February 2024 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Exhibitions & displays

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

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

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

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Until 06 May 2024
Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3
Ticketed

In this world-renowned exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, see exceptional images which capture fascinating animal behavior, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world.

Book now nms.ac.uk/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year

Game On
29 Jun – 03 Nov 2024
Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3
Tickets on sale spring 2024

Get set for Game On – the largest interactive exhibition of the history and the culture of video games. Game On, an exhibition conceived and curated by Barbican Immersive, examines the creative and technological advances that have established a new medium and art form. From Sonic the Hedgehog to Mario, explore gaming’s rich history through over 100 playable games from the last five decades.

Events

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

Relaxed Morning
Sun 03 Mar
10:00-12:00 (Quiet space open until 12:30)
Free entry

Join us for our monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum.

Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore some areas of the museum without noisy interactives and videos to give a more relaxed environment.

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

In Conversation: Rachel Bigsby, Wildlife Photographer
09 Mar 2024
14:00–15:00

In celebration of International Women’s Day and our exhibition Wildlife Photographer of the Year, developed by the Natural History Museum, the National Museum of Scotland is proud to host two women who have carved out their careers inspired by the wonders of the natural world.

Join Rachel Bigsby as she shares the joys and challenges of her career in wildlife photography and broadcasting, and hear poetry from Kathleen Jamie, Makar (National Poet for Scotland).

Book now nms.ac.uk/rachelbigsby

Relaxed Access Evening: Wildlife Photographer of the Year
12 Mar 2024
17:30–19:00
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Booking required, ticketed

During this opening, visitor numbers will be limited and, wherever possible, sounds lowered to provide a more relaxed experience. A quiet break-out space will also be available, and a visual welcome guide will be provided in advance to help you prepare for your visit.

This session is primarily for, but not limited to, neurodivergent young people and adults, adults living with dementia, adults with learning difficulties or mental health challenges, or any visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Relaxed-Access

Magic Carpet Minis
Until 20 Mar 2024
10:30 & 14:00 on Wednesdays
£15.00 per child for block of 3
£13.50 per Member 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/MagicCarpetMinis

Behind the Lens: Doug Allan
27 Apr 2024
14:00–15:00
BSL interpreted

Twice winner of the underwater category in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, join photographer, Doug Allan, as he shares insights from his incredible 40-year career and reflects on the impact of climate change on the natural world.

Featuring his own photographs and clips from well-known TV programmes, Doug will discuss how the natural world has inspired his photography, his passion for capturing wildlife on film, and share some of the challenges faced when working in the wild.

Book now nms.ac.uk/DougAllan

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

National Lottery Open Week
16 & 17 Mar 2024
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

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 

Spring Explorers
8 – 11 Apr 2024
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

Tractor Tots 
Until May 2024
10:15 & 13:30
Various dates
Ticketed

Running in blocks of three Friday morning sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for our younger visitors, introducing them to the museum and farm, and bringing it to life through interactive creative play.

Each session will take place in a different location at the museum and working farm, and will feature handling objects from our learning boxes, singing, storytelling, rhymes, actions and sensory play to learn all about life in the countryside. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/tractor-tots 

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

Welcome to your February newsletter

We hope you have survived the recent cold weather!

Friends and supporters cooried in with us recently, enjoying exploring the ever-improving facilities and meeting our partners and trustees.

Some of them even joined Norma and her knitters as they continue their work on next year’s Christmas tree.

The pile of green squares is growing as are the decorations and we are receiving more and more intimations of participation from all over the country, from London to Inverness, including Conwy North Wales and Southport Merseyside.

Why not join the expanding groups of knitters and natterers and support a good cause?

More information on the website and social media or contact
thetree@heartofnewhaven.co.uk

Dementia funding

We are happy to announce the Heart is one of 12 recipients of recent funding awards from Age Scotland, to “build on the difference we are already making”.
The funding will cover the post of our Dementia Centre Manager for a further 12 months.

We will be open one afternoon a week and continue to co-produce a programme of activities that meets members’ needs and interests as well as develop a programme for family carers.

Watch this space and our social media outlets for further news.

Building repairs

You may have noticed the scaffolding being erected around the Victoria Building towards the end of last month.

This is thanks to part of the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund award, plus further funding from The Pilgrim Trust, Historic Environment Scotland and The Community Ownership Fund (Department of Levelling Up) involving essential repairs to the roof and windows.

Work is progressing well and we hope it will be complete by the end of March ensuring the old building is waterproof and cosy, not to mention more eco-friendly!

Ukranian cooking

The local Ukranian Community are also running a cooking workshop at the Heart on Saturday 3rd February from 12 till 2pm. Come along and learn how to make Ukrainian dishes!

This time they are making pierogies, also known as varenyky or dumplings, both sweet and savoury kinds, with three kinds of stuffing: mashed potato, sweet cottage cheese, and cherries.

Use the link to book your space:

Ukrainian cooking workshop: sweet and savoury varenyky Tickets, Sat 3 Feb 2024 at 12:00 | Eventbrite

Next Coorie-In

We are very pleased to be able to invite you to our ‘Coorie-In for Winter’ event at The Heart on Monday 5th February, 2 – 3.30 p.m. This is a great opportunity to mingle with our partners and groups to find out what’s on offer here at The Heart and how YOU can get involved!

Come along and browse the information stalls, chat directly with partners and group facilitators, visit the Heritage Suite and the Victorian Schoolroom!

Book now for your summer Victorian experience

One of our very first partners, the History of Education Centre (HEC aka the Victorian Schoolroom) has asked us to let everyone know that they are available for bookings over the summer holidays.

So if you know of a group of adults or children, perhaps a community group or an after-school club, that would like to experience the Victorian Schoolroom and adjacent Victorian Homelife Exhibit, tell them to get in touch with HEC via: histedcentre@gmail.com

Visits normally last around two hours but can be adapted to your preferences.
Check out their website for further details : histedcentre.org.uk

Eyemouth Disaster wall plaques search

If you’ve checked the Heart’s Culture & Heritage blog recently, you will know that our heritage lead, Christine, is looking for information on a series of wall plaques that were created for the families of the 17 fishermen who drowned in the Eyemouth Disaster in 1881.

Read the blog on the website for more details and get in touch with Christine at christine.mcderment@heartofnewhaven.co.uk if you know if any of them still exist.

Your ideas for our oyster mural

Would you like to be involved in creating a mural for our Anchor Building?

Restoration Forth is working with mural artist Natasha Russell to celebrate oyster reintroduction in the Firth of Forth and cultural connections to oysters.

We would love to hear your ideas for how you would like the mural to look and what imagery it could include.

Share your thoughts by filling out this online form:

– https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx…

or pop into The Heart and submit a drawing or written ideas.

There are paper forms you can pick up with some questions and a space for creative design sharing.

Work with us on our next big heritage project

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced project worker (two days per week) to coordinate and deliver a Heritage Lottery Fund funded project: ‘Our Schooldays’- memories and legacies’ – Heritage tales from Newhaven, Trinity and Leith Harbour’.

The post is funded from April 2024 for 18 months and will be based in the Heart. The project will use the heritage of schooldays as a means of bringing people together, enabling participants of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds to learn more about each other, by sharing experiences and memories.

We are looking for a highly motivated individual with experience of community development work.

Click here to complete the application form.

Contact lynne.porteous@heartofnewhaven.co.uk if you have any questions about the position. Closing date for applications: February 12th, interviews scheduled for 26th February

Hear About …

Remember to come along to our series of winter talks, Hear About, all on Friday afternoons at 3pm. The next ones will be:

Friday 2nd February – City archaeologist John Lawson on what emerged from the tram extension,

Friday 9th February – Jane Evans on the Newhaven Witches,

16th February – Gillian Gray on Your Heart,

23rd February – archaeologist Rob Engl on the playground excavation.

Check the website and social media for further details.

The talks are free but it’s useful to have an idea of numbers so please advise us at admin@heartofnewhaven.co.uk if you’d like to come along and if you have mobility issues.

Come and enjoy a trip down memory lane

The next meeting of the Reminiscence Group will be at the Heart on Thursday 22nd February. The session runs from 10.30 – 11.30 am. What will be the topic this time? Come and find out.

The sessions will now run on the last Thursday of every month, at the same time, so check your calendars and mark off the days!

Next month

Watch out for the next Leith folk Club event, being held in the Heart on 5th March when the Tannahill Weavers will be stopping by.

Check out their website at www.leithfolkclub.com and reserve your place.

Tag: February 2024

What’s On at National Museums Scotland