National Museums Scotland – The NEN

What’s On at National Museums

Exhibitions & displays

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

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024
Until 6 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 behaviour, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world.

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

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 silversmiths’ craft.

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

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

From Sonic the Hedgehog to Mario, explore gaming’s rich history through over 100 playable games from the last five decades.

Find our more nms.ac.uk/game-on

Theravada Buddhism
Until 12 Jan 2025
Gallery 3, Level 1
Free

A 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.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/theravadabuddhism

Cold War Scotland
13 Jul 2024 – 26 Jan 2025
10:00 – 17:00
Special Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free

Scotland’s unique geography and topography provided a useful base for Allied military preparations and research during the Cold War, a 40-year nuclear stand-off between the USA and the Soviet Union following the end of the Second World War. Cold War Scotland is an output of Materialising the Cold War, a collaborative research project between National Museums Scotland and the University of Stirling.

The project explores how the Cold War heritage is represented and how museums can adapt to tell this story in future. The exhibition will explore both the visible and invisible legacies of the war in Scotland.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/ColdWarScotland

Events

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

Sensory Sunday: Exploring Ancient Egypt
05 May
14:00
Level 4, Studio 2, Learning Centre
Free, booking required

Families with children with additional support needs and disabilities are invited to join our programme of sensory play sessions.

Explore the museum’s collections, get creative and meet other families. Sensory Sunday sessions are relaxed, fun hands-on, and respond to the needs of the families participating. You are welcome to come and go at any point during a session.

These sessions are suitable for children with additional support needs, neurodivergent children or children with disabilities. The content is aimed at ages 5-10 but is not set – we welcome all families who think they might enjoy these sessions.

Book now nms.ac.uk/sensorysunday

Magic Carpet Minis
Block 1 (08,15 and 22 May)
10:30-11:15 or 14:00-14:45
£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

Magic Carpet Toddlers
Block 1 (13, 20 & 27 May)
10:30–11:15 or 14:00–14:45
£15.00 per child for block of 3
£13.50 per Member child for block of 3

Magic Carpet Toddlers introduces you and your little one to some of the wonderful galleries, objects and themes in the museum in a fun and interactive way. Taking place in different spaces around the museum, you will explore subjects such as the natural world, science and technology, world cultures and Scottish history through songs, stories, rhymes, actions, objects and short activities.

Book now nms.ac.uk/magiccarpettoddlers

Wellbeing Wanders
13-17 May
11:30-12:00
Meet at the Lighthouse Lens, Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free, sign up on the day

Join us on a guided walk around the museum for Wellbeing Week. Explore the collections and take part in mini mindful sessions at each stop along the way with these short, free guided walks.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/wellbeingwanders

Curiosity Club: Ancient Egypt
18 May
10:30-12:00
Level 4, Learning Centre
£10 (Members and Concessions £9)

Capturing some of the museum’s most exciting collections, this is a chance for kids to explore the museum through games, activities and gallery visits.

Book now nms.ac.uk/curiosityclub

Wellbeing Week: Mindful Art at the Museum
19 May
11:30-12:30
Meet at the Tower Entrance, Level 1
£10, £8 Members and Concession

Join artist Kayleigh McCallum and mindfulness practitioner Charlene Duncan for mindful sketching in our galleries. This small group session in our galleries will start with a short introduction to mindfulness, followed by guided sketching and then some final mindfulness exercises. Suitable for all levels, including complete beginners. All materials will be provided. All ages welcome, but recommended age 8+.

Book now nms.ac.uk/MindfulArt

Slow Down Sunday for Families
19 May
10:30–11:15 & 13:00–13:45
Event Space, Level 2
Free, booking required

Join author and mindfulness teacher Natasha Iregbu as she invites families to practice mindfulness in a fun and enjoyable way. Natasha and her excitable butterfly Amaya will take you on a journey of storytelling and mindfulness as they guide you and your children to use your senses and practice being in the moment. The session will include a book reading, mindfulness activities, yoga movement and a craft activity.

Book now nms.ac.uk/SlowDownSunday

Wellbeing Week: Musical Moments in the Museum
19 May
13:00-16:00
Free, drop in

Enjoy an afternoon of musical encounters, featuring two musicians from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. As part of our Wellbeing Week, experience musical soundscapes within some of our Scottish galleries.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/musical-moments-in-the-museum

Edinburgh International Children’s Festival: Family Encounters Day
25 May
10:00 – 16:30
Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free, drop-in
Some activities may require sign-up on the day

At our Festival Family Encounters Day, enjoy exciting new performances and interactive experiences from local artists, pop-up theatre and dance shows, walk-about character actors and plenty of hands-on family activities.

The full event programme will be published in early May.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/FamilyEncounters

Galloway Hoard: Where did the silver come from?
29 May
19:30 – 20:30
Online event
Free, with optional donation

In this live online event, National Museums Scotland Galloway Hoard Researcher Adrián Maldonado will join Jane Kershaw from the University of Oxford to explain how a collaboration between cutting-edge science and archaeology can reveal the sources of Viking-age silver in the Galloway Hoard.

Book now nms.ac.uk/vikingsilver

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

Conservation Hangar Talks
Daily
14:00-15:00
Free with museum admission
Booking required

See behind the scenes of the work carried out in the museum’s Conservation hangar with these free talks. Find out about objects from the collection that aren’t normally on display and have the chance to see conservators at work.

Book now nms.ac.uk/ConservationHangarTalks

Behind the Scenes Tours
29 May & 26 June
12:00-13:00
Free with museum admission
Booking required

Find out about our collection of aero-engines and propellers on a curator-led tour of our Object Store.

Book now nms.ac.uk/BehindtheScenes

Awesome Bricks
15 & 16 June
Advance booking required

Our hands-on celebration of LEGO returns to the National Museum of Flight. Join us for a lively weekend of LEGO brick fun, with lots to see and do for all ages. Get a close-up view of incredible LEGO constructions, including an interactive train set, and make your own unique creations in our white brick build zone.

Book now nms.ac.uk/awesomebricks

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

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 

Woolly Weekend
18 & 19 May
11:00 –16:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Join us for a weekend of all things woolly at the National Museum of Rural Life.

Book now nms.ac.uk/WoollyWeekend

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

Casket believed to have belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots to go on tour

A silver casket believed to have been owned by Mary, Queen of Scots and which was acquired by National Museums Scotland in 2022 has undergone fresh conservation work ahead of going on tour to Kirkcudbright and Stirling.

An iconic piece of Scotland’s national heritage, the casket will go on display at Kirkcudbright Galleries from 2 November 2024 – 27 April 2025 then at Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum from 30 April – 31 August 2025. Its display at both venues is supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund.

To prepare the casket for the tour, centuries of tarnish and corrosion have been removed. The technique of electrolytic reduction was used via a pen-like device, allowing the delicate gold and silver surfaces to be cleaned in a highly controlled and targeted manner without the need for any abrasive polishing.

Made in Paris, probably between 1493 and 1510, the casket is a superb and extremely rare work of early French silver, very little of which survives, even in France. It is likely that its long-standing association with Mary has kept it preserved for over 450 years.  

For three centuries, it was owned by the family of the Dukes of Hamilton, following its acquisition, around 1674, by Anne, Duchess of Hamilton. According to a handwritten note stored with it from the late 17th century, she bought the casket, previously owned by Mary, Marchioness of Douglas, on the understanding that it had belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots. 

The note records the belief that this is the casket which played a dramatic role in Mary’s downfall when, in December 1568, a similar casket was produced at a hearing ordered by Elizabeth I against Mary at Westminster.

This contained what have become known as the Casket Letters. These love poems and letters, allegedly from Mary to her third husband, the Earl of Bothwell, implicated them both in a conspiracy to murder her second husband, Lord Darnley. 

Dr Anna Groundwater, Acting Keeper of Scottish History and Archaeology at National Museums Scotland said:  ” One of Scotland’s national treasures, this extraordinary casket has been venerated as a relic of Mary, Queen of Scots for centuries, and I’m delighted that more people will have the opportunity to see it up close when it goes on tour later this year.

“Beyond its connections to one of Scotland’s most famous figures, it is a rare and spectacular piece of historic silver in its own right.”

A casket first appears in the records following Mary’s arrest in 1567 by the rebellious Confederate Lords, when it is discovered in the hands of Lord Bothwell’s servant.

It was brought before the Scottish Privy Council where its lock was struck off to reveal its contents. Precisely what these were at that moment is unknown. However, a year later, when the Earl of Moray dramatically produced the same casket at Westminster, it now contained the damning Casket Letters. 

The authorship of the letters remains a subject of debate, but it is widely thought that they were doctored. Following the hearing at Westminster, Mary remained in English captivity for 19 years, until she was executed in 1587 for her involvement in the Babington Plot to assassinate Elizabeth I, and place Mary on the English throne.

Councillor Jackie McCamon, Vice Chair of Communities Committee and speaking on behalf of Dumfries and Galloway Council said: “This is such an exciting loan.

“We are pleased to be working with the National Museums Scotland once more, a key partner for Kirkcudbright Galleries over the years, and have no doubt this will be an emotional and stirring exhibition. I personally can’t wait to see it”

Caroline Mathers, Director of the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum said: “The Smith Art Gallery and Museum is delighted to be partnering with the National Museum of Scotland to bring the Mary, Queen of Scots Casket to Stirling.

“This extraordinary treasure gives us a glimpse into the life of a Queen who has captured imaginations around the world for hundreds of years. A story of power, oppression and ultimately, betrayed. It’s as good a story as it gets.”

The casket was acquired for the nation in 2022 for £1.8 million thanks to support from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Art Fund, the Scottish Government and several trusts, foundations and individual donors.

Its display in Kirkcudbright and Stirling is supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the Weston Loan Programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections.

Sophia Weston, Deputy Chair of the Garfield Weston Foundation, said: “One of the key aims of the Weston Loan Programme is to bring world class objects to regional museums so that they can be enjoyed by as many people as possible.

“We are delighted to support the display of this very special piece of Scottish history in Kirkcudbright and Stirling where it can be seen in a new context by local audiences.”

The tour of the Mary, Queen of Scots casket is part of National Museums Scotland’s National Strategy, which sees collections and expertise shared through loans, participation in national projects, community engagement, funding for acquisitions and free knowledge and skills development opportunities for museums across Scotland.

Over 2500 objects are currently on loan to Scottish organisations, bringing the National Collection to audiences across the country. These include two rare, decorative panels dating from the 16th and 17th centuries which feature in Perth Museum’s debut exhibition Unicorn and an 800-year-old Bishop’s crook, or crozier – made from gilt bronze and adorned with enamel inlay – which has recently gone on display in Whithorn Priory Museum.

Find out more about Mary, Queen of Scots and some of the objects associated with her in National Museums Scotland’s collection here.

Video can be downloaded here.

A 3D model of the casket can be viewed here.

What’s On at National Museums Scotland

Please find below the latest National Museums Scotland listings:  

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

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

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

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

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.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/game-on

Cold War Scotland
13 Jul 2024 – 26 Jan 2025
10:00 – 17:00
Special Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free

Exploring Scotland’s critical position on the frontline of the Cold War, a new exhibition will tell the stories of the Scots at the centre of this global conflict.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/ColdWarScotland

Events

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

Edinburgh Science Festival
30 Mar – 14 Apr
10:00 – 17:00, with some events after 17:00
Book via Edinburgh Science’s website

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/sciencefestival

Audio-Described Access Evening: Wildlife Photographer of the Year
16 Apr
17:30–19:00
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3

Join us after hours for an audio-described tour of key exhibits in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. The tour will last around one hour with the option to explore the exhibition independently afterwards. This event is particularly aimed at those who are blind, partially sighted or visually impaired. Recommended age is 8+.

Book now nms.ac.uk/AudioDescribedWPY

Sensory Sunday: Exploring Ancient Egypt
05 May
14:00
Level 4, Studio 2, Learning Centre
Free, booking required

Sensory Sunday sessions are relaxed, fun hands-on, and respond to the needs of the families participating.

You are welcome to come and go at any point during a session.

These sessions are suitable for children with additional support needs, neurodivergent children or children with disabilities.

The content is aimed at ages 5-10 but is not set – we welcome all families who think they might enjoy these sessions.

Book now nms.ac.uk/sensorysunday

Magic Carpet Minis
Block 1 (08,15 and 22 May)
10:30 & 14:00 on Wednesdays
£15.00 per child for block of 3
£13.50 per Member child for block of 3

Book now nms.ac.uk/MagicCarpetMinis

Magic Carpet Toddlers
Block 1 (13, 20 & 27 May)
10:30–11:15 or 14:00–14:45
£15.00 per child for block of 3
£13.50 per Member child for block of 3

Book now nms.ac.uk/magiccarpettoddlers

Wellbeing Wanders
13-17 May
11:30-12:00
Meet at the Lighthouse Lens, Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free, sign up on the day

Join us on a guided walk around the museum for Wellbeing Week. Explore the collections and take part in mini mindful sessions at each stop along the way with these short, free guided walks.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/wellbeingwanders

Curiosity Club: Ancient Egypt
18 May
10:30-12:00
Level 4, Learning Centre
£10 (Members and Concessions £9)

Capturing some of the museum’s most exciting collections, this is a chance for kids to explore the museum through games, activities and gallery visits.

Book now nms.ac.uk/curiosityclub

Wellbeing Week: Mindful Art at the Museum
19 May
11:30-12:30
Meet at the Tower Entrance, Level 1
£10, £8 Members and Concession

Book now nms.ac.uk/MindfulArt

Slow Down Sunday for Families
19 May
10:30–11:15 & 13:00–13:45
Event Space, Level 2
Free, booking required

Book now nms.ac.uk/SlowDownSunday

Edinburgh International Children’s Festival: Family Encounters Day
25 May
10:00 – 16:30
Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free, drop-in
Some activities may require sign-up on the day

The full event programme will be published in early May.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/FamilyEncounters

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

Flying into the Future
1 Apr – 5 Apr
11:00 – 15:00
Concorde Hangar
Free with museum admission

From airships to autogyros and electric to hydrogen-powered aircraft, discover how we might fly in the future with fun, family activities.

Activities include a family technical challenge where you will use craft materials to build something that flies, a staff-led tour of the Civil Aviation Hangar and a trail exploring the 50+ aircraft on display in the museum.

Book now nms.ac.uk/IntotheFuture

Behind the Scenes Tours
24 Apr & 29 May
Free with museum admission
Booking required

Find out about our collection of aero-engines and propellers on a curator-led tour of our Object Store.

Book now nms.ac.uk/BehindtheScenes

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

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 

Woolly Weekend
18 & 19 May
11:00 –16:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Join us for a weekend of all things woolly at the National Museum of Rural Life.

Book now nms.ac.uk/WoollyWeekend

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

What’s On at National Museums Scotland

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

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

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

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

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

Book now nms.ac.uk/tractor-tots 

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

What’s On at National Museums of Scotland

LISTINGS

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

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 2024
20 Jan – 6 May 2024
Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3
Ticketed

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

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

Morning Curator Tour: Rising Tide
1 & 9 Nov
09:15-10:00
Ticketed

On a tour which takes place before the museum opens to the general public, join the exhibition’s curator, Dr Ali Clark, as she delves into the stories behind the exhibition and explores innovative and artistic responses to climate change and plastic waste by Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander artists.

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

Annual Open Evening
23 Nov
18:00 – 19:30
Free, booking required

Join us for the Annual Open Evening to find out more about our collections, the work that we do, and to hear about our plans for the future across all our museums. The event will be hosted by Ian Russell, our Chair, and Dr Chris Breward, our Director.

Book now nms.ac.uk/annual-open-evening

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

Traditional Tunes for Tiny People: St Andrew’s Special
29 Nov
11:00-11:40 & 14:00-14:40
Level 1, Kingdom of the Scots Gallery
Free, booking required

Bring your wee ones to celebrate St Andrew’s Day with music and stories. Join musicians Roo and Neil for live music and storytelling. Through fiddle, accordion, and voice, Roo and Neil will lead an interactive and fun performance, specially designed to introduce traditional Scottish tunes, stories and songs to young children and their families.

Book now nms.ac.uk/traditional-tunes-st-andrews

Sensory Sunday: Arctic Animals
03 December
10:30-12:00
Level 4, Studio 2, Learning Centre
Free, booking required

Families with children with additional support needs and disabilities are invited to join our programme of sensory play sessions. Explore the museum’s collections, get creative and meet other families.  Sensory Sunday sessions are relaxed, fun and hands-on, and respond to the needs of the families participating.

You are welcome to come and go at any point during a session. These sessions are suitable for children with additional support needs, neurodivergent children or children with disabilities. The content is aimed at ages 5-10 but is not set – we welcome all families who think they might enjoy these sessions

Book now nms.ac.uk/sensory-sunday

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

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

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

Bugs and Beasties Trail
Until 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

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 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

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)

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

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

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  

Maths Week Scotland: Maths in Motion

This week will see maths-related activities taking place across the country in the annual Maths Week Scotland programme. The theme of this year’s programme, which is coordinated by National Museums Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government, is Maths in Motion.

Maths Week Scotland: 25 September to 1 October 2023

mathsweek.scot

@mathsweekscot

Maths Week Scotland combines in-person events from Orkney to the Scottish Borders – in a mix of schools programming and public activities in museums, libraries and galleries – with a range of online events, resources and workshops.

The Maths in Motion theme has a huge variety of applications, as the programme shows, with diverse topics ranging from the maths of money to ceilidh dancing, and from nautical navigation to maths in football.

The Scottish Mathematical Council have created a series of football-themed films for of football-themed films for Maths Week Scotland, in conjunction with the Scottish Football Association and featuring the Hearts Women’s team, the Scottish Football Museum and Rugby Park, the home of Kilmarnock Football Club.

The films cover topics as diverse as predicting the outcome of penalty kicks, travel logistics, how to calculate how many people can get through the turnstiles in time for kick-off and the mathematics of the curve on a free kick.

The National Museum of Scotland will host a pop-up exhibition from the Open University entitled Maths in Motion: Pendulums and Patterns, maths-themed Magic Carpet sessions for pre-schoolers, object handling in the Grand Gallery and a maths-themed trail inspired by Dolly the Sheep.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “The Scottish Government is proud to support Maths Week Scotland’s delivery of yet another amazing range of activities to promote the important merits of maths in everyday life.

“We are determined to do everything we can to inspire the next generation of people to engage with maths and the events and workshops on offer will play an important role in doing exactly that.”

Maths Week Scotland coordinator Ailsa Brien said: “We’re delighted to launch Maths Week Scotland in its seventh consecutive year.

“Maths in Motion is a theme which invites a wide range of interpretations and so we’re thrilled to see such a creative and diverse programme of activities and events, which I’m sure will inspire and engage a wide range of audiences.”

Maths Week Scotland is supporting a host of classroom activities for schools across the country, encouraging innovation and participation.

Activity packs are available to download from the Maths Week Scotland website, with ideas of how to celebrate and enjoy the week for everyone from early years to secondary school pupils.

Meanwhile, the daily Maths Week Scotland challenges will return, with accompanying BBC Bitesize learning videos setting out how to tackle them.

Support has also been provided to Scottish museums and galleries to integrate more maths into their programming during the week-long event.

Maths Week Scotland and National Museums Scotland will support maths activities taking place in: The Museum on the Mound, Auchindrain Township Museum, The Scottish Maritime Museum, The Burrell Collection, Sumerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Surgeons’ Hall Museum, The Scottish Fisheries Museum, National Galleries of Scotland and The Great Tapestry of Scotland.

Over 20 libraries are also taking part in Maths Week Scotland, with activities including Maths-themed Bookbug sessions, crafts and LEGO.

Maths Week Scotland has a supporting year-round programme for schools, families, adults and community groups.

This is part of an ongoing drive to transform Scotland into a maths-positive nation through raising the profile of maths and encouraging enthusiasm for maths across the country.

National Museums Scotland is working with a wide range of organisations and collaborators to support and deliver Maths Week Scotland activity across Scotland. For a full list of contributors and to view the whole programme, visit:

www.mathsweek.scot

#mathsweekscot

@mathsweekscot

Rematriation

MEMORIAL POLE IS GOING HOME

The Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government (NLG) and National Museums Scotland (NMS) announce that the House of Ni’isjoohl memorial pole will return home to the Nass Valley this September, in a historic moment for reconciliation.

The rematriation of the pole is the result of a year-long discussion and close collaboration between the Nisg̱a’a Nation and the museum.

The term “rematriation” reframes the concept of “repatriation” by grounding the process of recovering belongings in Indigenous law — and is more closely in alignment with Nisga’a matrilineal society.

Following months of preparatory work, a delegation of family members and supporters from the Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government have travelled to the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh to oversee the start of the return.

A closed spiritual ceremony was held on Aug. 28, to prepare the pole for its journey home. The delegation included: Sim’oogit Ni’isjoohl (Chief Earl Stephens), Sigidimnaḵ’ Nox̱s Ts’aawit (Dr. Amy Parent), Shawna Mackay, Sim’oogit Duuk (Chief William Moore), Sim’oogit Laay̓ (Chief Bruce Haldane), Mmihlgum Maakskwhl G̱akw (Pamela Brown), and NLG Representatives Apdii Lax̱ha (Andrew Robinson), Theresa Schober (Nisg̱a’a Museum Curator and Director), Laax̱ Yee (Bobby Clark, Director of Communications and Intergovernmental Relations.

The 37-foot, hand-carved pole will be transported to Terrace, British Columbia, and then driven in a family procession to the Nisg̱a’a Village of Lax̱g̱alts’ap in the Nass Valley where it will be housed at Hli G̱oothl Wilp-Adoḵshl Nisg̱a’a – the Nisga’a Museum.

A public arrival ceremony will be held at Hli G̱oothl Wilp-Adoḵshl Nisg̱a’a on Sept. 29, with the pole still enclosed within its protective box with a Nisg̱a’a feast to follow. The pole will be raised in the following days and available for the public to view later in October.

The memorial pole belongs to the House of Ni’isjoohl from the G̱anada (frog clan) in the Nisg̱a’a Nation. In 1860, House of Ni’isjoohl Matriarch Joanna Moody commissioned the pole to be carved by Nisg̱a’a master carver Oyee to honour her family member Ts’awit, who was next in line to be chief. Ts’awit was also a warrior who died protecting his family and nation.

Sim’oogit Ni’isjoohl, Chief Earl Stephens, explained: “In Nisg̱a’a culture, we believe that this pole is alive with the spirit of our ancestors.

“After nearly 100 years, we are finally able to bring our dear relative home to rest on Nisg̱a’a lands. It means so much for us to have the Ni’isjoohl memorial pole returned to us, so that we can connect our family, nation and our future generations with our living history.”

Sigidimnak’ Noxs Ts’aawit, Dr. Amy Parent, added: “We are grateful to collectively tell a new story that turns the colonial gaze onto itself by acknowledging the complexities of our pole’s theft, its intergenerational absence from our community and the persistence needed to ensure that justice for our ancestors prevails.

“This new story also highlights the responsible commitments made by many who have demonstrated to our global community that it is possible to do the right thing by returning our ancestors, cultural treasures and belongings back to us, their rightful relatives.”

Eva Clayton, President of Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government, said: “Our hearts are at peace knowing that we are changing history with a precedent-setting transformational story of collaboration with the people of Scotland and Canada.

“It is an honour for the Nisg̱a’a Nation to be standing beside Wilp Ni’isjoohl at this historic moment in time. We are grateful to be alongside them, while having our treaty partners next to us to unwind some of the injustices to our history as Nisg̱a’a people.”

Dr Chris Breward, Director of National Museums Scotland, said: “Since the transfer of the Memorial Pole was agreed last December, our teams have been planning the complex task of carefully lowering and transporting it in what is the first return of its type by a UK national institution.

“We are pleased to have reached the point where that work is now underway, and we are delighted to have welcomed the Nisga’a delegation to the Museum before we bid the Pole farewell.”

Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson said: “The great significance of the Ni’isjoohl memorial pole to the Nisga’a people and their community was made clear to me when I met with their representatives last year and I was pleased to have been able to provide the necessary ministerial consent to enable its return.

“Today’s ceremony is the next step in that journey, following months of careful planning and dialogue between National Museums Scotland and the Nisga’a Nation, and I’m grateful to all parties for the work that has been undertaken to make it happen.”

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.