Then book a place on this 1.5 hour-long workshop with willow artist Anna Cross, suitable for children age 10+ with an accompanying adult. 
 
Anna will show you how to weave and decorate your very own willow star decoration to take home, perfect for hanging in your room or on the Christmas tree. 
 
Visit: nms.as.uk/exhibitions-events 

NEW Festive Family Crafts 
27 Nov – 28 Nov 2021 
Sat: 10:30 – 16:00 
Sun: 10:30 – 15:30 

Free with pre-booked museum admission 

Join us for festive family activities across the weekend, from drop-in craft sessions to a children’s willow weaving workshop with Anna Cross, the artist who created our Willow Sculpture Trail.  

Our family programming is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 

Visit: nms.as.uk/exhibitions-events 

NEW Clyde’s Winter Trail 
27 Nov 2021 – 9 Jan 2022 
10:00 – 17:00 
Free with pre-booked museum admission 

 
Spot the festive scenes that Clyde, the Clydesdale horse, and his friends have been creating around the museum as they get ready for the festive season. 
 
Our family programming is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 

Visit: nms.as.uk/exhibitions-events  

Follow us on Twitter … twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook … facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram … instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789 

National Museums Scotland: What’s On?

Exhibitions & Displays 

National Museum of Scotland 

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–16:30 daily 


The Typewriter Revolution 

24 Jul 2021–17 Apr 2022 
10:00–16:30 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this new exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons. 

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.   

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters 

Inspiring Walter Scott 

6 Aug 2021–9 Jan 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1 
Free entry 


 On the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him. In this small exhibition we show how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.  
 
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition 

Scotland’s Climate Challenge 

24 Sep 2021 – 27 Mar 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1 
Free entry 

This small exhibition highlights the exciting work being carried out in Scotland to fight against climate change. It brings together just some of the technological responses that have been developed in Scotland or that are being used here in the effort to cut carbon dioxide emissions. On show are a range of leading-edge equipment, much of it newly collected, alongside samples of natural material. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/ClimateChallenge 

Extinction Bell 

24 Sep 2021 – 9 Jan 2022 
The Grand Gallery 
Free entry 

The Extinction Bell is a work by Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram that aims to raise awareness of biodiversity loss. A fire engine bell from National Museums Scotland’s collection has been adapted to toll at random intervals 150-200 times per day. Each ring of the bell symbolises the extinction of a species, representing the number being lost every 24 hours (according to a 2007 report from the UN). 
 
Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/ExtinctionBell 

National Museum of Flight 
 
East Fortune Airfield, B1347, North Berwick EH39 5LF 
Open 10:00-17:00 daily 

LEGO® Concorde Mode
28 Jun – 31 Oct 2021 
10:00 – 17:00 
Free with entry to the museum 
 
Master builder Warren Elsmore and his team have created a LEGO® Big Build of Concorde. Six metres long and made of over 60,000 bricks, the model took five days to build and is now on display under the wings of the real Concorde at the National Museum of Flight. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.  

Visit nms.as.uk/concordemodel  

 
Events 

On-line  
 
The Glenmorangie Annual Lecture: Rediscovering Viking-age Scotland with Michael Wood 

26 Oct 2021 
18:00—19:00 
Watch online 
Free, with option to add a donation 

Join historian and broadcaster Michael Wood and Dr Adrián Maldonado, Glenmorangie Research Fellow, as they take a fresh look at some of the iconic objects on display in the National Museum of Scotland and discuss new research on objects in the museum’s stores. The event celebrates the launch of Adrián’s new book, Crucible of Nations: Viking Age to Medieval Scotland, which reassesses the museum’s 9—12th century collections, uncovering an exciting new vision of Scotland’s diverse and creative past. 

The event includes a live Q&A chaired by writer and broadcaster, Sally Magnusson.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/vikingagescotland 

Art and Science – Communicating the Climate Emergency 

4 Nov 2021 
19:30 – 20:30 
Watch online 
Free, with optional donation 

As the eyes of the world turn to Scotland for the UN Climate Conference in November, join artists Luke Jerram and Philip Pinsky, along with National Museums Scotland curators, for a discussion about the urgency of the climate and biodiversity crisis. Explore how the research and technology being used to tackle these issues can be shared with the wider public, and consider how art can help communicate these critical messages and inspire change. 

Supported by players of the Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 
 

National Museum of Scotland 

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–16:30 daily 

For families 

October Half Term 

18 Oct – 25 Oct 2021 
10:00 – 12:00 & 14:00 – 16:00 
Free, drop-in and online 

Reduce, Reuse, and Rewild this October Half Term with activities to do at home or visit us in the museum to learn more. Take a walk on the wild side with our Rewilding Trail, make musical instruments from things you can find on a walk outside, or “go green” this Halloween and raid your recycling bin to craft a bat rocket and make some monster feet to wear! 

 
Visit nms.ac.uk/OctoberHalfTerm 

For everyone 

And If Not Now, When? 
1 Nov – 14 Nov 2021 
10:30 – 16:30 
Event Space, Level 2 
Free entry, sign up on the day in the Grand Gallery  

And If Not Now, When? is an immersive, reactive, sound and film installation by Edinburgh artists Philip Pinsky and Karen Lamond which invites you to experience a transformed urban reality to inspire hope and possibility.  
 
Confronted with a heightened version of a busy urban junction; heavy traffic, pollution and noise, you will walk through a sound and film installation, guided by a lighted path. As you do so, notice how your position in the room directly impacts the environment around you. Watch and listen as your actions transform one environment into another and end the experience with a vivid and tranquil re-imagining of how we could all live peacefully in our cities. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

 
National Museum of Flight  
East Fortune Airfield, B1347, North Berwick EH39 5LF 
Open daily 10:00 – 17:00 

For families 

Survival Skills 

19 Oct – 22 Oct 2021 
11:30 – 16:00 
Free with pre-booked museum entry 

Take part in survival skills training for all the family at the National Museum of Flight this October half term. Learn how to set up a ‘leave no trace’ camp in the Concorde Hangar and sign up for our family bushcraft workshop.  

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/SurvivalSkills 

Flying into the Future Trail 

26 Jun – 31 Oct 2021 
10:00 – 17:00 
Self-guided activity recommended for families with children aged 7-11 
Free with pre-booked museum entry 

Discover how engineers are working to make air travel less damaging to the environment. Download or pick up your trail to explore the museum while you learn about the challenges faced by the aviation industry and discover some of the innovative solutions that could be used. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/flyingintothefuture 

Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789

COP26 Green Zone: free tickets

In just two weeks leaders from almost every country on earth will gather in Glasgow for COP26 to negotiate how the world can come together to tackle the threat of climate change.

Alongside, the COP26 Green Zone will shine a light on the amazing and diverse world of climate action from 1st November.

From all over the globe, youth activists, Indigenous Peoples, small and large businesses and grass roots communities will be bringing COP26 to life with cultural performances, exhibitions, talks, film screenings and technical demonstrations.

Over 200 events will take place in the Green Zone over the 12 days of the summit. Hosted in the iconic Glasgow Science Centre, it will welcome visitors from 9am – 6pm each day.

Tickets are available free of charge, and most of the events will also be streamed live on the COP26 YouTube channel where people can access content for free and from anywhere in the UK or around the world.

https://greenzonetickets.ukcop26.org/home

Reflections: The Light and Life of John Henry Lorimer

Saturday 6 November 2021 to Sunday 20 March 2022

The first exhibition dedicated to the Scottish artist John Henry Lorimer (1856-1936) will open at the City Art Centre in Edinburgh on Saturday 6 November. 

Reflections: The Light and Life of John Henry Lorimer sees almost 50 oil paintings, watercolours, sketches and objects come together in celebration of the artist’s skill and creativity. 

Over the years, Scottish audiences have shown a lot of support for John Henry, voting Spring Moonlight at the Kirkcaldy Galleries and The Flight of the Swallows at the City Art Centre (above) as their favourite paintings in the galleries’ permanent collections.  Both paintings will be included in the exhibition, along with many from private collections, some of which have not been on public display for several decades. 

Further highlights include the Tate Galleries’ portrait of the artist’s younger brother Sir Robert Lorimer, A.R.A., as a Boy and the Musee d’Orsay’s painting Grandmother’s Birthday. Also known as Benedicte Grandmother’s Birthday, the first painting by a Scottish artist to be bought by the French Government, is displayed with one of the chairs that features in the painting, designed by architect and furniture designer Sir Robert Lorimer. The painting was last exhibited at the Musee d’Orsay in 1989, alongside paintings by Millet, Whistler and Morisot. 

Co-curator Charlotte Lorimer said: “While artists such as Claude Monet and Edgar Degas pushed the boundaries of painting and were rejected by traditional galleries and the Paris Salon, John Henry developed a more classical style and won medals from the Salon and praise from critics.

“History tends to remember the rebels. But there is also a place for the quiet craftmanship of artists such as John Henry.”

Co-Curator David Patterson added: “Here at the City Art Centre, we are really excited to be hosting the first ever major exhibition dedicated to the work of John Henry Lorimer.

“His work, which is so often overlooked in favour of his more radical contemporaries, is technically brilliant and his elegant interiors and light-filled landscapes will uplift everyone’s spirits during the winter months. 

Culture and Communities Convener Councillor Donald Wilson, said: “I’m delighted that the City Art Centre is able to showcase this fantastic exhibition of the rarely seen works of John Henry Lorimer.

“It’s incredible to think this is the first exhibition dedicated to him since his passing in 1936.  Reflections: The Light and Life of John Henry Lorimer will take visitors on a journey of his work through five themes of light, identity, family, femininity and home.  Not only will it be an opportunity to celebrate his work, there are pieces from both public and private collections, the majority of which have not been on public display in decades!”

Culture and Communities Vice Convener Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan said: “We’re excited to be exhibiting the first retrospective of John Henry’s work.

“A technically gifted, but somewhat forgotten artist, this is a chance for audiences to discover his work and learn about the artist himself and the role he played in Scottish art history.  Alongside the exhibition there will be a programme of events and we look forward to revealing more details soon.”

In order to protect and maintain the safety of our visitors and staff, the City Art Centre has introduced a range of safety measures and procedures throughout the venue, including a one-way system, installation of screens at reception, hand sanitiser stations, extra barriers and signage. Staff will be wearing face coverings while offering visitors a very warm, socially distanced welcome.

Reflections: The Light and Life of John Henry Lorimer at the City Art Centre opens on Saturday 6 November 2021, and runs until 20 March 2022.

Admission is free.

Reflections: the Light and Life of John Henry Lorimer has been generously supported by The Lorimer Society, The Inches Carr Trust, The Binks Trust, The East Fife Members Centre and all those who contributed to our crowdfunding campaign.

Food Festival comes to Dalkeith Country Park for the first time

The Great British Food Festival is back this year and is visiting Dalkeith Country Park near Edinburgh for the first time on the 11th and 12th September. The event runs all weekend from 10am-5pm.

After missing 2020 because of the pandemic, the organisers say they can’t wait to be back doing events and are looking forward to bringing their food festival to the area for the first time.

Dan Maycock, one of the organising team said: “Tickets have been selling really well and we are really looking forward to a fantastic foodie weekend”.

Dan added that there is a lot for all the family: “we have lots of great food and drink, chef demos and talks but also forager walks, kids entertainment and great live music, and free parking with your festival ticket.”

The fantastic live music has a play list packed full of local bands and artists, so you can do some shopping, grab some food and then have a well-earned relax with a local beer listening to some great live entertainment all within the beautiful grounds at Dalkeith Country Park.

The events is the perfect recipe for a fun, foodie day out where the whole family ‘bubble’ can get together, visit www.greatbritishfoodfestival.com for more details and tickets (some time slots are now sold out, so book quick!).