exhibitions – Page 2 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

National Museums Scotland Listings

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

Beyond the Little Black Dress 
Until 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

Rising Tide: Art and Environment in Oceania
Until 14 Apr 2024
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free

Rising Tide considers our relationship to the natural environment through contemporary artistic responses to climate change and plastic waste by Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander artists.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Rising-Tide

Uniquely Scottish Silver
Until 26 May 2024
Grand Gallery
Free

Uniquely Scottish Silver brings together five distinct Scottish silver object designs: mazers, quaichs, thistle cups, ovoid urns and heart brooches. Discover some of the earliest and rarest survivals within the Scottish silver smiths’ craft.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Uniquely-Scottish-Silver

Theravada Buddhism
Until 09 Jun 2024
Grand Gallery
Free

This thought-provoking display charts the history and influence of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition across the world, including its role in Scotland today. The display includes a Buddha on loan from The Dhammapadipa Temple in Edinburgh. The Buddha was designed and made in Thailand in 2013, then later gifted to Temple where it is now used in their garden meditation room. The image takes inspiration from the Phra Phuttha Chinnarat (Great Victorious Buddha), one of the most revered Buddha images in Thailand.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/theravada-buddhism

Events 

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

Fashionably Late
06 Oct
19:30 – 22:30
£16 – £22 including exhibition entry
Strictly 18+

Our legendary Museum Lates return in October restyled for one night only as Fashionably Late. Join us for an evening of fun, frolics and fashion in the beautiful setting of the National Museum of Scotland at night.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Fashionably-Late

Cultural Connections
16 – 21 Oct
11:00 – 16:00
Around the museum
Free, drop in
Some workshops are paid, bookable

Join us this half term to share in a mixture of music, song, dance, storytelling and art connecting to Africa and the Caribbean.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/cultural-connections

Museum Socials
20 Oct – 15 Dec
Third Friday of the month
10:30 – 12:00
Free

Our Museum Socials events are created for anyone affected by Dementia and their relatives, friends and supporters. Museum Socials create a friendly environment where everyone is welcome and all contributions are valued.

Book now nms.ac.uk/museum-socials

Morning Curator Tour: Rising Tide
01 – 09 Nov
09:15 – 10:00 (doors open at 09:00)

Join curator Dr Ali Clark for an exclusive morning tour of our Rising Tide: Art and Environment in OCeania exhibition. Add a voucher to upgrade your experience with refreshments in one of our museum cafés.

Book now nms.ac.uk/morning-curator-tour

Curiosity Club
25 Nov – 24 Feb 2024
10:30 – 12:00
£10 (Members and Concessions £9)

Unleash your creativity and curiosity topic each month, we’ve captured some of the museum’s most exciting and child friendly collections and themes, for kids to explore through games, activities, and visits to some of our most interactive galleries.

Book now nms.ac.uk/curiosity-club

Magic Carpet Minis
Until 20 Dec
10:30 & 14:00 (Wednesdays)
£15 per child for block of 3

Magic Carpet Minis introduces you and your little one to some of the wonderful galleries, objects and themes in the museum in a fun and gentle way. Taking place in different spaces around the museum, you will explore subjects such as the Natural World, Space, World Cultures and Scottish History through songs, stories, rhymes, actions, objects and sensory play.

Book now nms.ac.uk/magic-carpet-minis

Collection Centre Tours
Until 20 Mar 2024
National Museums Collection Centre

Go behind the scenes on a tour of our state-of-the-art collections and research centre in Granton, Edinburgh. Discover the secrets of how we store our Natural Sciences, Science & Technology and Scottish History & Archaeology collections, and find out how these objects and specimens are used in international research.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/collection-centre-tours

Friday Friends
Until 28 Jun 2024
Selected Friday afternoons
14:00 – 16:00
Free, pre-booking required

Our Friday Friends programme offers a welcoming space for visually impaired and D/deaf children and their families. The groups meet monthly and explore the themes of the museum through objects, music, art and activities.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/friday-friends

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

Half Term Bricks
Sat 14, Sun 15, Sat 21 and Sun 22 October  11:00–13:00 & 14:00–16:00
Concorde Hangar
Free with museum admission

Inspired by our current Brick History display, each day we will have a different build theme. Choose to make something inspired by the theme or build your own creation. For something a bit more energetic, take part in our speed build challenge and see if you can make it to the top of the champions’ board.

Book now nms.ac.uk/half-term-bricks

Behind the Scenes Tours
Until 26 Oct
12:00 – 13:00
Free with museum admission

National Museums Scotland has one of the most comprehensive collections of aircraft engines anywhere in the world, some of which are in the Object Store at the National Museum of Flight, not normally open to the public. Join Aviation Curator Ian Brown for one of our regular guided tours of the museum’s Object Store.

Book now nms.ac.uk/behind-the-scenes-tours

Brick History
Until 05 Nov
10:00 – 17:00
Free with museum admission

Journey through history in our latest LEGO display by brick artist Warren Elsmore and his team.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/Brick-History

Conservation Hangar Tours
Until 31 Mar 2024
Free with museum admission
Booking required

See behind the scenes of the work carried out in the museum’s Conservation hangar with a guided tour and find out more about objects from the collection that aren’t normally on display.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Conservation-Hangar-Tours

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

Lewis’s Scottish Adventure Trail
Until 6 Oct 2023
Trail
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Go on an adventure around the museum with a new family trail at the National Museum of Rural Life.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/lewis-s-scottish-adventure-trail

Tractor Tots
Until 09 Oct

Tractor Tots is a bookable series of playful sensory singalong sessions for under-fives and their adults at the National Museum of Rural Life.

Book now nms.ac.uk/tractor-tots

Bugs and Beasties Trail
07 Oct – 17 Nov
Outdoors
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Find big bugs and beasties, and learn some fun bug facts, on your way to our working farm.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/bugs-and-beasties-trail

Autumn Explorers
17 – 20 Oct
10:30 – 15:30
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Become an Autumn Explorer this October half term at the National Museum of Rural Life. Enjoy family storytelling, an outdoor trail and creative crafts as you learn all about Scotland’s bugs, beasties and creatures.

Find our more nms.ac.uk/autumn-explorers

Adult Workshops: Willow Crafting
28 Oct
Age 16+
Tickets £30 – £35
Advance booking required

Join Max Johnson from Seileach Basketry for a fun, relaxed introduction to willow weaving at the National Museum of Rural Life. Choose from two half-day workshops where you will create your own willow bird feeder or willow platter.

Book now nms.ac.uk/willow-crafting

Festive Weekend
09 – 10 Dec
10:30 – 15:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Celebrate the festive season at the National Museum of Rural Life with family-friendly crafts and live music.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/festive-weekend

Traditional Tunes for Tiny People
09 – 10 Dec
10:30 – 11:15 & 11:30-12:15
Theatre
Adult with one child (under 5) £5
Additional (under 5) £3

Get into the festive spirit with traditional live music sessions for under-fives and their adults at the National Museum of Rural Life.

Book now nms.ac.uk/traditional-tunes

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 10:00–17:00 daily   

Beyond the Little Black Dress 
Until 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

Rising Tide: Art and Environment in Oceania
Until 14 Apr 2024
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free

Delve into the most important and pressing issue of our time, humanity’s damaging relationship with planet Earth. This urgent issue is felt especially deeply in Australia and the Pacific Islands where sea levels are rising due to climate change and the oceans are filling with plastic. Rising Tide considers our relationship to the natural environment through contemporary artistic responses to climate change and plastic waste by Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander artists.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Rising-Tide

Uniquely Scottish Silver
Until 26 May 2024
Grand Gallery
Free

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Uniquely-Scottish-Silver

Events 

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

Audio-Described Access Evening: Beyond the Little Black Dress
12 Sep
17:30 – 19:00
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Age 8+

Explore the Beyond the Little Black Dress exhibition supported by an audio-described tour of key objects, for those who are blind, partially sighted or visually impaired.

Book now nms.ac.uk/audio-described-access-evening

Film Screening: Fashion Reimagined
16 Sep
14:00 – 16:30
Auditorium, Level 1
Tickets £6 – £10
Age 14+

Join us for a screening of this 2022 documentary film following fashion designer Amy Powney of cult label Mother of Pearl, a rising star in the London fashion scene. Documentary Fashion Reimagined follows designer Amy Powney as she embarks on a three-year journey to create a sustainable clothing collection and transform the way we engage with fashion.

Book now nms.ac.uk/fashion-reimagined

Medieval to Modern: Animal Illustration Workshop
16 Sep
10:15 – 16:00
Studio 2, Level 4
Tickets £5 – £6
Age 16+

Join natural history artists Rebecca Jewell and Sandy Ross Sykes to create your own artwork in the style of a Medieval Book of Beasts, inspired by our Library Archives and Natural History collections.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Medieval-to-Modern

Maths in Motion: Family Fun
25 Sep – 1 Oct
10:00 – 17:00
Around the Museum
Free
Drop-in and ticketed activities

Discover Maths in Motion with our Maths Week Scotland family activities.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Maths-in-Motion

Magic Carpet: Maths in Motion Special
27 Sep
10:30 – 11:00 and 14:00 – 14:30
Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free with booking required

Bring your little ones for a fun session on the Magic Carpet exploring maths in motion. Discover shapes, numbers, time and more through songs, action rhymes, objects and sensory play. Suitable for children ages 2–4 and their adult helper.

Bookings open 4 Sep

Find out more nms.ac.uk/magic-carpet

In Conversation: Black British Design
27 Sep
19:00 – 20:30
Auditorium, Level 1
Tickets £6 – £10
Age 14+

Join Maria Casely-Hayford and Sequoia Barnes in a conversation exploring Black British fashion. Discover the trailblazing career of fashion designer Joe Casely-Hayford OBE in this conversation with Sequoia Barnes and Maria Casely-Hayford.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Black-British-Design

Fashionably Late
06 Oct
19:30 – 22:30
£16 – £22 including exhibition entry
Strictly 18+

Book now nms.ac.uk/Fashionably-Late

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

Brick Sundays
03 – 17 Sep
12:00 – 16:00
Free with museum admission

Inspired by our current Brick History display, each Sunday we will have a different build theme. Choose to make something inspired by the theme or build your own creation. For something a bit more energetic, take part in our speed build challenge and see if you can make it to the top of the champions’ board.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/brick-sundays

Doors Open Day 2023
23 & 24 Sep
10:00 – 17:00
Free

Visit the museum for free over Doors Open Days East Lothian weekend and learn about the history of aviation from the First World War to the present day. Immerse yourself in interactive galleries, supersonic experiences and our historic hangars and airfield.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/Doors-Open-Day

Brick History
Until 05 Nov
10:00 – 17:00
Free with museum admission

Journey through history in our latest LEGO display by brick artist Warren Elsmore and his team.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/Brick-History

Conservation Hangar Tours
Until 31 Mar 2024
Free with museum admission
Booking required

See behind the scenes of the work carried out in the museum’s Conservation hangar with a guided tour and find out more about objects from the collection that aren’t normally on display.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Conservation-Hangar-Tours

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

MooFest
16 & 17 Sep
10:20 – 15:30
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Join us for a celebration of all things cattle at the National Museum of Rural Life.New for 2023, this weekend of cattle-inspired activities, talks and tastings for young and old alike.

Book your visit now nms.ac.uk/moofest

Adult Workshop: Natural Dyeing
23 Sep
10:15-16:00
Learning Centre
Age 16+
Tickets £50 – £55
Advance booking required

Join artist Elizabeth Viguie-Culshaw for a hands-on natural dyeing workshop at the National Museum of Rural Life using locally cultivated plants.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Natural-Dyeing

Lewis’s Scottish Adventure Trail
Until 6 Oct 2023
Trail
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Go on an adventure around the museum with a new family trail at the National Museum of Rural Life.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/lewis-s-scottish-adventure-trail

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

National Museums Scotland listings

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

Beyond the Little Black Dress 
Until 29 Oct 2023 
Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3 
Ticketed (concessions available)

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

Rising Tide: Art and Environment in Oceania
12 Aug 2023 – 14 Apr 2024
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Rising-Tide

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   

Experts Radio Lab
8 Aug – 24 Aug
Various days and times
Hawthornden Court
Free, drop in

Experts Radio Lab and the accompanying Listening Station is a free, drop-in experience, set within our pop-up radio studio at the National Museum of Scotland. Interviews are shared live to an audience of fellow interviewees, their families and anyone who’s curious. Share your expertise with us or come along and learn from the masters! You never know what you’ll learn. A production by Alice Mary Cooper and Company.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/experts-radio-lab

Museum Late: Fringe Fridays
11 Aug & 18 Aug
19:30 – 22:30
£16 – £22

Fringe Fridays are back! Enjoy a unique flavour of the Fringe and explore the museum after hours. From comedy and cabaret to music and magic, handpicked performers will showcase highlights from their acts across two adults-only extravaganzas, alongside bars and entry to our summer exhibition, Beyond the Little Black Dress. Acts across the two nights include the Black Blues Brothers, Sunshine on Leith, Cirque Afrique and many more.

Book now nms.ac.uk/museum-late-fringe-fridays

BSL Access Evening: Beyond the Little Black Dress
15 Aug
18:00-19:30
Standard exhibition entry prices apply

Part of Edinburgh Deaf Festival, join us after hours for a Deaf-led BSL tour of key objects in the Beyond the Little Black Dress exhibition.

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 tour will last around one hour with the chance to explore the exhibition independently afterwards.

Book now nms.ac.uk/bsl-access-evening-beyond-the-little-black-dress

Morning Curator Tour: Rising Tide
16 – 24 Aug
09:15-10:00 (doors open at 09:00)
Ticketed

Join curator Dr Ali Clark for an exclusive morning tour of our Rising Tide exhibition, delving nto the stories behind the exhibition and explore the innovative and artistic responses to climate change and plastic waste by Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander artists. Add a voucher to upgrade your experience with refreshments in one of our museum cafés.

Book now nms.ac.uk/morning-curator-tour-rising-tide

Adult Workshop: Introduction to Fashion Illustration
09 Sep
11:00 – 16:00
Studios, Level 4
Age 18+
£45 – £50

Learn the fundamentals of fashion illustration in this drawing class with illustrator, Katie Braid.

Book now nms.ac.uk/fashion-illustration

Audio-Described Access Evening: Beyond the Little Black Dress
12 Sep
17:30 – 19:00
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Age 8+

Explore the Beyond the Little Black Dress exhibition supported by an audio-described tour of key objects, for those who are blind, partially sighted or visually impaired.

Book now nms.ac.uk/audio-described-access-evening

Film Screening: Fashion Reimagined
16 Sep
14:00 – 16:30
Auditorium, Level 1
Tickets £6 – £10
Age 14+

Book now nms.ac.uk/fashion-reimagined

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

Big Build Weekend
26 & 27 Aug
10:30 –16:30
Free with museum admission

Inspired by our current Brick History display, take part in our mass participation Big Build alongside LEGO experts Warren and Teresa Elsmore. You will be building part of a 3-metre-tall Saturn V rocket, the only launch vehicle to carry humans beyond low earth orbit to the moon, which will then become part of the Brick History display until November.

Book now nms.ac.uk/big-build-weekend.

Brick Sundays
3 – 17 Sep
12:00 – 16:00
Free with museum admission

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/brick-sundays

Conservation Hangar Tours
Until 31 Mar 2024
Free with museum admission
Booking required

See behind the scenes of the work carried out in the museum’s Conservation hangar with a guided tour and find out more about objects from the collection that aren’t normally on display.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Conservation-Hangar-Tours

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

Nature Track Packs
Until 31 Aug
10:00 – 17:00
Borrow from the ticket desk
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Explore more at the National Museum of Rural Life this summer with our Nature Track Packs. Each pack contains fun ideas and activities to encourage children to engage all their senses to explore the countryside on a walk up to the farm.

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   

The Declaration of Arbroath
3 Jun – 2 Jul 2023
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3       
Free entry       

The Declaration of Arbroath is a letter dated 6 April 1320 written by the barons and freeholders of the Kingdom of Scotland to Pope John XXII. The letter asked the pope to recognise Scotland’s independence and acknowledge Robert the Bruce as the country’s lawful king. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see one of the most famous documents in Scottish history – the Declaration of Arbroath.

Find our more nms.ac.uk/The-Declaration-of-Arbroath

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.

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

Rising Tide: Art and Environment in Oceania
12 Aug 2023 – 14 Apr 2024
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free

Delve into the most important and pressing issue of our time, humanity’s damaging relationship with planet Earth. This urgent issue is felt especially deeply in Australia and the Pacific Islands where sea levels are rising due to climate change and the oceans are filling with plastic. Rising Tide considers our relationship to the natural environment through contemporary artistic responses to climate change and plastic waste by Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander artists.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Rising-Tide

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   

Edinburgh International Children’s Festival Family Encounters Day
27 May 2023
10:00 – 16:30
Grand Gallery (and beyond)
Free, some performances may require sign up on the day

Join us as we kick off the 2023 Edinburgh International Children’s Festival with Family Encounters – a day of free pop-up performances, artist interventions and activities for the whole family.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Edinburgh-International-Children’s-Festival-Family-Encounters-Day

Insect Week
19 – 24 Jun 2023
Various dates and times

Join us for a bug bonanza with a range of interesting insect activities and resources.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/insect-week

The Declaration of Arbroath: Insights from the Archives
20 Jun 2023
14:00 –15:00
Auditorium
Adult/Over 60: £3
Member/Student/Concession: £2

Inspired by a rare chance to see The Declaration of Arbroath, curator Dr Alice Blackwell and National Records Scotland conservator, Hazel de Vere, discuss its historical significance and material fragility.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Insights-from-the-archives

Discovering Decorative Arts at the National Museum of Scotland
Until 22 Jun 2023
11:00-13:00
In the museum galleries
£155 for 10 sessions (concessions available)

National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses including this ten-week course that will introduce the magnificent arts collections within the National Museum of Scotland. Exploring the historical developments of decorative arts and how they have influenced modern methods and techniques used to create many beautiful objects on display in the museum.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Decorative-Arts

Concert for a Summer’s Night
22 Jun 2023
20:00 – 21:15 (doors open 19:15)
£9-£19 (includes welcome drink)

The Scottish Ensemble’s Concert for a Summer’s Night series is back at the National Museum of Scotland after sell-out performances at venues around Scotland in 2022. Join us for a musical journey that takes in the well-loved (Debussy’s serene Clair de Lune) and the less expected (including music from jazz legend Chick Corea), introductions from the stage and a chance to chat to musicians afterwards. A perfect way to celebrate summer.

Book now nms.ac.uk/concert-for-a-summers-night

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

Conservation Hangar Tours
Until 31 Mar 2024
Free with museum admission
Booking required

See behind the scenes of the work carried out in the museum’s Conservation hangar with a guided tour and find out more about objects from the collection that aren’t normally on display.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Conservation-Hangar-Tours

Operation Sabotage
3 & 4 Jun 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

Awesome Bricks
17 & 18 Jun
10:00 – 17:00
Ticketed
Advance book required

Our hands-on celebration of all things LEGO is back with a wealth of things to see and do. Get a close-up view of incredible LEGO constructions, including an interactive train set, and make your own unique creations in our blue brick build zone.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Awesome-Bricks

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

Lewis’s Scottish Adventure Trail
27 May – 6 Oct 2023
Trail
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Go on an adventure around the museum with a new family trail at the National Museum of Rural Life.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/lewis-s-scottish-adventure-trail

Nature Track Packs
24 Jun – 31 Aug
10:00 – 17:00
Borrow from the ticket desk
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

What’s On at National Museums Scotland

National Museums Scotland listings

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.

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.   

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

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

Science Saturday: exploring the science of Doctor Who
18 Mar 2023
10:30 – 16:00
Grand Gallery (Drop in)

Meet scientists whose research might be helping to turn science fiction into science fact! Contributors include University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University and National Museums Scotland. From AI and quantum realms to different dimensions and time travel, Science Saturday brings together expert-led activities that explore the real science behind Doctor Who‘s interstellar adventures.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/science-saturday

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

Edinburgh Science Festival
1 – 16 Apr 2023

Join us as we host two weeks of science-fuelled exploration at the National Museum of Scotland, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult talks and events.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Edinburgh-Science-Festival

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

Book now nms.ac.uk/Operation-Sabotage

National Lottery Open Week
25 & 26 Mar 2023
10:00 – 16:00
Free entry on presentation of National Lottery ticket (T&Cs apply)   

As a recipient of National Lottery funding, we are inviting players to the museum for free for the weekend, to say thank you for their support. Visitors will need to book a timed entry ticket online for every member of their group in advance of their visit and bring both their admission ticket and lottery ticket or scratch card.

Book now nms.ac.uk/National-Lottery-Open-Week

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

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

Spring Explorers
3 – 6 Apr 2023
10:30 – 15:30
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Our Spring Explorer school holiday activities are back, and this time they’re all to do with Scotland’s folklore and wildlife!

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Spring-Explorers

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

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.

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.   

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.  

Art project inspired by wild swimming set to make a big splash

New artwork celebrates 50+ swimmers in Scotland’s East Coast communities

Fife-based artist Joanna van den Berg will embark upon a new two-year art project inspired by the lure of coastal swimming thanks to National Lottery Funding through Creative Scotland’s Open Fund.

A woman in silhouette walks out to sea in the sunlight

Developed in collaboration with swimmers, coastal artists and communities, Joanna will develop a series of mixed-media artworks, with a companion collection of writing and images.

This new project titled IMMERSE will take the form of a tribute, exploration and celebration of the growing numbers of ‘feisty 50+ers, women in particular’, whose lives, well-being and sense of solidarity have been galvanised through regular immersion in Scotland’s seas, lochs, rivers and reservoirs.

As one of many who started wild swimming during the Covid pandemic, artist Joanna van den Berg has drawn inspiration from the physical and emotional impact of this directly immersive encounter with the landscape. In Joanna’s own words, ‘the act of transitioning from land to water; the shock, the fear, the exhilaration.’

IMMERSE will host a series of exhibition/gathering events in coastal venues, aiming to produce a companion publication/anthology of text and images for wider distribution by December 2024. News on these, along with call-outs for contributors and regular updates on the project, will be available on an IMMERSE Instagram/Facebook channel from January 2023.

Artist Joanna van den Berg says: “I’m delighted to have been awarded Open Project funding for IMMERSE, a project to create visual narrative for the emotional and physical lure of wild, coastal and tidal pool swimming.

“I’ll be developing work that draws directly from the stories and experiences of swimmers in Scotland’s East Coast communities.

“Much of my work is bound in transitions between land and water, lost and found, known and unknown, and is increasingly underpinned by my experience of aging.

“I am one of an armada of wild swimmers (many of whom are older women) with a newfound and directly immersive relationship with the landscape. I’m particularly interested in the correlation of wild swimming with age-related changes to our bodies, lifestyle and social autonomy.”

The project is one of 69 projects receiving a total of £1,197,933 National Lottery funding in this latest round of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund awards.

At a glance, projects include:

Ullapool Book Festival’s 19th annual festival to be held on 5 and 6 May 2023.
A new album from acclaimed Glasgow-based folk band Gnoss.
Look To the Rainbow – the first biography of the Scots-born singer, actress and entertainer Ella Logan from Alison Kerr.
A new duo album fromLouise Dodds and Elchin Shirinov comprised of traditional Scottish Folk Songs and interwoven with influences of both jazz and Azerbaijani folk music.
The Party Shrimp – an interactive, outdoor, visual walkabout performance for children (5+), families from Adrenalism.
A Scotland-wide series of exhibitions, talks and workshops engaging audiences in the story of Bernat Klein, a Serbian born designer whose career based in the Scottish Borders spanned six decades.

Paul Burns, Interim Deputy Director of Arts & Engagement at Creative Scotland said: “As the year draws to a close, we are once again inspired by the range of exciting new projects that have received Open Fund support.

“The diversity and scope of these projects is reflective of our society as a whole, and we hope that these projects will continue to enrich the lives of people of all ages in Scotland in 2023 and beyond.”

National Galleries of Scotland announce unmissable upcoming exhibitions in Edinburgh

A major Grayson Perry retrospective is announced today (28 November). The largest exhibition of Alberta Whittle’s career to date, a solo show by Do Ho Suh, and printmakers’ treasures are also among highlights of the National Galleries of Scotland’s new exhibitions programme.

Next summer, come and see the biggest ever exhibition of Grayson Perry’s work, covering his 40-year career.

Perry has gone from taking pottery evening classes to winning the Turner Prize, presenting television programmes on Channel 4 and writing acclaimed books.

Pottery allowed him the opportunity to indulge his fascination with sex, Punk, and counterculture, amongst other things, in the most unlikely and polite of art forms. Today he is one of Britain’s most celebrated artists and cultural figures.

Popular and provocative, Perry makes art that deals with difficult and complex ideas in an accessible and often funny way. He loves taking on big issues that are universally human: masculinity, sexuality, class, religion, politics and more.

On view will be subversive pots, brilliantly intricate prints, elaborate sculptures, and huge, captivating tapestries – all imbued with Perry’s sharp wit and social commentary. Working with traditional mediums, Perry addresses the controversial issues of our times.

We’ll reveal more information about the exhibition next spring. Running at the Royal Scottish Academy from 22 July until 12 November 2023, discover how and why he has become such a cultural icon.

Alberta Whittle: create dangerously is an immersive exhibition which invites you to slow down and pause.

At the heart of Alberta’s solo show is her generous spirit which promotes compassion and collective care as means of resisting racism and anti-Blackness. Alberta addresses the brutality and harm caused by colonialism, the Transatlantic trade in enslaved people, and the ongoing climate crisis.

Through richly symbolic artworks, she pulls apart the belief that ’racism and police brutality is [just] an English/Scottish problem or an American problem’. Instead, she underlines Scotland’s complicity in the structures of white supremacy.

Often deeply personal, weaving stories of family and belonging, Alberta ultimately offers a message of hope, asking us to imagine a world outside of these damaging systems and ways of thinking.

This will be the largest showing of Alberta’s works to date, with sculptures, digital collages, watercolours and new paintings made especially for the show, taking over the ground floor of Modern One.

Alongside never-before-seen artworks, the free exhibition offers you the opportunity to see Alberta’s extraordinary tapestry, Entanglement is more than blood, and film, Lagareh – The Last Born – which was on display at the Venice Biennale 2022, commissioned by Scotland+Venice.

Alberta Whittle: create dangerously, running from 1 April 2023 until 7 January 2024, will explore the ambition and breadth of the Barbadian-Scottish artist’s career to date. Alberta Whittle: create dangerously is kindly supported by Baillie Gifford, National Galleries of Scotland Foundation and The Alberta Whittle Exhibition Supporters’ Circle.

A first for us and for Scotland: a solo exhibition coming winter 2023/24 of the South Korean-born, London-based Do Ho Suh.

One of the world’s leading contemporary artists, Do Ho Suh will explore the foundational role that drawing and paper play in Suh’s artistic practice, focusing on his collaborative methods, experimental techniques, and innovative use of materials.

The free exhibition, taking over an entire level of Modern One, will present the artist’s complex and compelling thread drawings – in which cotton thread is embedded on handmade paper – alongside architectural rubbings, paper sculptures, cyanotypes, printmaking and watercolours.

There will also be a major new installation of Suh’s famed ‘hubs’, life-size sculptures that recreate physical spaces in colourful, translucent fabric. You can step right inside and immerse yourselves in this innovative reimagining of places meaningful to the artist and his life.

Do Ho Suh is kindly supported by National Galleries of Scotland Foundation, and our associated engagement and audience development initiatives are kindly supported by Baillie Gifford.

Printmaking, one of the most accessible art forms, takes centre stage next Winter. Come and experience the print pioneers who have made their mark in the last five hundred years in Rembrandt to Rego: The Printmaker’s Art.

You will go on a journey from Albrecht Dürer in the fifteenth century right through to contemporary artists including Tracey Emin and Chris Ofili. On the way you will discover how artists have pushed the boundaries in both subject and technique through screen printing, etching, engraving and more.

The show includes many brilliant artists who are now famous for their printmaking; see prints by Andy Warhol, William Blake, Rembrandt, Francisco de Goya, Elizabeth Blackadder, Paula Rego, Bridget Riley, Pablo Picasso and more.

Appreciate the techniques, tools and materials up close – you may even be inspired to give it a go. Rembrandt to Rego: The Printmaker’s Art runs from 2 December until 25 February 2024.

Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2022 marks a welcome return to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

Capturing and sharing emotional, dramatic, or everyday moments in life is the magic of this exhibition.A truly global affair, the prize celebrates the very best in contemporary photography on an international scale.

Sharing work by celebrated professionals and enthusiastic amateurs alike, the images selected for the exhibition share in their ability to move onlookers.

This year’s prize-winning photographs examine a range of subjects – from queerness, transness and the concept of chosen family, socially distanced glimpses into daily lockdown life, to identity and life in former Soviet states.

See several famous faces up close, including footballer and activist Marcus Rashford and Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard. The variety of themes explored throughout the exhibition is matched by the high-quality, contemporary portraiture that reflects the shifting world of today. This free exhibition runs from 17 June until 10 September 2023.

Also at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Making Space: Photographs of Architecture will explore how architecture impacts our lives.

As a record of human life past, present, and future, architecture and people are intrinsically linked. A poorly built environment exacerbates inequality, but architecture has the power to address social issues including homelessness, poverty, and displacement.

This fascinating exhibition will also consider how the built environment has a significant role to play in creating a more sustainable future. On display will be a diverse range of photographic styles, formats and processes dating from the 1840s to the present day.

Follow the line from Hill & Adamson’s early experiments on Edinburgh’s Calton Hill through to spectacular contemporary photographs by Andreas Gursky and Chris Leslie which capture the breath-taking scale of modern buildings. Entry to this exhibition is free and will take place from 7 October 2023 until 3 March 2024.

Your Art World, from summer 2023 to spring 2024, will help young people across Scotland to discover a whole new world of creative possibilities.

This inclusive and interactive exhibition is free to see and includes work generated over the past year from a nation-wide call out to those aged between 3-18 years old.

Your Art World’s goal is to inspire and empower young people to think and act creatively but there’s also the added bonus of having their artwork showcased. All submissions will be displayed both online and at the Scottish National Gallery.

Your Art World is generously supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

The final programme highlight is the return of a keenly-awaited tradition: the opening of Turner in January, an exhibition of mesmerising watercolours to help us through the dark days of winter.

Scotland’s famous collection of J.M.W. Turner watercolours was left to the nation by the great art collector Henry Vaughan in 1900.

Since then, following Vaughan’s strict guidelines, they have only ever been displayed during the month of January, when natural light levels are at their lowest. Because of this, these watercolours still possess a freshness and an intensity of colour, almost 200 years since they were originally created.

Presented at the Royal Scottish Academy, Turner in January will open on New Year’s Day 2023 and be open throughout the month of January. Turner in January is generously supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Sir John Leighton, Director General of the National Galleries of Scotland said: “There is so much to look forward to across our Galleries next year.

“From connecting with Grayson Perry’s craftsmanship up close to slowing down with Alberta Whittle to experience compassion and care, there is something for everyone to discover. Everyone is invited to our Galleries to learn, find a moment of calm, or feel inspired.”

Completing the exhibition programme are free displays currently at the Scottish National Gallery and Modern One respectively: Conserving Scotland’s Art until 16 April, which shines a light on how we preserve art for future generations to enjoy; Conversations with the Collection, offering a fresh way of presenting modern and contemporary art; and until 12 February, New Arrivals: From Salvador Dalí to Jenny Saville, a fascinating showcase of our latest modern and contemporary acquisitions.

National Museum of Scotland listings

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

LAST CHANCE Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life    
Until 30 Oct 2022   

Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3  
Ticketed, £0-£10  
Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders. This exhibition looks 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. .

Book now nms.ac.uk/anatomy   

OPENING SOON 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.    

Find out more nms.ac.uk/BernatKlein     

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder
9 Dec 2022 – 1 May 2023

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

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.  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition  
  

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

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/JapaneseContemporaryDesign       

  
Events

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

Relaxed Morning
6 Nov 2022
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

Magic Carpet Minis
Until 14 Dec 2022
Various times and dates
£15 per child for block of 3

Magic Carpet Minis introduces you and your little one to some of the wonderful galleries, objects and themes in the museum in a fun and gentle way.

Taking place in different spaces around the museum, you will explore subjects such as the Natural World, Space, World Cultures and Scottish History through songs, stories, rhymes, actions, objects and sensory play.

Book now nms.ac.uk/magic-carpet-minis

Friday Friend
Until 31 Dec 2022
14:00-16:00, selected Friday afternoons
Free, pre-booking required

Book now nms.ac.uk/friday-friends

MEMBERS ONLY  In Conversation with the Director: Earth in Space
1 Dec 2022
18:00 –19:00
Auditorium (enter via Lothian Street)
Free for Members, booking required

Join Director Dr Chris Breward, Senior Curator of Science Dr Tacye Philipson, and Senior Curator of Mineralogy Peter Davidson, as we discover how we’ve explored our place in the universe.

Book now nms.ac.uk/earth-in-space

NEW Spotlight On: Bernat Klein
8 Dec 2022
14:00 – 15:00
Auditorium, Level 1
Age 14 +
Free, booking required
Inspired by our exhibition, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour, curator Lisa Mason discusses Bernat Klein’s legacy and how his design philosophy can influence personal style, colour psychology and wellbeing today.

Book now nms.ac.uk/spotlight-on-bernat-klein

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

Bugs and Beasties Trail
Until 28 Nov 2022
10:00 – 17:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Pick up our new Bugs and Beasties Trail inside the museum, then see if you can spot the six eco-friendly cardboard bugs on your way up to the farm. You will discover fun facts about the bugs, but keep your eyes peeled for the slug, snail, slater, spider, beetle and worm!

Find out more nms.ac.uk/bugs-and-beasties  

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

LAST CHANCE Operation Sabotage  
29 & 30 Oct 2022  
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!

Book now nms.ac.uk/operation-sabotage    

Behind the Scenes Tours
Until 26 Oct 2022
11:00–12:00 & 14:00–15:00
Object Store
Free with museum admission
Booking required

Join Aviation Curator Ian Brown for one of our regular guided tours of the museum’s Object Store. Explore some of the collections not normally on public view and discover the fascinating stories behind them.

Book now nms.ac.uk/behind-the-scenes-tour

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

A selection of exhibition and event images are available to download here. For additional information and images visit media.nms.ac.uk or contact media@nms.ac.uk.  

National Museums Scotland Listings

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

  
Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life    
Until 30 Oct 2022   
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3  
Ticketed, £0-£10

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

This exhibition looks 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.  

Book now 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     

NEW Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder
Tickets on sale soon
9 Dec 2022 – 1 May 2023

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!

Visit nms.ac.uk/doctor-who

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  
  

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

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       

  
Events  

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

Burke, Hare and The University of Edinburgh’s Anatomy School  
1 Oct 2022  
10:30 – 16:30  
Seminar Room, Learning Centre, Level 4  
£ 49 (concessions available)  

This one-day course with The University of Edinburgh is designed to complement the National Museum of Scotland’s major new exhibition Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life.   

Examine the study of anatomy within the context of 19th century Edinburgh, including the University’s role as an international centre for medical teaching. Uncover the circumstances that gave rise to the Burke and Hare murders in 1828, and consider the actions of William Burke, William and Margaret Hare, and anatomist Dr Robert Knox.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/burke-hare 

NEW The Beauty of Maths: Tiling, Geometry and Art
2 Oct 2022
10:00-16:30
Learning Centre, Level 2
Free

Part of Maths Week Scotland and hosted by Open University, view art pieces created by artists, mathematicians and engineers before getting hands on to create your own. Explore the exciting work of regular and aperiodic tilings through beautiful artwork and hands on 2D and 3D puzzles.