National Museums Scotland – Page 2 – The NEN

National Museums Scotland Listings

Exhibitions & displays

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

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

The Declaration of Arbroath
Until 02 Jul 2023
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3       
Free entry       

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

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

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

From design classics to cutting-edge catwalk creations, this exhibition deconstructs the little black dress and examines the radical power of the colour black in fashion. 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
12 Aug 2023 – 14 Apr 2024
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free

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

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

Japanese Contemporary Design   
Until 30 Jul 2023       
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1      
Free entry
  
From striking statement jewellery to prints and porcelain vases, this new free display considers how Japanese contemporary makers have combined innovative and traditional art, craft and design elements over the past five decades.  

 The star object is Hitomi Hosono’s A Large Pine Tree Pool, a sculptural porcelain bowl with complex hand-carving made and acquired in 2019. Further highlights include Junko Mori’s intricate New Pinecone Silver Organism, and colourful body adornments by jeweller Suō Emiko’s adapted from metalworking and engraving techniques traditionally used in the making of Japanese sword fittings.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Japanese-Contemporary-Design

Events 

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

Family Bonus Boxes
03 – 31 Jul
10:00 – 16:00
Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free, drop in Visitors can try out new sensory and play boxes, adding to the family experience in some of our galleries. Visit the Grand Gallery on the day for more information on where to find them.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/summer-at-the-museum

Join-in Jellyfish
06 – 08 Jul
14:00 – 16:00
Studio 2, Learning Centre Level 4
Free, drop in

Artist George Nuku will soon create the latest version of his installation, Bottled Ocean 2123. In this drop-in session, join our Learning Enablers to make jellyfish from emptied and cleaned plastic bottles. Visitors will be able to visit the Rising Tide: Art and Environment exhibition when it opens on 12 August to see if you can spot their jellyfish in the gallery.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/join-in-jellyfish

Just Sew You Know
10 & 11 Jul
10:15 – 13:15
Studio 2, Level 4 Learning Centre
£30 (£27 members & concessions)

Suitable for age 8 – 13, learn beginner’s sewing skills in this fun, practical workshop run by the Edinburgh Remakery. Visitors will be taught basic hand sewing techniques and sewing machine skills with experienced tutors to guide through. No experience is necessary and all materials and equipment are provided.

Book now nms.ac.uk/just-sew-you-know

Spotlight On: Beyond the Little Black Dress
13 Jul
14:00 – 15:00
Ticketed, various pricing

Join curator Georgina Ripley to explore design classics and cutting-edge catwalk creations in an introduction to our upcoming exhibition Beyond the Little Black Dress.

Book now nms.ac.uk/spotlight-on-beyond-the-little-black-dress

What, wear, when?
10 – 14 July
11:00 – 15:00
Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free, drop in

Join the Engagement team for some drop-in activities exploring clothing and sustainability.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/what-wear-when

Curiosity Club
15 Jul – 01 Aug
10:30 –12:00
Learning Centre, Level 4
Ticketed, £10 (Members and Concessions £9)

Leave the grown-ups at the door and jump into a Curiosity Club. Unleash your inner museum detective and explore through games, activities, and gallery visits. There’s a range of different topics to choose from, each capturing some of the museums most exciting and child friendly collections and themes.

Book now nms.ac.uk/curiosity-club

Repair to Wear
29 Jul 2023
10:30 – 13:00
Seminar Room, Level 4 Learning Centre
Free, drop-in

Run in partnership with the Edinburgh Remakery, their experienced sewers can help with repairs and simple alterations to textiles and clothing items, such as replacing buttons and zips, sewing on a patch, mending a rip, taking up trousers or a dress, or fixing a hem.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/ready-to-wear

Museum Late: Fringe Fridays
11 & 18 Aug
19:30 – 22:30
£16 – £20

Fringe Fridays are back! Enjoy a unique flavour of the Fringe and explore the museum after hours. From the Grand Gallery’s main stage to more intimate spaces across the museum, discover our world-class collections whilst soaking up the festival atmosphere.

Book now nms.ac.uk/fringefridays

Morning Curator Tour: Rising Tide
16 – 24 Aug
09:15 – 10:00
Ticketed, various pricing

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-rising-tide

National Museum of Flight

East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
Open daily 10:00 – 16:00

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

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

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

Operation Sabotage
9 July
Age 14+ event   
Ticketed   

The year is 1942 and you are stationed at the RAF base at East Fortune. There has been an act of sabotage and one of the aircraft is unknowingly carrying live ordnance with instructions to bomb the town.

Solve a series of fiendish puzzles to call off the flight and save North Berwick! Operation Sabotage is an escape room experience for 4-8 people that lasts up to an hour. Working together as a team, you must race against the clock in two Second World War-themed rooms to decipher the identity of the saboteur before it’s too late.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/Operation-Sabotage

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

Lewis’s Scottish Adventure Trail
Until 06 Oct
Trail
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

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

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

Nature Track Packs
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.

Beyond the Little Black Dress: Major fashion exhibition opens tomorrow at the National Museum of Scotland

Major fashion exhibition ‘Beyond the Little Black Dress’ opens this weekend

A new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland deconstructs 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) brings together 65 striking looks from collections and designers around the world.

nms.ac.uk/BeyondLBD

The colour black can be interpreted in many subtle and often contradictory ways. The exhibition explores 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 Black Dress opens 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 supported 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 Schiaparelli will be juxtaposed with recent looks by ground-breaking contemporary designers and brands like Gareth Pugh, Simone Rocha and Off-White.

A section of the exhibition highlights Black British designers whose work explores both Blackness in terms of identity, and the role the colour black plays in crafting an Afrofuturistic aesthetic.

Elsewhere, the exhibition considers how perceptions of the colour black differ in a global context, while a film from Osman Yousefzada shines a light on the inequities of fast fashion, as well as global concepts of beauty.

A series of garments demonstrate how smart technologies are establishing a blueprint for a more sustainable future. A new commission by designers VIN + OMI incorporates nettles and horsehair sourced from Highgrove, the private residence of The King and Queen, exploring nature-led alternatives to fast fashion.

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 programme of events.

The accompanying book Little Black Dress: A Radical Fashion edited by Georgina Ripley, £30.00, is published by NMS Enterprises Ltd – Publishing.

#BeyondLBD

Speaker’s Chair from the Parliament building that never was acquired by National Museums Scotland

The Presiding Officer’s chair from what would have become the Scottish Parliament building in the event of a vote for devolution in the 1979 referendum has been gifted to National Museums Scotland.

It had been intended that the Scottish Assembly, as it was referred to at the time, would sit in the former Royal High School building on Calton Hill in central Edinburgh, and plans were sufficiently advanced for the Debating Chamber to have been furnished.

However, the referendum did not secure the required number of votes to achieve devolution. When the vote for devolution was later carried in 1997, the decision was taken to build a brand-new purpose-built Scottish Parliament building and so the chair was never used for its intended purpose.

Georgia Vullinghs, Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary History, said: “We’re very pleased to be able to acquire this object. The furniture represents a key moment in the story of devolution and the history of Scottish politics.

“This large, blocky chair and its futuristic design is emblematic of a confidence in significant political change for Scotland in the late 1970s, but which did not ultimately happen at that time. This generous donation will allow us to better tell the story of that fascinating moment in Scotland’s history through our collections.”

The former Royal High School building is now undergoing a major restoration which will see it repurposed as a world-class centre for music education and public performance for the benefit of the whole of Scotland as the National Centre for Music. The Royal High School Preservation Trust (RHSPT) is leading the project and took possession of the building in March.

William Gray Muir, Chair of the RHSPT said: “We are delighted that this piece of constitutional history will have a fitting home in the national museum, where it can help tell the story of how modern Scottish politics encountered the legacy of the Scottish Enlightenment.

“The significance of the Thomas Hamilton building – the Old Royal High – and its symbolic importance to our national political and social ambitions is indisputable and its past, present and future form a critical part of Edinburgh’s status in the world. The Trust’s aim is that we add a new chapter to that story and the building’s relationship with Scottish heritage and our national museum will continue.”

Although the Scottish Assembly never occupied the building, the site of the Royal High School remained a focal point in the debate over devolution, with images of the building used in campaign material, and a Vigil for a Scottish Parliament was held outside the building for 1,980 days from 10 April 1992 until the 1997 referendum.

The tent from the touring campaign and related material are on display in the National Museum of Scotland. The chair is now at the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh where it will undergo conservation treatment.

What’s On at National Museums Scotland

National Museums Scotland listings

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

Bernat Klein: Design in Colour        
Until 23 Apr 2023        
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3       
Free entry       

Marking the centenary of his birth, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour will celebrate the work of the influential émigré textile designer. 

Visitors will be able to explore Klein’s creative process and varied career, from providing couture fabrics for fashion designers to his influence on modernist architecture and interior design in the UK and Scandinavia.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Bernat-Klein-Design-in-Colour       

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder  
Until 1 May 2023 
Ticketed (concessions available)

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder features eight zones filled with immersive, hands-on experiences. Travel through the Time Vortex Corridor, discover Sonic Screwdrivers, teleportation technology and much more in a TARDIS Tech room, and get up close with some of the series’ weird and wonderful creatures in the Monster Vault.

Join us for the Scottish premiere of this ground-breaking exhibition. It’s bigger on the inside! 

Book now nms.ac.uk/Doctor-Who-Worlds-of-Wonder

COMING SOON Beyond the Little Black Dress 
1 Jul – 29 Oct 2023 
Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3 
Ticketed (concessions available)

From design classics to cutting-edge catwalk creations, this exhibition deconstructs the little black dress and examines the radical power of the colour black in fashion.

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

Japanese Contemporary Design      
Until 30 Jul 2023       
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1      
Free entry
   
From striking statement jewellery to prints and porcelain vases, this new free display considers how Japanese contemporary makers have combined innovative and traditional art, craft and design elements over the past five decades.   

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Japanese-Contemporary-Design

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

A Night of Science and Wonder
2 & 3 Mar 2023
18:30 – 22:30
£18 – £22 including talk and exhibition entry

Two exclusive evenings celebrating our Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Our adult-only events will explore the creative innovation and cutting-edge science behind the global hit television series, Doctor Who.

Each night will feature an expert perspective on either space science or Doctor Who, plus themed hands-on activities. Tickets also include entry to our Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition.

Book now nms.ac.uk/A-Night-of-Science-and-Wonder

Refuge Britain: Stories of Émigré Designers
4 Mar 2023
14:00 – 16:00
Auditorium, Level 1
Age 14+
Ticketed, concessions available

Inspired by our exhibition, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour, join curator Lisa Mason and Dr Anna Nyburg to explore the work of revolutionary émigré textile designers, Bernat Klein and Tibor Reich. This event features an exclusive screening of the 2017 documentary film, Refuge Britain: Stories of Émigré Designers. There will also be the chance to view our free exhibition Bernat Klein: Design in Colour before or after the event.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Refuge-Britain

BSL Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder
7 Mar 2023
17:30 – 19:30
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Standard exhibition entry princes apply

Join us after hours for a Deaf-led BSL tour of key objects in the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Step inside the TARDIS to discover the science behind the global hit television series Doctor Who. Explore hands-on immersive experiences and see amazing props from across the programme’s history in this must-see exhibition.

Book now nms.ac.uk/BLS-access-evening-doctor-who

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

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

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

Bernat Klein: Design Matters
28 Mar 2023
Free, with optional donation

Join curator Lisa Mason to discuss the legacy of visionary textile designer Bernat Klein and discover how his design ethos is inspiring designers working today with contemporary designers Kirsty McDougall and Sam Reich to discuss Klein’s legacy as a designer, educator and theorist, as well as his enduring belief in design as a force for good in society.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Design-Matters

Audio Described Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder
28 Mar 2023
17:30–19:30
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Standard exhibition entry prices apply

Join us after hours for an audio-described tour of key objects in the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Step inside the TARDIS to discover the science behind the global hit television series Doctor Who. Explore hands-on immersive experiences and see amazing props from across the programme’s history in this must-see exhibition.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Audio-Described-Access-Evening-Doctor-Who

Edinburgh Science Festival
1 – 16 Apr 2023

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

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

Relaxed Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder
18 Apr 2023
17:30–19:30
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Standard exhibition entry prices apply

Join us for a relaxed after hours visit to Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder for anyone who would prefer a calmer visit to the exhibition. During this opening, numbers will be reduced and wherever possible, sounds will be lowered and light levels adjusted to provide a more relaxed experience. A quiet, breakout space will also be available. A visual welcome guide will be provided in advance to help you prepare for your visit.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Relaxed-Access-Evening-Doctor-Who-Worlds-of-Wonder

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

Operation Sabotage
18 & 19 Mar 2023
Age 14+ event   
Ticketed

Operation Sabotage is an escape room experience for 4-8 people that lasts up to an hour. Working together as a team, you must race against the clock in two Second World War-themed rooms to decipher the identity of the saboteur before it’s too late.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/Operation-Sabotage

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

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

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

Test Flight
10 – 14 Apr 2023
11:00 –16:00

Follow the Wright brothers and design your own aeroplane, drawing inspiration from the collection at the National Museum of Flight. Nearly 120 years ago the Wright Brothers flew the first powered and controlled aeroplane. Take inspiration from our Civil Aviation collection and make your own flying machine.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Test-Flight

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

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

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

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

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

Half-Term at National Museums Scotland

The Scottish February half term is almost here. The latest National Museums Scotland listings include ideas for the whole family this half term.

For additional information and images visit media.nms.ac.uk or conttact: media@nms.ac.uk. 

Family Events 

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

Half Term: Galleries and Galaxies
13 – 18 Feb 2023
Grand Gallery
Free, drop in
Orbit around our out-of-this-world Space themed activities.
Make a space monster at our craft station and drop by our Spark Cart for some intergalactic demos and object handling.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Half-Term

Madlab Electronic Workshops
13 – 14 Feb 2023 (various times)
Studio One
£15, Child 7 -14
£13.50, Members & Concessions
Solder your own flashing alien or Space Screwdriver with Madlab. Learn the secrets of soldering, find out how electrical circuits work and make your own electronic gizmo to keep.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Madlab-Electronic-Workshop

Pop up Planetarium Shows
17 – 18 Feb 2023
Event Space
10:30, 11:15, 12:00, 13:30, 14:15, 15:00
£2.50, Adult
£2.00, Members & Concessions
£2.00, Child 0 – 14 years
Be amazed by the wonder of Space in these spectacular shows from Cosmos planetarium.
Cosmos planetarium is a state of the art, fully digital, 360° immersive multi-media experience.
There will be three exciting shows to choose from, one specifically for under 5s and the other two shows suitable for 5+. One of the shows will be a relaxed session suitable for children with additional support needs.

Book now nms.ac.uk/pop-up-planetarium

Exhibitions & displays

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

Bernat Klein: Design in Colour
Until 23 Apr 2023
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free entry
Marking the centenary of his birth, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour will celebrate the work of the influential émigré textile designer. Visitors will be able to explore Klein’s creative process and varied career, from providing couture fabrics for fashion designers to his influence on modernist architecture and interior design in the UK and Scandinavia

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Bernat-Klein-Design-in-Colour

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder 
Until 1 May 2023
Ticketed (concessions available)
Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder features eight zones filled with immersive, hands-on experiences. Travel through the Time Vortex Corridor, discover Sonic Screwdrivers, teleportation technology and much more in a TARDIS Tech room, and get up close with some of the series’ weird and wonderful creatures in the Monster Vault.

Join us for the Scottish premiere of this ground-breaking exhibition. It’s bigger on the inside! 

Book now nms.ac.uk/Doctor-Who-Worlds-of-Wonder

COMING SOON Beyond the Little Black Dress 
1 Jul – 29 Oct 2023
Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3
Ticketed (concessions available)
From design classics to cutting-edge catwalk creations, this exhibition deconstructs the little black dress and examines the radical power of the colour black in fashion.

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

Japanese Contemporary Design
Until 30 Jul 2023
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1
Free entry
From striking statement jewellery to prints and porcelain vases, this new free display considers how Japanese contemporary makers have combined innovative and traditional art, craft and design elements over the past five decades.   

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Japanese-Contemporary-Design

Events 

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

Relaxed Morning
5 Feb 2023
10:00 – 12:00 (quiet space open until 12:30) 
Join us for our monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with autistic children; autistic young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.

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

Gaelic Week Edinburgh
22 – 25 Feb 2023
Enjoy live music and storytelling during Gaelic Week | Edinburgh at the National Museum of Scotland. Running from 20-26 February, the wider festival celebrates the theme of “Coming Together / A’ Tighinn Còmhla”, inspired by post-pandemic recovery.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Gaelic-Week-Edinburgh

A Night of Science and Wonder
2 – 3 Mar 2023
18:30 – 22:30
£18 – £22 including talk and exhibition entry
Two exclusive evenings celebrating our Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Our adult-only events will explore the creative innovation and cutting-edge science behind the global hit television series, Doctor Who. Each night will feature an expert perspective on either space science or Doctor Who, plus themed hands-on activities. Tickets also include entry to our Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition.

Book now nms.ac.uk/A-Night-of-Science-and-Wonder

Refuge Britain: Stories of Émigré Designers
4 Mar 2023
14:00 – 16:00
Auditorium, Level 1
Age 14+
Ticketed, concessions available
Inspired by our exhibition, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour, join curator Lisa Mason and Dr Anna Nyburg to explore the work of revolutionary émigré textile designers, Bernat Klein and Tibor Reich. This event features an exclusive screening of the 2017 documentary film, Refuge Britain: Stories of Émigré Designers. There will also be the chance to view our free exhibition Bernat Klein: Design in Colour before or after the event.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Refuge-Britain

BSL Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder
7 Mar 2023
17:30 – 19:30
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Standard exhibition entry princes apply
Join us after hours for a Deaf-led BSL tour of key objects in the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Step inside the TARDIS to discover the science behind the global hit television series Doctor Who.

Explore hands-on immersive experiences and see amazing props from across the programme’s history in this must-see exhibition.

Book now nms.ac.uk/BLS-access-evening-doctor-who

Bernat Klein: Design Matters
28 Mar 2023
Free, with optional donation
Join curator Lisa Mason to discuss the legacy of visionary textile designer Bernat Klein and discover how his design ethos is inspiring designers working today with contemporary designers Kirsty McDougall and Sam Reich to discuss Klein’s legacy as a designer, educator and theorist, as well as his enduring belief in design as a force for good in society.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Design-Matters

Audio Described Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder
28 Mar 2023
17:30–19:30
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Standard exhibition entry prices apply
Join us after hours for an audio-described tour of key objects in the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition. Step inside the TARDIS to discover the science behind the global hit television series Doctor Who. Explore hands-on immersive experiences and see amazing props from across the programme’s history in this must-see exhibition.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Audio-Described-Access-Evening-Doctor-Who

Relaxed Access Evening – Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder
18 Apr 2023
17:30–19:30
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Standard exhibition entry prices apply
Join us for a relaxed after hours visit to Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder for anyone who would prefer a calmer visit to the exhibition. During this opening, numbers will be reduced and wherever possible, sounds will be lowered and light levels adjusted to provide a more relaxed experience. A quiet, breakout space will also be available. A visual welcome guide will be provided in advance to help you prepare for your visit.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Relaxed-Access-Evening-Doctor-Who-Worlds-of-Wonder

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

Operation Sabotage
18 & 19 Mar 2023
Age 14+ event
Ticketed
The year is 1942 and you are stationed at the RAF base at East Fortune. There has been an act of sabotage and one of the aircraft is unknowingly carrying live ordnance with instructions to bomb the town. Solve a series of fiendish puzzles to call off the flight and save North Berwick! Operation Sabotage is an escape room experience for 4-8 people that lasts up to an hour. Working together as a team, you must race against the clock in two Second World War-themed rooms to decipher the identity of the saboteur before it’s too late.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Operation-Sabotage

Test Flight
10 –14 Apr 2023
11:00 –16:00
Follow the Wright brothers and design your own aeroplane, drawing inspiration from the collection at the National Museum of Flight. Nearly 120 years ago the Wright Brothers flew the first powered and controlled aeroplane. Take inspiration from our Civil Aviation collection and make your own flying machine.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Test-Flight

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

For additional information and images visit media.nms.ac.uk or contact media@nms.ac.uk.  

First recorded stranding of a short-finned pilot whale in the UK reported

A new study of a whale which stranded off the Pembrokeshire coast in 2012 has revealed it to be the first short-finned pilot whale ever to be found in British waters.

The short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus, is more frequently found in tropical to warm temperate seas and is not normally encountered in Europe north of the Bay of Biscay.

The whale, which stranded on 1 March 2012 at Hazelbeach near Neyland, Pembrokeshire, was initially identified as a long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas. Long-finned pilot whales are far more commonly found in British waters and strand frequently. The two species are similar and difficult to distinguish based on skeletal remains.

However, features of the Hazelbeach whale’s skull and teeth, described by scientists in a newly published article in the journal Mammal Communications, confirm that it is a short-finned pilot whale, the first found in British waters.

Dr Andrew Kitchener, Principal Curator of Vertebrates at National Museums Scotland, where the whale’s remains are now held, said: “This is one of a growing number of examples in our collection going back to the 1980s of what we would normally think of as warm-water species being found for the first time in British waters.

“Others include striped dolphins, pygmy sperm whales and a Fraser’s dolphin. It’s important to develop our understanding of changing marine populations and their distributions, and the existence of collections and research facilities such as ours are crucial to building that understanding over time.

“This discovery means that we can no longer assume that every stranded pilot whale in Britain is a long-finned pilot whale.”

Rob Deaville of the Institute of Zoology in London where the Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme is based, said: “The identification of this short-finned pilot whale in UK waters adds to the evidence of a clear trend of cetacean life being affected by climate change, part of a wider impact on our seas and oceans.”

National Museums Scotland Listings

Festive events

Clyde’s Winter Trail
National Museum of Rural Life, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride G76 9HR
2 Dec 2022 – 8 Jan 2023
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
10:00-17:00

Clyde and his friends have been getting the National Museum of Rural Life ready for the festive season. Can you find all the miniature scenes around the museum?

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Clyde’s-Winter-Trail

Drawn Together at the Museum
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
28 Dec – 30 Dec 2022
Daily, 10:30 – 16:30
Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free drop-in

Escape to the museum between Christmas and Hogmanay and enjoy sketching around our galleries. Your artwork will be added to our informal public gallery for everyone to enjoy. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Drawn-Together

Sprogmanay
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
1 Jan 2023
14:00 – 16:30
Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free, drop-in

Sprogmanay at the museum is back! A warm welcome to 2023 with music and fun for all the family.

This afternoon of fun for children of all ages is free and unticketed and families can drop in to enjoy a programme of live music, comedy, magic and arts and crafts.

Find our more nms.ac.uk/Sprogmanay

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

Bernat Klein: Design in Colour       
5 Nov 2022 – 23 Apr 2023       
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3      
Free entry    

Marking the centenary of his birth, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour will celebrate the work of the influential émigré textile designer. Visitors will be able to explore Klein’s creative process and varied career, from providing couture fabrics for fashion designers to his influence on modernist architecture and interior design in the UK and Scandinavia      

Find out more nms.ac.uk/BernatKlein     

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

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder features eight zones filled with immersive, hands-on experiences. Travel through the Time Vortex Corridor, discover Sonic Screwdrivers, teleportation technology and much more in a TARDIS Tech room, and get up close with some of the series’ weird and wonderful creatures in the Monster Vault. Join us for the Scottish premiere of this ground-breaking exhibition. It’s bigger on the inside!

Book now nms.ac.uk/doctor-who

Japanese Contemporary Design 
Until 5 Mar 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/JapaneseContemporaryDesign      

Inspiring Walter Scott  
Until 18 Jun 2023  
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1  
Free entry  
  
Following the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him. In this small exhibition we show how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.   
  
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller and supporting Year of Stories 2022.  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition  

COMING SOON Beyond the Little Black Dress
1 Jul – 29 Oct 2023
Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3

Find out more nms.ac.uk/beyondthelittleblackdress

Events

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

Relaxed Morning
8 Jan 2023
10:00 – 12:00 (quiet space open until 12:30)

Join us for our monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with autistic children; autistic young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/relaxed-morning

Art at the Start in the Museum
18 Jan 2023
14:00-16:00
Imagine Gallery
Free, drop-in

The Art at the Start team, based at the University of Dundee, will be running drop-in creative and sensory play activities within the Imagine Gallery, all aimed at babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers and their grown-ups. You can join us at any time throughout the session for baby-safe activities using light boxes, collage, and colourful and tactile materials.

Going Home: National Museums Scotland to transfer memorial pole to Nisga’a Nation

A memorial pole brought to Scotland nearly a century ago will be returned to its place of origin in what is now British Columbia, Canada.

The House of Ni’isjoohl Memorial Pole has been on display in what is now the National Museum of Scotland since 1930. During a visit from a delegation of Nisga’a representatives to Edinburgh in August, a request for its transfer to the Nisga’a Nation was made.

The request was formally agreed by the Board of Trustees of National Museums Scotland and subsequently approved by the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture.

Dr Chris Breward, Director of National Museums Scotland said: ““We are committed to promoting understanding and dialogue with respect to those parts of the Museum’s collection associated with our nation’s colonial history and its difficult legacies.

“The fact that our Trustees have agreed to this request demonstrates our readiness to act on this commitment. We are pleased to have reached this agreement and to be able to transfer the Memorial Pole to its people and to the place where its spiritual significance is most keenly understood. We hope this is not the end of the process but the next step in a fruitful and ongoing relationship with the Nisga’a.”

Sim’oogit Ni’ijoohl (Chief Earl Stephens) of Nisga’a Nation said: “In Nisga’a culture, we believe that this pole is alive with the spirit of our ancestor. After nearly one hundred years, we are finally able to bring our dear relative home to rest on Nisga’a lands.

“In 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.”

Ian Russell, Chair of the Board of Trustees of National Museums Scotland, said: “The decision to transfer objects which are in our care is not to be taken lightly. Following careful consideration in line with our Procedure for Considering Requests for the Permanent Transfer of Collection Objects from Non-UK Claimants, the Board approved the request.

“Having subsequently sought and now received the required approval from the Scottish Government, we have informed the Nisga’a Nation and will now begin to make arrangements for the transfer of the Pole to the Nisga’a Museum.”

Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson said: “I welcome the decision taken by National Museums Scotland’s Board of Trustees to return the Ni’isjoohl memorial pole to its place of origin. It follows a deeply moving recent meeting with the Nisga’a delegation when they came to Scotland to explain the huge importance of the pole to their culture, people and community.

“I would like to thank National Museums Scotland’s Board for their speedy but careful consideration of the request and for reaching such a positive outcome and also the Nisga’a delegation for helping us to understand the memorial pole’s history and importance to them.

“It has been a pleasure to give the required ministerial consent to enable National Museums Scotland to proceed with the transfer of ownership to the Nisga’a Museum”

Sigidimnak’ Nox Ts’aawit, Dr. Amy Parent, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Education and Governance, Tier 2, said:

“Our hearts have been moved with the commitment to return our family’s cultural treasure, which enables us to create a new story to re-right a colonial wrong with the honour, dignity and solidarity of the Scottish Peoples who are walking beside us on our decolonizing journeys.”

Following the decision, staff at National Museums Scotland will begin planning the complex task of safely removing the 11-metre pole from its display location and preparing it for transport to British Columbia.

The Ni’isjoohl Memorial Pole was carved from red cedar in 1855 by artist Oyea Tait and his assistant carver, Gwanes, in memorial of Ts’aawit, a Nisga’a chief of British Columbia, Canada. It shows a series of interlocking figures relating to Ts’aawit’s family history through his ancestors, family crests, and his clan.

The pole originally stood in front of the house of Ts’aawit’s relatives in Ank’idaa village on the Nass River. Today the Nisga’a Memorial Pole is on display in the Living Lands gallery at the National Museum of Scotland.

In 1929, Marius Barbeau purchased the pole from its Nisga’a owners on behalf of the Royal Museum of Scotland, which later became the National Museum of Scotland. It went on display the following year. Barbeau was an ethnographer and curator at the National Museum of Canada from 1911-1949. 

National Museums Scotland listings: Join us for the festive season

Festive events

Clyde’s Winter Trail
National Museum of Rural Life, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride G76 9HR
2 Dec 2022 – 8 Jan 2023
10:00-17:00
Clyde and his friends have been getting the National Museum of Rural Life ready for the festive season. Can you find all the miniature scenes around the museum?

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Clyde’s-Winter-Trail

Festive Weekend
National Museum of Rural Life, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride G76 9HR
3 & 4 Dec 2022
10:30-12:30 & 13:30-15:30
Learning Centre & Farmhouse
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass.

Celebrate the season with a weekend of festive family crafts at the museum. On Saturday, you can also join in rhymes, songs and games at the farmhouse.

Find our more nms.ac.uk/Festive-Weekend

Drawn Together at the Museum
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
28 Dec – 30 Dec 2022
Daily, 10:30 – 16:30
Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free drop-in

Escape to the museum between Christmas and Hogmanay and enjoy sketching around our galleries. Your artwork will be added to our informal public gallery for everyone to enjoy. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Drawn-Together

Exhibitions & Displays

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

Bernat Klein: Design in Colour       

5 Nov 2022 – 23 Apr 2023       
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 

Free entry 

 Marking the centenary of his birth, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour will celebrate the work of the influential émigré textile designer. Visitors will be able to explore Klein’s creative process and varied career, from providing couture fabrics for fashion designers to his influence on modernist architecture and interior design in the UK and Scandinavia.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/BernatKlein     

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

Book now nms.ac.uk/doctor-who

Inspiring Walter Scott  
Until 8 Jan 2023  
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1  
Free entry  
  
Following the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him. In this small exhibition we show how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.   
  
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller and supporting Year of Stories 2022.  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition  
  

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

  
Events

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

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

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

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

Relaxed Morning
4 Dec 2022
10:00 – 12:00 (quiet space open until 12:30)

Find out more nms.ac.uk/relaxed-morning

Friday Friends
2 & 16 December
14:00-16:00, selected Friday afternoons
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.

Book now nms.ac.uk/friday-friends

Magic Carpet Minis
2023 dates available soon
Various times and dates
£15 per child for block of 3

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

Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot  

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

National Museums Scotland acquires rare medieval gold sword pommel

National Museums Scotland has acquired an exceptionally rare gold sword pommel, created around 700 AD.

Discovered in Stirlingshire, this spectacular object is one of the first of its kind found in Scotland and has been allocated to the Museums by the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer following the recommendation of the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel.

The pommel is a decorative fitting that would have capped the top of a sword hilt made over 1000 years ago. Crafted in solid gold, the object is encrusted with garnets and intricate goldwork. This rich and technically accomplished decoration is highly symbolic, featuring religious motifs and fantastical creatures.

The discovery was made near Blair Drummond in Scotland, adding significantly to its archaeological value, affirming important cultural, political and artistic interactions within northern Britain.

Its decoration masterfully combines elements from both Anglo-Saxon England and the kingdoms of Early Medieval Scotland. This vibrant ‘Insular art’ style, made famous by illuminated manuscripts such as the Lindisfarne Gospels, is Britain’s unique contribution to medieval European art and the Stirling pommel is an outstanding expression of this creative fusion in gold.

Dr Alice Blackwell, Senior Curator of Medieval Archaeology and History at National Museums Scotland, said: “Goldwork from this period is virtually unknown from anywhere in the UK and we are delighted to secure the Stirling Pommel for Scotland’s national collections.

“It is a hugely significant archaeological find, revealing more about this fascinating period in the history of northern Britain and representing the spectacular skill and craftsmanship of the period.”

The pommel was discovered by a metal detectorist and declared to the Treasure Trove unit, in accordance with Scots Law. It was subsequently allocated to National Museums Scotland by the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel (SAFAP).

John Logue, King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer, said: “This discovery highlights the positive work done by the Treasure Trove Unit to decide upon the preservation of rare items for the nation.”

The announcement follows the success of Scottish Archaeology month 2022 in September. This initiative is focused on sharing and engaging with stories related to history, heritage and archaeology in Scotland.