What’s On at National Museums of Scotland

Exhibitions & Displays

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

Japanese Contemporary Design
Until 5 Mar 2023
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1
Free Entry

From striking statement jewellery to prints and porcelain vases, this new free display considers how Japanese contemporary makers have combined innovative and traditional art, craft and design elements over the past five decades.

The star object is Hitomi Hosono’s A Large Pine Tree Pool, a sculptural porcelain bowl with complex hand-carving made and acquired in 2019. Further highlights include Junko Mori’s intricate New Pinecone Silver Organism, and colourful body adornments by jeweller Suō Emiko’s adapted from metalworking and engraving techniques traditionally used in the making of Japanese sword fittings.

Visit nms.ac.uk/JapaneseContemporaryDesign

The Typewriter Revolution
Until 11 Sep 2022
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free entry

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this 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

Following 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 and supporting Year of Stories 2022.

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition

Book of Hours
Until 3 Aug 2022
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1)
Free

Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display.

Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen.

The book will be exhibited in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery in a display alongside other objects associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Six different pages within the book will be revealed, with a new page displayed every three weeks. A QR code will allow you to scroll through the vividly illustrated pages in detail.

The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein.

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life
2 Jul – 13 Nov 2022
Member Preview Day 1 Jul
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.

Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers.

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy

Bernat Klein: Design in Colour
5 Nov 2022 – 23 Apr 2023
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free entry

Marking the centenary of his birth, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour will celebrate the work of the influential émigré textile designer.

Visitors will be able to explore Klein’s creative process and varied career, from providing couture fabrics for fashion designers to his influence on modernist architecture and interior design in the UK and Scandinavia

Visit nms.ac.uk/BernatKlein

Events

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

How The Nose Got Its Sneeze
11 – 12 Jun 2022
10:00-16:45
Event Space, Level 2
Free sign up on the day

In this fun and immersive play adventure, children will explore what happens inside the nose when things like smoke, dust and pollen get inside and how the nose defends our precious lungs against these invaders.

Play will start with a story to set the scene, followed by a journey through a giant nose and then continue with lots of loose-part-play within two large lung-shaped domes. A gentle soundscape of music and breathing will surround the hands-on activity. OKIDO play rangers and lung researchers will be on hand to help with questions and fun!

This event is for under-fives but parents, carers, grandparents and older siblings are encouraged to join in too!

In partnership with OKIDO Studio.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events

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

Bird Bingo
1 Apr – 31 Aug 2022
10:00-17:00
A trail around the museum
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Come and play Bird Bingo at the National Museum of Rural Life!

Can you find all the birds hiding around the museum? Using the clues on our family trail sheet, see if you can spot different birds in our museum galleries and learn fun facts about them on your journey.

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Find out more nms.ac.uk/birdbingo

Woolly Weekend
28 – 29 May 2022
11:00-16:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Visit the National Museum of Rural life to celebrate the start of summer and all things woolly. Our petting zoo is open from 12:00 – 15:00 with a rabbit, guinea pig, duck and chicken. See our shearer at work with our Scottish Blackface sheep and enjoy wool-themed family crafts and activities.

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Find out more nms.ac.uk/woollyweekend

National Museum of Flight
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
Open daily 10:00 – 16:00

Falklands 40 and the Vulcan at War

28 – 29 May 2022
10:00 – 17:00
Concorde Hangar and Vulcan Aircraft
Free with museum admission

Learn about the role of the Vulcan in the Falklands War, with talks, tours and displays to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the conflict.

The Vulcan aircraft on display at East Fortune, serial number XM597, took part in Black Buck missions, attacking Argentinian radar defences. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the conflict, some of the crew members and personnel involved in Operation Black Buck are visiting the museum to share their stories in a series of talks and tours.

In the Concorde Hangar, visitors will also be able to see a small photography display and some of Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum’s Airborne Forces Collection, and younger visitors will have the chance to make a paper Vulcan underneath Concorde.

Find our more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events

Awesome Bricks
18 Jun –19 Jun 2022
10:00-17:00
Ticketed

Join us for one of Scotland’s biggest LEGO events. See a host of unique and inspiring LEGO constructions, including a 3D hot air balloon festival, and get hands-on in our blue brick build zone.

Awesome Bricks is produced in partnership with Warren Elsmore.

Book now nms.ac.uk/awesomebricks