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