Half-Term at National Museums Scotland

The Scottish February half term is almost here. The latest National Museums Scotland listings include ideas for the whole family this half term.

For additional information and images visit media.nms.ac.uk or conttact: media@nms.ac.uk. 

Family Events 

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

Half Term: Galleries and Galaxies
13 – 18 Feb 2023
Grand Gallery
Free, drop in
Orbit around our out-of-this-world Space themed activities.
Make a space monster at our craft station and drop by our Spark Cart for some intergalactic demos and object handling.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Half-Term

Madlab Electronic Workshops
13 – 14 Feb 2023 (various times)
Studio One
£15, Child 7 -14
£13.50, Members & Concessions
Solder your own flashing alien or Space Screwdriver with Madlab. Learn the secrets of soldering, find out how electrical circuits work and make your own electronic gizmo to keep.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Madlab-Electronic-Workshop

Pop up Planetarium Shows
17 – 18 Feb 2023
Event Space
10:30, 11:15, 12:00, 13:30, 14:15, 15:00
£2.50, Adult
£2.00, Members & Concessions
£2.00, Child 0 – 14 years
Be amazed by the wonder of Space in these spectacular shows from Cosmos planetarium.
Cosmos planetarium is a state of the art, fully digital, 360° immersive multi-media experience.
There will be three exciting shows to choose from, one specifically for under 5s and the other two shows suitable for 5+. One of the shows will be a relaxed session suitable for children with additional support needs.

Book now nms.ac.uk/pop-up-planetarium

Exhibitions & displays

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

Bernat Klein: Design in Colour
Until 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

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Bernat-Klein-Design-in-Colour

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder 
Until 1 May 2023
Ticketed (concessions available)
Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder features eight zones filled with immersive, hands-on experiences. Travel through the Time Vortex Corridor, discover Sonic Screwdrivers, teleportation technology and much more in a TARDIS Tech room, and get up close with some of the series’ weird and wonderful creatures in the Monster Vault.

Join us for the Scottish premiere of this ground-breaking exhibition. It’s bigger on the inside! 

Book now nms.ac.uk/Doctor-Who-Worlds-of-Wonder

COMING SOON Beyond the Little Black Dress 
1 Jul – 29 Oct 2023
Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3
Ticketed (concessions available)
From design classics to cutting-edge catwalk creations, this exhibition deconstructs the little black dress and examines the radical power of the colour black in fashion.

The exhibition will chart a century of fashion in a series of themed, immersive displays. Iconic early pieces by Yves Saint Laurent, Dior and Jean Muir will be juxtaposed with recent looks by ground-breaking contemporary designers and brands like Gareth Pugh, Simone Rocha and Off-White. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Beyond-the-Little-Black-Dress

Japanese Contemporary Design
Until 30 Jul 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.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Japanese-Contemporary-Design

Events 

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

Relaxed Morning
5 Feb 2023
10:00 – 12:00 (quiet space open until 12:30) 
Join us for our monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with autistic children; autistic young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Relaxed-Morning

Gaelic Week Edinburgh
22 – 25 Feb 2023
Enjoy live music and storytelling during Gaelic Week | Edinburgh at the National Museum of Scotland. Running from 20-26 February, the wider festival celebrates the theme of “Coming Together / A’ Tighinn Còmhla”, inspired by post-pandemic recovery.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Gaelic-Week-Edinburgh

A Night of Science and Wonder
2 – 3 Mar 2023
18:30 – 22:30
£18 – £22 including talk and exhibition entry
Two exclusive evenings celebrating our Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Our adult-only events will explore the creative innovation and cutting-edge science behind the global hit television series, Doctor Who. Each night will feature an expert perspective on either space science or Doctor Who, plus themed hands-on activities. Tickets also include entry to our Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition.

Book now nms.ac.uk/A-Night-of-Science-and-Wonder

Refuge Britain: Stories of Émigré Designers
4 Mar 2023
14:00 – 16:00
Auditorium, Level 1
Age 14+
Ticketed, concessions available
Inspired by our exhibition, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour, join curator Lisa Mason and Dr Anna Nyburg to explore the work of revolutionary émigré textile designers, Bernat Klein and Tibor Reich. This event features an exclusive screening of the 2017 documentary film, Refuge Britain: Stories of Émigré Designers. There will also be the chance to view our free exhibition Bernat Klein: Design in Colour before or after the event.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Refuge-Britain

BSL Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder
7 Mar 2023
17:30 – 19:30
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Standard exhibition entry princes apply
Join us after hours for a Deaf-led BSL tour of key objects in the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Step inside the TARDIS to discover the science behind the global hit television series Doctor Who.

Explore hands-on immersive experiences and see amazing props from across the programme’s history in this must-see exhibition.

Book now nms.ac.uk/BLS-access-evening-doctor-who

Bernat Klein: Design Matters
28 Mar 2023
Free, with optional donation
Join curator Lisa Mason to discuss the legacy of visionary textile designer Bernat Klein and discover how his design ethos is inspiring designers working today with contemporary designers Kirsty McDougall and Sam Reich to discuss Klein’s legacy as a designer, educator and theorist, as well as his enduring belief in design as a force for good in society.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Design-Matters

Audio Described Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder
28 Mar 2023
17:30–19:30
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Standard exhibition entry prices apply
Join us after hours for an audio-described tour of key objects in the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Step inside the TARDIS to discover the science behind the global hit television series Doctor Who. Explore hands-on immersive experiences and see amazing props from across the programme’s history in this must-see exhibition.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Audio-Described-Access-Evening-Doctor-Who

Relaxed Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder
18 Apr 2023
17:30–19:30
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Standard exhibition entry prices apply
Join us for a relaxed after hours visit to Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder for anyone who would prefer a calmer visit to the exhibition. During this opening, numbers will be reduced and wherever possible, sounds will be lowered and light levels adjusted to provide a more relaxed experience. A quiet, breakout space will also be available. A visual welcome guide will be provided in advance to help you prepare for your visit.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Relaxed-Access-Evening-Doctor-Who-Worlds-of-Wonder

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

Operation Sabotage
18 & 19 Mar 2023
Age 14+ event
Ticketed
The year is 1942 and you are stationed at the RAF base at East Fortune. There has been an act of sabotage and one of the aircraft is unknowingly carrying live ordnance with instructions to bomb the town. Solve a series of fiendish puzzles to call off the flight and save North Berwick! Operation Sabotage is an escape room experience for 4-8 people that lasts up to an hour. Working together as a team, you must race against the clock in two Second World War-themed rooms to decipher the identity of the saboteur before it’s too late.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Operation-Sabotage

Test Flight
10 –14 Apr 2023
11:00 –16:00
Follow the Wright brothers and design your own aeroplane, drawing inspiration from the collection at the National Museum of Flight. Nearly 120 years ago the Wright Brothers flew the first powered and controlled aeroplane. Take inspiration from our Civil Aviation collection and make your own flying machine.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Test-Flight

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

For additional information and images visit media.nms.ac.uk or contact media@nms.ac.uk.  

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Half-Term at National Museums Scotland

Published by

davepickering