Dino-sauring into Edinburgh Science Festival 2023’s final weekend, the National Museum of Scotland is hosting the second of the Festival’s themed family weekends: EarthFest.
From prehistoric creatures to the cutting edge of climate science, EarthFest is a t-rriffic celebration of the world around us that offers the chance to learn more about our planet, the animals that live here and how we can take care of it.
Families can build their own dinosaur from giant bones in the Grand Gallery’s drop-in activities zone, and adventure through a world of sustainability in Two in a Barrel.
PICTURED: Thane Elders (age 7) getting ready for EarthFest this weekend at the National Museum of Scotland.
Edinburgh Science Festival is setting down its roots in the city today, as the 2023 edition of the Festival kicks off on Saturday, 1 April.
This year’s theme – Let’s Experiment – will see Edinburgh transformed into a living laboratory, with a jam-packed programme of hands-on science for people of all ages at 31 venues across the city.
One of the Festival’s flagship venues, the National Museum of Scotland, housesTrees of Life in its Grand Gallery from 1 April, presented as part of the Experimental Life interactive activity.
Created by Edinburgh-basedWe Throw Switchesin collaboration with Berlin-based artist Robin Baumgarten and award-winning composer and artist Luci Holland, Trees of Life is a specially commissioned, playable, interactive installation that explores Charles Darwin’s revolutionary theory of evolution through natural selection.
It is supported by Lumo and developed with support from Creative Scotland through the Scottish Government’s Festivals Expo Fund.
The National Museum of Scotlandalsohosts two themed weekends of family fun bookending the Festival. FutureFest (1-2 April) celebrates technology, robotics, artificial intelligence, coding, computers and space, offering children and families the chance to take a moment to wonder at the stars in a pop-up planetarium and create their vision for the future with LEGO® Build the Change.
From prehistoric creatures to the cutting-edge of climate science, EarthFest (15-16 April) is a celebration of the world around us that offers the chance to learn more about our planet, the animals that live here and how we can take care of it.
Learn about animal intelligence in the interactive Amazing Animals show and build your own dinosaur skeleton with giant bones.
The Declaration of Arbroath will be displayed at the National Museum of Scotland this summer for the first time in 18 years.
The display has been organised in partnership between National Museums Scotland and National Records of Scotland, who are custodians of the document. The famous document will be on show from 3 June to 2 July 2023.
The document has not been on public display for 18 years, when it was last displayed at the Scottish Parliament. The iconic and fragile 700-year-old document, which is cared for and preserved for future generations by National Records of Scotland, can only be displayed occasionally in order to ensure its long-term preservation.
The Declaration was initially due to be displayed in April 2020 to coincide with its 700th anniversary, but this had to be postponed due to the pandemic. The new summer date has been chosen to give as many people as possible the rare chance to see one of Scotland’s most important historical documents.
The Declaration of Arbroath is a letter dated 6 April 1320, written by the barons and freeholders of Scotland, on behalf of the Kingdom of Scotland, to Pope John XXII asking him to recognise Scotland’s independence and acknowledge Robert the Bruce as the country’s lawful king.
The letter also asks the Pontiff to persuade King Edward II of England to end hostilities against the Scots, so that their energy may be better used to secure the frontiers of Christendom.
The Declaration was probably drafted at a meeting of the King and his council at Newbattle, then written up in the scriptorium of Arbroath Abbey. Written in Latin, it was sealed by eight earls and about forty barons. It was authenticated by seals, as documents at that time were not signed. Only 19 seals now remain.
Alice Blackwell, Senior Curator of Medieval Archaeology and History at National Museums Scotland said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to display the Declaration of Arbroath here at the National Museum of Scotland.
“It is a hugely significant document and a vital piece of Scotland’s history. We look forward to welcoming many visitors to enjoy the rare opportunity of seeing this iconic document close up.”
Culture Secretary, Angus Robertson said: “The Declaration of Arbroath is of great historic and cultural interest to Scots and people around the world of Scottish descent.
“The display of this iconic document will give people from across Scotland and further afield a wonderful opportunity to visit the museum and see this important piece of history for themselves.”
Laura Mitchell, Deputy Keeper, National Records of Scotland, said: “The Declaration of Arbroath is a key treasure in our extensive collections and we are proud of the role we play in conserving this significant historical artefact for future generations.
“The display will allow Scots and visitors from further afield to see this famous document for the first time in 18 years.”
The Declaration was written during the long Wars of Independence with England when, despite the Scots’ success at the Battle of Bannockburn, Robert I had not been recognised as king by either Edward II or by the Pope, and had been excommunicated by the latter.
At this time, the Pope desired peace between England and Scotland, so both could help in a crusade to the Holy Land. The Declaration sought to influence him by offering the possibility of support from the Scots for his long-desired crusade if they no longer had to fear English invasion.
After receiving the Declaration, the Pope urged reconciliation between the warring sides and a truce was agreed in 1323. A peace treaty was signed between England and Scotland in March 1328 and the following year the Pope issued a papal bull permitting the anointing and crowning of a King of Scots.
The peace was short-lived, however, as the Second War of Independence broke out in 1332 and went on for twenty-five years.
Tickets for the National Museum of Scotland’s summer exhibition Beyond the Little Black Dress go on sale tomorrow, Friday 3 March.
Tickets for the National Museum of Scotland’s summer exhibition Beyond the Little Black Dress go on sale tomorrow, Friday 3 March, 2023.
The major fashion exhibition, which runs from 1 July to 29 October 2023, demonstrates how an iconic wardrobe staple has become a blank canvas for designers to convey political and cultural ideas.
When Coco Chanel introduced her simple short black dress in 1926 it was hailed by US Vogue as “the frock that all the world will wear”. From Chanel’s pioneering day dress through to innovative modern creations, the exhibition uses the lens of the ‘LBD’ to explore representations of gender, race, sexuality and subcultural styles.
Featuring classic fashion houses such as Dior, Balenciaga and Yves Saint Laurent, Beyond the Little Black Dress also includes garments from contemporary designers like Comme des Garçons, Maximilian, Molly Goddard and Gareth Pugh.
To mark tickets for Beyond the Little Black Dress going on sale, a pair of images by photographer David Eustace have been unveiled.
Georgina Ripley, Principal Curator of Modern and Contemporary Design at National Museums Scotland said: “We are delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for our biggest ever fashion exhibition, Beyond the Little Black Dress.
“These new images by David Eustace, one of Scotland’s best known photographers, give visitors an exciting taste of what they will see in the exhibition. Featuring two looks by groundbreaking British designer Gareth Pugh, they demonstrate how contemporary designers are subverting expectations and putting their own mark on a wardrobe staple.”
The photographs show Scottish model Zelda Smyth in two striking Gareth Pugh dresses, which will be featured in the exhibition. One is hand-embroidered with black plastic drinking straws and the other embellished with bin bags woven into extraordinary forms. The ‘neo-goth’ designer regularly challenges classical fashion norms and uses unexpected materials to disrupt the conventions of high fashion.
David Eustace said: “Beyond the Little Black Dress explores how designers are really pushing the creative boundaries to challenge what we think we know about an iconic garment, and that’s particularly evident in these two striking dresses by Gareth Pugh.
“Little black dresses made of bin bags or plastic drinking straws might not immediately evoke a sense of glamour, but their clever construction, the manner in which they move and the way the light plays on the materials transforms them into high fashion pieces worthy of the red carpet. They were a joy to photograph and I look forward to seeing them on display in this unique exhibition.”
Sponsored by Baillie Gifford, Beyond the Little Black Dress spans a century of fashion, considering the role of the colour black in a global context. The issue of sustainability of the fashion industry is pulled into focus, looking at the future of production, including garments that utilise smart technologies.
Black British design is celebrated through looks from Maximilian, A-COLD-WALL* and Joe Casely-Hayford among others.
Beyond the Little Black Dress will be accompanied by a publication and programme of events. Tickets will be available to book at www.nms.ac.uk/littleblackdress.
National Museums Scotland Members free.
Book in advance to save, general admission: Adult £12-14.50, Over 60s £10-12.50, Student, Unemployed, Disabled, Young Scot £7.50-10, Under 16s Free, Carers Free
Two portraits of important members of the Chief of Clan Grant’s household are now on display in the National Museum of Scotland.
The oil paintings by Richard Waitt were commissioned in 1713 by Alexander, the Laird of Grant, as part of a larger series depicting prominent clan members. They were created for Castle Grant, the chief’s seat near Grantown-on-Spey, intended to impress visitors and convey the Laird’s traditional authority and status as a Highland chieftain.
Shown wearing distinctive Highland dress, the subjects are ‘The Piper’ and ‘The Champion to the Laird of Grant’. The bagpipe and the basket-hilted sword are symbols of their ceremonial positions, emblematic of traditional clan values and customs.
The ‘Piper’ is William Cumming who was from at least seven generations of Cummings pipers to the Grants. He flies the heraldic banner of the Grants, with Castle Grant in the background.
The ‘Champion’ is Alasdair Mòr Grant, the strongest fighter in the clan, who managed the Laird’s timber business. His combined roles hint to a changing clan society as the shift in land use saw Highland chiefs become landlords.
Principal Curator, Renaissance and Early Modern History, Dr Anna Groundwater said: “We are grateful to Reidhaven Trust for the long-term loan of Richard Waitt’s portrait of ‘The Champion to the Laird of Grant’. We are delighted that it has been reunited with ‘The Piper’ and is now on permanent display, as they once were in Castle Grant.
“This is not a romanticised version of an imagined past – the figures in their Highland dress are documented as they looked at the time. Together they provide an insight into clan society from a time when this way of life was on the wane.”
Both works are now on display in the Scotland Transformed gallery at the National Museum of Scotland. They accompany objects relating to the Jacobite challenges, including Bonnie Prince Charlie’s silver travelling canteen, a targe that also belonged to the prince, and regimental colours from both Jacobite and Hanoverian regiments carried into battle at Culloden.
Saturday 1 July to Sunday 29 October 2023 National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh
nms.ac.uk/littleblackdress
#BeyondLBD
A new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland will deconstruct the little black dress, examining the radical power of the colour black in fashion. From design classics to cutting-edge catwalk creations, Beyond the Little Black Dress (1 July to 29 October 2023) will bring together more than 60 striking looks from collections and designers around the world.
The colour black can be interpreted in many subtle and often contradictory ways. The exhibition will explore how its complexities have made the little black dress simultaneously expressive of piety and perversion, respect and rebellion; from the well-mannered cocktail attire of the early 20th century to the leather and latex worn by members of punk and fetish subcultures.
Beyond the Little BlackDress will open with a simple, short black dress designed by Coco Chanel in 1926. Considered radically modern, it disregarded convention entirely in both the stark design and sombre shade, that had traditionally been associated with mourning.
At the time it was hailed by US Vogue as “the frock that all the world will wear”. The ‘little black dress’ became a wardrobe staple, a symbol of femininity and a byword for chic, with each new silhouette capturing the spirit of its time.
The little black dress remains a blank canvas for broader political and cultural shifts. It can challenge social norms around race, gender and sexuality to reflect evolving ideals of beauty and identity, proving its infinite capacity for reinvention.
Visitors to Beyond the Little Black Dress, which is sponsored by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers, will discover 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.
Areas of the exhibition will be dedicated to highlighting Black British designers whose work explores both Blackness in terms of identity, and the role the colour black plays in crafting a futuristic, sci-fi aesthetic. Elsewhere, the exhibition considers how perceptions of the colour black differ in a global context, as well as how the intervention of smart technologies are establishing a blueprint for a more sustainable future.
Georgina Ripley, Principal Curator, Modern and Contemporary Design at National Museums Scotland, said: “Few garments are as iconic as the little black dress, which has often been held up by the fashion industry as the one piece every woman should have in her wardrobe.
“It has evolved dramatically in the century since its creation. From a simple shift dress which helped democratise women’s fashion to a bold political statement, it has moved through various iterations which reflect changing ideals of beauty and body image.
“Displaying classic couture, avant-garde pieces and garments that make a political statement, this exhibition will explore its enduring success, and ask why, in the fickle and fast-paced fashion world, the little black dress has achieved that rare status of being truly above the fray.”
Sam Pattman, Philanthropy Manager at Baillie Gifford Investment Managers said: “We are delighted that our successful relationship with National Museums Scotland continues with our support for Beyond the Little Black Dress.
“This exciting exhibition takes a fresh look at a timeless classic, examining how it has remained in style for nearly a century and displaying a dazzling selection of garments from those worn by royalty to truly avant-garde creations at the cutting edge of the fashion industry.”
National Museums Scotland’s internationally significant fashion and textiles collection comprises around 50,000 objects and is one of the largest in the UK.
The collection includes textiles dating back to the 14th century and clothing and accessories dating from the 16th century to the present day. Beyond the Little Black Dress follows the acclaimed exhibition Body Beautiful: Diversity on the Catwalk.
The exhibition is curated by Georgina Ripley, Principal Curator, Modern and Contemporary Design, National Museums Scotland, Dr Sequoia Barnes, Guest Curator and Carys Wilkins, Assistant Curator Modern and Contemporary Design, National Museums Scotland.
It will be accompanied by a publication and programme of events.
A new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland explores the life and career of one of the 20th century’s leading forces in Modernist design, in the centenary year of his birth.
Bernat Klein: Design in Colour celebrates the work of the Serbian-born textile designer Bernat Klein (1922 – 2014) who settled in the Scottish Borders after the Second World War.
The exhibition examines his creative process and varied career; from supplying innovative couture fabrics to some of Europe’s top fashion houses to his strong influence on architecture and interior design in the UK and Scandinavia.
Opening on 5 November, it marks the centenary of Klein’s birth and is part of a series of cultural events developed by the Bernat Klein Foundation to celebrate the designer in 2022. It charts his 60-year career as a textile designer, artist, educator, and colour consultant.
National Museums Scotland acquired his archive in 2010. This internationally significant collection of around 4,000 objects ranges from fabrics and garments to design development material.
Highlights from the collection are on display in the exhibition – including couture fashion, interior designs, textiles and original artworks – alongside newly acquired pieces which contextualise Klein’s work and recognise his legacy. Made possible with Art Fund support through the New Collecting Awards, these acquisitions include creations by fellow textile designers Ascher Ltd and Tibor Reich.
Bernat Klein was born in Yugoslavia (now Serbia) in 1922, to an Orthodox Jewish family who ran a wholesale textile business. He attended the Bezalel School of Art & Craft in Jerusalem in the 1940s, where his exposure to Bauhaus ideas and the modernist architecture of Israel had a profound influence on him.
He escaped the rise of Naziism across Europe, going on to study textile technology at Leeds University before settling in the historic textile centre of Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, establishing his design and manufacturing business, Colourcraft in 1952.
Part of a new wave of designers re-invigorating British industry and contributing to economic regeneration in the post-war period, he is best known for his highly original fashion textiles, with their rich textures and exuberant colour palette. A significant career breakthrough came when Coco Chanel selected one of his mohair tweed fabrics for her spring/summer 1963 collection.
His couture cloths quickly came to dominate international catwalks throughout the 1960s, with designers such as Balenciaga, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Hardy Amies all featuring his work.
The company established offices in London and Paris and sold fabrics to the American womenswear market. Klein also designed ready-to-wear fashion and textiles for home dressmakers.
He had a lifelong passion for colour and worked as a colour consultant and industrial designer for various national and international firms. In 1966 he set up a design consultancy company, collaborating with progressive interior firms in Britain and Scandinavia.
He was an accomplished painter and found inspiration in the landscape surrounding his Borders home, High Sunderland. Klein commissioned the architect Peter Wormersly to design the building, which is recognised today as one of Scotland’s finest modernist homes.
Lisa Mason, Assistant Curator of Modern & Contemporary Design at National Museums Scotland said: “Bernat Klein was a key figure in Modernist design, and one of the 20th century’s most celebrated textile designers.
“His archive is remarkably broad and rich, and this stylish exhibition will display some of its highlights, examining his exceptional contribution to the design world and his ongoing legacy and influence.
“The Scottish Borders were his home and inspiration for six decades, and the exhibition will also explore the story of the relationship between his work, the landscape and the local textile industry.”
The National Museum of Scotland is calling for memories of famous artist and designer Bernat Klein ahead of a major exhibition of his work opening next month. Klein (1922 – 2014) was born in Yugoslavia (now Serbia) but settled in the Scottish Borders where he lived and worked for over 40 years.
Drawing inspiration from the landscape around Galashiels and collaborating closely with skilled Scottish manufacturers, Scotland and its textile industry were central to his success.
Curators hope to capture the stories of those who knew, worked with or admired Klein in his adopted homeland. From visiting his shops or producing fabrics, to wearing his spectacular pieces or completing a Klein knitting pattern, anyone who would like to share their story is encouraged to get in touch by email at info@nms.ac.uk with their memories and pictures.
In the centenary year of his birth, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour (5 Nov 2022 – 23 April 2023) will explore the life and varied career of one of the 20th century’s leading forces in Modernist design.
He is renowned for innovative couture textiles created for the likes of Chanel, Dior and Balmain, and his work was adored by royalty and fashion editors alike. He also produced fabrics for interiors, designed ready-to-wear collections and worked as a colour consultant and industrial designer.
Lisa Mason, Assistant Curator of Modern & Contemporary Design at National Museums Scotland said: “Bernat Klein’s philosophy influenced fashion, fine art, interior design, architecture and colour theory and continues to inspire artists and designers today.
“He chose Scotland to build not just his home, but his business, and we’d love to hear more from anyone who remembers his time here.”
Personal accounts will be collated by National Museums Scotland and may be shared on the Museums’ digital channels and social media accounts.
Bernat Klein: Design in Colour 5 November 2022 to 23 April 2023 National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh Admission: Free
Tickets for the Scottish premier of Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder at the National Museum of Scotland go on sale tomorrow, 4 October 2022.
This ground-breaking new exhibition, which runs from 9 December 2022 to 1 May 2023, will explore the science behind the global hit television series Doctor Who and will give fans a chance to experience the Doctor’s adventures from a scientific perspective.
To celebrate tickets going on sale, the TARDIS materialised in the Grand Gallery at the National Museum of Scotland this morning. The TARDIS is just one of a host of real props from the series that will feature in the exhibition.
Visitors to Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder will also come face to face with the Doctor’s most famous foes in the Monster Vault, including Cybermen, Weeping Angels and Daleks.
Produced by leading experiential design experts Sarner International under license from BBC Studios, this exhibition invites fans of all ages to explore the role science has played in the world’s longest running action-adventure show. The eight zones set within this educational exhibition cover a diverse selection of exciting scientific topics while drawing in content from across the full canon of Doctor Who.
A range of hands-on immersive experiences and interactive features take visitors on a journey through Cosmic Curiosities, a TARDIS Tech room and the science behind time travel asking whether it really is possible.
Actor, director and author Mark Gatiss – writer of several episodes of Doctor Who – will narrate the exhibition, guiding this journey through space and time.
Mark Gatiss said: “So many people who have gone on to work in science have had their interest piqued by watching Doctor Who, and one of the amazing things about the show is its ability to make us wonder.
“I’m thrilled to be part of the exhibition and I do hope as many curiously minded people as possible take the opportunity to visit when it arrives at the National Museum of Scotland.”
Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder will offer a thrilling exploration of science for both established fans of the TV show and newcomers alike. The exhibition premiered at National Museums Liverpool’s World Museum, where it will run until 30 October.
Alison Cromarty, Head of Exhibitions & Design at National Museums Scotland, said: “We are delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for this cutting-edge scientific exhibition.
“We know visitors of all ages will be keen to be among the first in Scotland to experience Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder and are tremendously excited that the countdown is now on to opening in December.”
Ed Cookson, Projects Director, Sarner International: “For almost 60 years Doctor Who has been exploring mind-bending scientific developments.
“The iconic characters, monsters, stories, and settings of the television series provide a perfect guide through the wondrous worlds of space, time and science.”
Doctor Who has strong Scottish connections. To date three Scots have played the role of The Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, David Tennant and Peter Capaldi (the Seventh, Tenth and Twelfth Doctors respectively) with a fourth, Ncuti Gatwa, recently announced as the new Doctor.
Other Scottish cast members have included Companions Karen Gillan and Neve McIntosh as well as Michelle Gomez as Missy (The Master), with Alan Cumming having also appeared recently as King James VI & I. Another Scot, Steven Moffat, was showrunner from 2008 to 2017.
The National Museum of Scotland is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery in mounting the exhibition. Tickets for Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder will be available to book at www.nms.ac.uk/doctorwho
National Museums Scotland Members free.
Book in advance to save, general admission: Adult £12-16.50, Over 60s £11-15.50, Student, Unemployed, Disabled, Young Scot £10-14.50, Child 5–15 £8-12.50, Under 5s Free
10% off family bookings*
Discounts available for groups of 10 or more
*10% off when you buy up to three Child 5–15 ticket alongside up to any two Adult, Over 60s, Student, Unemployed, Disabled, Young Scot tickets, with a maximum of five tickets in total. Cannot be used in conjunction with National Museums Scotland Member tickets or any other discount or promotional offer.
On Friday 7 October the legendary Museum Lates return with an Anatomy theme inspired by the popular exhibition, Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life, at the National Museum of Scotland.
Museum Late: Anatomica
Friday 7 October, 7:30pm–10.30pm National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh
#nmslates
On Friday 7 October the crowd-pleasing Museum Lates series return with an Anatomy themed evening event inspired by the critically acclaimed exhibition, Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life, at the National Museum of Scotland.
Anatomica will be hosted by comedian, writer and presenter of BBC Radio Scotland’s history series, Time Travels, Susan Morrison.
Late-goers will have the rare opportunity to explore the National Museum of Scotland at night and explore the Anatomy exhibition, while the Grand Gallery will showcase dance and acrobatic performances illustrating the amazing ability of the human body.
House of Jack will be performing hip hop and breakdance performances and teaching guests a few moves after. Delighters Circus will engage guests with hula hooping before they bring contortion, a Cyr wheel and a fantastical hula hoop finale.
Host Susan Morrison said: ““I am thrilled to be hosting Museum Lates in October. ‘Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life’ is yet another brilliant exhibition at NMS, and this astounding night celebrating the wonder of the human body will be fantastic.”
Guests will be able to enjoy bite-sized talks with experts in the Auditorium.
The medical historian, anaesthetist and half of writing collaboration, Ambrose Parry; Dr. Marisa Haetzman shares some fascinating facts that inspired their popular historical crime series.
Surgeon’s Hall Human Remains Conservator and former mortician, Cat Irving, will discuss tales from her unusual career and her recent work preserving the skeleton of William Burke. Leading anatomist Dr Jennifer Z Paxton, offers a glimpse into the future of the science.
Favourite features will see the return of a silent disco alongside hands-on anatomical activities as well as life drawing, body painting and temporary tattoos. There will also be pop-up bars and a street food stall.
Tickets for the Museum Late are priced £20 (£18 concessions, £16 National Museums Scotland members and £14 student and Young Scot), and include admission to the exhibition, Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life. Group bookings of 6 are discounted to £16.50 each.
Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life is sponsored by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers.
