Tag: National Museums Scotland

National Museums Scotland listings

Family events   

Bird Bingo   
National Museum of Rural Life, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR   
Until 31 Aug 2022    
10:00-17:00   
A trail around the museum   
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass   

Come and play Bird Bingo at the National Museum of Rural Life!    

Can you find all the birds hiding around the museum? Using the clues on our family trail sheet, see if you can spot different birds in our museum galleries and learn fun facts about them on your journey.   

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery   

Find out more nms.ac.uk/birdbingo   

Nature Track Packs  
National Museum of Rural Life, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR   
27 Jun – 19 Aug 2022  
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 new 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.  

Nature Track Packs are available to borrow on a first come, first served basis over the summer – just ask on arrival at our ticket desk, then return the pack to the desk once your Track Pack adventure is complete.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/trackpacks  

Summer Satchels  
National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF   
2 Jul – 4 Sep 2022  
10:00 – 17:00  
Free with museum admission  
Just ask at the desk in the Concorde Hangar  

See the National Museum of Flight in a different way this summer with our new family activity satchels. 

Each satchel contains all the equipment and simple instructions for five playful activities to help children explore the museum from a different perspective. The activities are designed to use outside on our spacious site.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/summersatchels  

  

Magic Carpet Free Pilot Sessions
National Museum of Scotland
26 Jul – 5 Aug 2022
Booking required

We are redeveloping our Magic Carpet sessions for children aged 0-18 months and their adults. In July and August, we are asking families to take part in one of 16 free pilot sessions to help us test new content and provide feedback.  
Visit nms.ac.uk/magic-carpet  

Exhibitions & Displays    

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

The Silver Casket
Until 1 Aug 2022 
Hawthornden Court
Free entry

See an iconic piece of Scotland’s national heritage, the silver casket believed to have been owned by Mary, Queen of Scots. Made in Paris, probably between 1493 and 1510, the casket is a superb and extremely rare work of early French silver.  It is likely that its long-standing association with Mary and her downfall has kept it preserved for over 450 years.   

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Silver-Casket    

 

Book of Hours
Until 3 Aug 2022 
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1) 
Free entry

Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display.   

Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen.   

The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein.   

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events   

 

E.Coli by Luke Jerram
3 Aug – 31 Aug 2022 
Grand Gallery
Free entry

 Part of the Edinburgh Art Festival programme, this 90ft long inflatable sculpture by Bristol-based Luke Jerram will be suspended from the ceiling of the National Museum of Scotland’s Grand Gallery. The E.coli is 5 million times bigger than the real bacteria. When standing next to it, does the bacteria alter our personal sense of scale? Does it look scary, beautiful, comical or alien? Will people be attracted or repelled by it?    

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Ecoli    

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

NMS Japanese Contemporary Design 1 SA : NMS Japanese Contemporary Design Picture by Stewart Attwood All images © Stewart Attwood Photography 2022. All other rights are reserved. Use in any other context is expressly prohibited without prior permission. No Syndication Permitted.

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.   

Visit nms.ac.uk/JapaneseContemporaryDesign     

   
The Typewriter Revolution   
Until 11 Sep 2022   
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3   
Free entry   

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons.   

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.    

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters   

Inspiring Walter Scott
Until 8 Jan 2023
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1
Free entry

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

Visit nms.ac.uk/WalterScottExhibition   
    

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

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

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

Visit nms.ac.uk/BernatKlein   

   
Events   

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

Gilded Balloon at the National Museum of Scotland
3 Aug – 28 Aug 2022 
Ticketed

Gilded Balloon are back: bringing Festival fun to the National Museum of Scotland throughout August!  

Brining a colourful line-up: from science for kids to satire for grown-ups, from chat shows to live podcasts. There’s an influencer, a ventriloquist, assorted Fringe favourites and of course a couple of Britain’s Got Talent winners.   

Performers include Scottish treasures Fred MacAulay, Lynn Ferguson and Jack Docherty, alongside Paul Zerdin and assorted puppet pals, Lost Voice Guy, the one and only Chesney Hawkes and even Boris Johnson?! Plus, our own favourite – Comedy Night at the Museum where top comedians improvise a humorous look at our amazing collection.   
  
Find out more on the Gilded Balloon website.  

Museum Socials 
19 Aug 2022 
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. They are suitable for first-time visitors and for those who might not regularly come to the museum, as well as people who have always loved visiting.  

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/museumsocials  

Death and the City: Edinburgh, Anatomy and the Case of Burke and Hare
30 Aug 2022 
Doors open 18:30, 19:00 – 21:30
£20 Adult, £18 Over 60, £16 concession and Members, £12.50 student
Age 14+ 

Experience an exclusive evening in The University of Edinburgh’s historic Anatomy Lecture Theatre and the National Museum of Scotland’s latest exhibition, as you discover the city’s unique role in the story of anatomy. 

Take a journey through time to discover Edinburgh’s relationship with the search for understanding of the human body. Soak up the atmosphere of The University of Edinburgh’s Anatomy Lecture Theatre before enjoying a welcome drink in the Discoveries gallery at the National Museum of Scotland, just five minutes’ walk away. Complete your evening with a visit to the Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life exhibition.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events  

Hoarding Histories: Beyond the Galloway Hoard
10 Sep 2022 
14:00 -16:30
Aged 14+ event
Ticketed

Join our expert panel as they discuss the process of hoarding across time and cultures.  

From assembling and burying, to curating and displaying, our panel will give diverse perspectives on this fascinating practice.   

The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Richard Bradley, Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at the University of Reading.  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/hoarding-histories   

Silent Teachers: The Story of Modern Body Donation 
13 Sep 2022 
19:30 – 20:30
Free, with optional donation
Online event

Inspired by our current exhibition, Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life, our expert panel will discuss the modern approach to anatomical study and body donation in this online event. 

In the 18th century, Edinburgh was Britain’s leading centre for medical teaching. As anatomists sought to understand the human body, the demand for bodies to dissect and study vastly outstripped legitimate supply. As a result, grave robbing became common practice. Since then legislation has ensured bodies used today are acquired, with proper consent, through donation.  

From their perspectives as exhibition curator, professor, medical student and living donor, our expert panel will discuss the modern approach to body donation and contrast the ethics, practices and beliefs of today with those from two centuries ago.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events  

   

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

Behind the Scenes Tours 
25 May – 26 Oct 2022 
11:00–12:00 & 14:00–15:00
Object Store
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. Join Aviation Curator Ian Brown for one of our regular guided tours of the museum’s Object Store. Explore some of the collections not normally on public view and discover the fascinating stories behind them.   

Find out more nms.ac.uk/behind-the-scenes-tours

Operation Sabotage
5 Aug – 14 Aug (except 9 Aug)
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  

Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot   

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland   

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/   

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

National Museums Scotland listings & summer holiday activities

The Scottish school holidays have started.  The latest National Museums Scotland listings include ideas for the whole family this summer:


Family events  

Summer of Stories 
National Museum of Scotland,
Chambers Street, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF  
9 Jul – 23 Jul 2022 
See below for dates and times 
Free, drop-in 

Gather round and settle in for our Summer of Stories with daily sessions to spark your little one’s imagination.  

From trails to storytelling, origami to film screenings, there’s all sorts going on this summer at the National Museum of Scotland as part of the Year of Scotland’s Stories! 

Supporting Year of Stories 2022 and supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Find out more about the programme at nms.ac.uk/summerofstories 

‘Brave’ film screening 
National Museum of Scotland,
Chambers Street, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
9 Jul – 23 Jul 2022 
Auditorium, Level 1 
Adult: £3.50, Members, Children and Concessions: £3 

Enjoy this 2012 Disney Pixar classic on the big screen and then go and explore our Scotland galleries with a specially themed trail. 

Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have been passed through the generations across the rugged and mysterious Highlands of Scotland. “Brave” chronicles the story of Scottish princess Merida (Kelly Macdonald), a skilful and courageous archer with a decidedly impetuous nature. 

This film has a PG certification. All children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. 

Supporting Year of Stories 2022 and supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/Brave 

Bird Bingo  
National Museum of Rural Life,
Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR  
Until 31 Aug 2022   
10:00-17:00  
A trail around the museum  
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass  

Come and play Bird Bingo at the National Museum of Rural Life!   

Can you find all the birds hiding around the museum? Using the clues on our family trail sheet, see if you can spot different birds in our museum galleries and learn fun facts about them on your journey.  

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/birdbingo  


Nature Track Packs 
National Museum of Rural Life,
Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR  
27 Jun – 19 Aug 2022 
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 new 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. 

Nature Track Packs are available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis over the summer – just ask on arrival at our ticket desk, then return the pack to the desk once your Track Pack adventure is complete. 

This family activity is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery . 

Visit nms.ac.uk/trackpacks 

Summer Satchels 
National Museum of Flight,
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF  
2 Jul – 4 Sep 2022 
10:00 – 17:00 
Free with museum admission 
Just ask at the desk in the Concorde Hangar 

See the National Museum of Flight in a different way this summer with our new family activity satchels. 

Each satchel contains all the equipment and simple instructions for five playful activities to help children explore the museum from a different perspective. The activities are designed to use outside on our spacious site. 

This family activity is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery . 

Visit nms.ac.uk/summersatchels 


Exhibitions & Displays   

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

NOW OPEN Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life  
Until 13 Nov 2022  
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3  
Ticketed  
 

“Gripping” ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Guardian 
“First-rate exhibition” ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Telegraph 
“Summer’s must-see exhibition” The Times 

Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders.  
This exhibition looks at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century.  
 
Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers.   

Book now nms.ac.uk/Anatomy  

The Silver Casket  
Until 1 Aug 2022  
Hawthornden Court   
Free entry   

See an iconic piece of Scotland’s national heritage, the silver casket believed to have been owned by Mary, Queen of Scots. Made in Paris, probably between 1493 and 1510, the casket is a superb and extremely rare work of early French silver.  It is likely that its long-standing association with Mary and her downfall has kept it preserved for over 450 years.  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Silver-Casket   

Book of Hours  
Until 3 Aug 2022  
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1)  
Free entry   
 
Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display.    

Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th-century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen.   

The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein.   

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events    

E.Coli by Luke Jerram 
3 Aug – 31 Aug 2022   
Grand Gallery   
Free entry   

 Part of the Edinburgh Art Festival programme, this 90ft long inflatable sculpture by Bristol-based Luke Jerram will be suspended from the ceiling of the National Museum of Scotland’s Grand Gallery. The E.coli is 5 million times bigger than the real bacteria. When standing next to it, does the bacteria alter our personal sense of scale? Does it look scary, beautiful, comical or alien? Will people be attracted or repelled by it?   

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Ecoli     

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.   

Visit nms.ac.uk/JapaneseContemporaryDesign      

The Typewriter Revolution  
Until 11 Sep 2022  
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3  
Free entry    

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons.    

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.    

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters  
  

Inspiring Walter Scott  

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

Visit nms.ac.uk/WalterScottExhibition  
   

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

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

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

Visit nms.ac.uk/BernatKlein  

  
Events  
 

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

Spotlight On: Anatomy   
13 Jul 2022  
14:00 – 15:00   
Auditorium, Level 1   
Free, with optional donation  

Join exhibition curators Tacye Phillipson and Sophie Goggins as they discuss our major exhibition Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life. Dig deeper into the themes explored in our summer exhibition in this free curator talk to kick off our Anatomy events programme. Revisit your favourite stories from the exhibition or find out more before your visit.     

Find out more nms.ac.uk/spotlightanatomy   

Gilded Balloon at the National Museum of Scotland  
3 Aug – 28 Aug 2022  
Ticketed  

Gilded Balloon are back: bringing Festival fun to the National Museum of Scotland throughout August! 

Brining a colourful line-up: from science for kids to satire for grown-ups, from chat shows to live podcasts. There’s an influencer, a ventriloquist, assorted Fringe favourites and of course a couple of Britain’s Got Talent winners.  

Performers include Scottish treasures Fred MacAulay, Lynn Ferguson and Jack Docherty, alongside Paul Zerdin and assorted puppet pals, Lost Voice Guy, the one and only Chesney Hawkes and even Boris Johnson?! Plus, our own favourite – Comedy Night at the Museum where top comedians improvise a humorous look at our amazing collection.  
 
Find out more on the Gilded Balloon website. 

Museum Socials 
19 Aug 2022 
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. They are suitable for first-time visitors and for those who might not regularly come to the museum, as well as people who have always loved visiting. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/museumsocials 

Death and the City: Edinburgh, Anatomy and the Case of Burke and Hare  
30 Aug 2022 
Doors open 18:30, 19:00 – 21:30 
£20 Adult, £18 Over 60, £16 concession and Members, £12.50 student 
Age 14+ 

Experience an exclusive evening in The University of Edinburgh’s historic Anatomy Lecture Theatre and the National Museum of Scotland’s latest exhibition, as you discover the city’s unique role in the story of anatomy.   

Take a journey through time to discover Edinburgh’s relationship with the search for understanding of the human body.

Soak up the atmosphere of The University of Edinburgh’s Anatomy Lecture Theatre before enjoying a welcome drink in the Discoveries gallery at the National Museum of Scotland, just five minutes’ walk away.

Complete your evening with a visit to the Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life exhibition. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Hoarding Histories: Beyond the Galloway Hoard  
10 Sep 2022  
14:00 -16:30  
Aged 14+ event  
Ticketed  

 Join our expert panel as they discuss the process of hoarding across time and cultures. 

From assembling and burying, to curating and displaying, our panel will give diverse perspectives on this fascinating practice.  

The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Richard Bradley, Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at the University of Reading. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/hoarding-histories  

Silent Teachers: The Story of Modern Body Donation 
13 Sep 2022 
19:30 – 20:30 
Free, with optional donation 
Online event 

Inspired by our current exhibition, Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life, our expert panel will discuss the modern approach to anatomical study and body donation in this online event.  

In the 18th century, Edinburgh was Britain’s leading centre for medical teaching. As anatomists sought to understand the human body, the demand for bodies to dissect and study vastly outstripped legitimate supply. As a result, grave robbing became common practice.Since then legislation has ensured bodies used today are acquired, with proper consent, through donation. 

From their perspectives as exhibition curator, professor, medical student and living donor, our expert panel will discuss the modern approach to body donation and contrast the ethics, practices and beliefs of today with those from two centuries ago. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events   

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

Behind the Scenes Tours 
25 May – 26 Oct 2022   
11:00–12:00 & 14:00–15:00  
Object Store  
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. Join Aviation Curator Ian Brown for one of our regular guided tours of the museum’s Object Store. Explore some of the collections not normally on public view and discover the fascinating stories behind them.  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/behind-the-scenes-tours   

Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot  

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland  

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/  

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

What’s On at National Museums Scotland

EVENTS, DISPLAYS and EXHIBITIONS

EXHIBITIONS & DISPLAYS   

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

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life  
2 Jul – 13 Nov 2022  
Member Preview Day 1 Jul  
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3  
Ticketed  

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

This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century.  

Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy   

The Silver Casket 
Until 1 Aug 2022 
Hawthornden Court
Free entry

See an iconic piece of Scotland’s national heritage, the silver casket believed to have been owned by Mary, Queen of Scots. Made in Paris, probably between 1493 and 1510, the casket is a superb and extremely rare work of early French silver.  It is likely that its long-standing association with Mary and her downfall has kept it preserved for over 450 years.  

The silver casket is on display in Hawthornden Court at the National Museum of Scotland. From August 2022, it will be on permanent display in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery alongside other objects associated with Mary.  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Silver-Casket   

E.Coli by Luke Jerram 
3 Aug – 31 Aug 2022 
Grand Gallery
Free entry

 Part of the Edinburgh Art Festival programme, this 90ft long inflatable sculpture by Bristol-based Luke Jerram will be suspended from the ceiling of the National Museum of Scotland’s Grand Gallery. The E.coli is 5 million times bigger than the real bacteria. When standing next to it, does the bacteria alter our personal sense of scale? Does it look scary, beautiful, comical or alien? Will people be attracted or repelled by it?   

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Ecoli   

  

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.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/JapaneseContemporaryDesign    

  
The Typewriter Revolution  
Until 11 Sep 2022  
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3  
Free entry  

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons.  

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.   

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters  
  

Inspiring Walter Scott 
Until 8 Jan 2023
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1
Free entry 

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

Visit nms.ac.uk/WalterScottExhibition  
  

Book of Hours
Until 3 Aug 2022 
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1) 
Free entry

Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display.  
  

Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen.  

The book will be exhibited in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery in a display alongside other objects associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Six different pages within the book will be revealed, with a new page displayed every three weeks. A QR code will allow you to scroll through the vividly illustrated pages in detail.  
  
The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events  

 

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

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

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

Visit nms.ac.uk/BernatKlein  

  
EVENTS  

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

Concert for a Summer’s Night
21 Jun 2022 
19:15 doors open, 20:00 concert starts
Grand Gallery
Ticketed 

Mark the summer solstice with string collective Scottish Ensemble. Be taken on an atmospheric journey through an eclectic mix of musical styles, including Mozart’s scampering, energetic ‘Magic Flute Overture’, Vask’s shimmering ‘Musica Serena’ and Dvorak’s ‘American Quartet’, evoking expansive, wide-open vistas.  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events   

Spotlight On: Anatomy
13 Jul 2022 
14:00 – 15:00
Auditorium, Level 1
Free, with optional donation 

Join exhibition curators Tacye Phillipson and Sophie Goggins as they discuss our major exhibition Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life. Dig deeper into the themes explored in our summer exhibition in this free curator talk to kick off our Anatomy events programme. Revisit your favourite stories from the exhibition or find out more before your visit.     

Find out more nms.ac.uk/spotlightanatomy   

Gilded Balloon at the National Museum of Scotland
3 Aug – 28 Aug 2022
Ticketed

Gilded Balloon are back: bringing Festival fun to the National Museum of Scotland throughout August! 

Brining a colourful line-up: from science for kids to satire for grown-ups, from chat shows to live podcasts. There’s an influencer, a ventriloquist, assorted Fringe favourites and of course a couple of Britain’s Got Talent winners.  

Performers include Scottish treasures Fred MacAulay, Lynn Ferguson and Jack Docherty, alongside Paul Zerdin and assorted puppet pals, Lost Voice Guy, the one and only Chesney Hawkes and even Boris Johnson?! Plus, our own favourite – Comedy Night at the Museum where top comedians improvise a humorous look at our amazing collection.  
 
Find out more on the Gilded Balloon website. 

Hoarding Histories: Beyond the Galloway Hoard
10 Sep 2022
14:00 -16:30
Aged 14+ event
Ticketed
  

Join our expert panel as they discuss the process of hoarding across time and cultures. 

From assembling and burying, to curating and displaying, our panel will give diverse perspectives on this fascinating practice.  

The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Richard Bradley, Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at the University of Reading. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/hoarding-histories  

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

Bird Bingo  
Until 31 Aug 2022   
10:00-17:00  
A trail around the museum  
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass  

Come and play Bird Bingo at the National Museum of Rural Life!   

Can you find all the birds hiding around the museum? Using the clues on our family trail sheet, see if you can spot different birds in our museum galleries and learn fun facts about them on your journey.  

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery  
  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/birdbingo  

  

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


Awesome Bricks
18 Jun –19 Jun 2022 
10:00-17:00
Ticketed

Join us for one of Scotland’s biggest LEGO events. See a host of unique and inspiring LEGO constructions, including a 3D hot air balloon festival, and get hands-on in our blue brick build zone.  

Awesome Bricks is produced in partnership with Warren Elsmore.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/awesomebricks  

  

Behind the Scenes Tours
25 May – 26 Oct 2022 
11:00–12:00 & 14:00–15:00
Object Store
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. Join Aviation Curator Ian Brown for one of our regular guided tours of the museum’s Object Store. Explore some of the collections not normally on public view and discover the fascinating stories behind them.  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/behind-the-scenes-tours   

Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot  

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland  

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/  

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

National Museums Scotland: What’s On

EXHIBITIONS AND DISPLAYS  

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

The Silver Casket
Until 1 Aug 2022
Hawthorden Court
Free entry

See an iconic piece of Scotland’s national heritage, the silver casket believed to have been owned by Mary, Queen of Scots. Made in Paris, probably between 1493 and 1510, the casket is a superb and extremely rare work of early French silver.  It is likely that its long-standing association with Mary and her downfall has kept it preserved for over 450 years. 

The silver casket is on display in Hawthornden Court at the National Museum of Scotland. From August 2022, it will be on permanent display in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery alongside other objects associated with Mary. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Silver-Casket  

E.Coli by Luke Jerram
3 Aug – 31 Aug 2022
Grand Gallery
Free entry

Part of the Edinburgh Art Festival programme, this 90ft long inflatable sculpture by Bristol-based Luke Jerram will be suspended from the ceiling of the National Museum of Scotland’s Grand Gallery. The E.coli is 5 million times bigger than the real bacteria. When standing next to it, does the bacteria alter our personal sense of scale? Does it look scary, beautiful, comical or alien? Will people be attracted or repelled by it?  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Ecoli  

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. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/JapaneseContemporaryDesign   

 
The Typewriter Revolution 
Until 11 Sep 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons. 

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters 
 

Inspiring Walter Scott
Until 8 Jan 2023
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1
Free entry

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

Visit nms.ac.uk/WalterScottExhibition 
 

Book of Hours
Until 3 Aug 2022
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1)
Free entry

Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display. 

Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen. 

The book will be exhibited in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery in a display alongside other objects associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Six different pages within the book will be revealed, with a new page displayed every three weeks. A QR code will allow you to scroll through the vividly illustrated pages in detail. 
 
The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/book-of-hours 

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life 
2 Jul – 13 Nov 2022 
Member Preview Day 1 Jul 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed 

Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders.   
This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century. 

Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy 

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

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

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

Visit nms.ac.uk/BernatKlein   

 
EVENTS 

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

How The Nose Got Its Sneeze
11 – 12 Jun 2022
10:00-16:45
Event Space, Level 2
Free sign up on the day

In this fun and immersive play adventure, children will explore what happens inside the nose when things like smoke, dust and pollen get inside and how the nose defends our precious lungs against these invaders. 

Play will start with a story to set the scene, followed by a journey through a giant nose and then continue with lots of loose-part-play within two large lung-shaped domes. A gentle soundscape of music and breathing will surround the hands-on activity. OKIDO play rangers and lung researchers will be on hand to help with questions and fun! 

Sign up on the day for a 45 minute session, starting each hour from 10am until (last session) 4pm. 

This event is for under-fives but parents, carers, grandparents and older siblings are encouraged to join in too! 
 
In partnership with OKIDO Studio. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Concert for a Summer’s Night
21 Jun 2022
19:15 doors open, 20:00 concert starts
Grand Gallery
Ticketed

Mark the summer solstice with string collective Scottish Ensemble. Be taken on an atmospheric journey through an eclectic mix of musical styles, including Mozart’s scampering, energetic ‘Magic Flute Overture’, Vask’s shimmering ‘Musica Serena’ and Dvorak’s ‘American Quartet’, evoking expansive, wide-open vistas. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events  

Spotlight On: Anatomy
13 Jul 2022
14:00 – 15:00
Auditorium, Level 1
Free, with optional donation

Join exhibition curators Tacye Phillipson and Sophie Goggins as they discuss our major exhibition Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life. Dig deeper into the themes explored in our summer exhibition in this free curator talk to kick off our Anatomy events programme. Revisit your favourite stories from the exhibition or find out more before your visit.    

Find out more nms.ac.uk/spotlightanatomy  

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

Bird Bingo 
Until 31 Aug 2022  
10:00-17:00 
A trail around the museum 
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass 

Come and play Bird Bingo at the National Museum of Rural Life!  

Can you find all the birds hiding around the museum? Using the clues on our family trail sheet, see if you can spot different birds in our museum galleries and learn fun facts about them on your journey. 

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/birdbingo 

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

Awesome Bricks
18 Jun –19 Jun 2022
10:00-17:00
Ticketed

Join us for one of Scotland’s biggest LEGO events. See a host of unique and inspiring LEGO constructions, including a 3D hot air balloon festival, and get hands-on in our blue brick build zone. 

Awesome Bricks is produced in partnership with Warren Elsmore. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/awesomebricks 

Behind the Scenes Tours
25 May – 26 Oct 2022
11:00–12:00 & 14:00–15:00
Object Store
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. Join Aviation Curator Ian Brown for one of our regular guided tours of the museum’s Object Store. Explore some of the collections not normally on public view and discover the fascinating stories behind them. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/behind-the-scenes-tours  

Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

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

National Museums Scotland acquires rare embroidery and launches new conservation internships

A rare embroidery dating from the early seventeenth century has been acquired by National Museums Scotland. The exquisite textile has been acquired with the support of textile collector and philanthropist Leslie B. Durst and coincides with the announcement of three Leslie B. Durst Textile Conservation Internships.

The embroidered Crucifixion is a unique surviving example of textiles associated with Catholic devotion. Few such objects survive in Britain as most were destroyed due to fears of idolatrous worship.

At the time, the practice of Catholicism was punishable by imprisonment or worse. Created by skilled artisans, the Crucifixion is illustrated in coloured silks and surrounded by a Latin prayer embroidered with gold and silver thread. 

The textile was originally owned by Elizabeth Stuart, a member of the Scottish nobility, who married into one of the most prominent Catholic families in Britain.

It has remained in the collection of the Howards, Earls of Arundel and Dukes of Norfolk, since the 17th century. An inscription on the reverse of the piece suggests that the family once believed it belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots, but this connection has since been disproven.  

Helen Wyld, Senior Curator of Historic Textiles at National Museums Scotland said:     “It is very unusual for textiles of this kind and quality to survive in the UK, and even more so with such a compelling provenance. 

“The Crucifixion can help us better understand the role of textiles in Catholic devotion in England and Scotland. Its history in the collections of Elizabeth Stuart and the Howard family sheds light on a forgotten aspect of Scotland’s past and provides insight into the lives of those who treasured it for centuries.

“Thanks to the generosity and support of Leslie B. Durst, this remarkable object will be secured for the nation for years to come.” 

The exceptional condition of the piece suggests that it was treasured by successive generations. National Museums Scotland is now undertaking minor conservation work to ensure that it is ready for display, as well as technical analysis to learn more about its construction. 

Starting this autumn, the Leslie B. Durst Textile Conservation Internships in partnership with the Clothworkers Company, have been created for early career textile conservators.

Based within the National Museums Scotland’s state of the art Collection Centre, three paid interns will be supported by a dedicated team of highly skilled experts working on a varied programme of high-profile conservation projects.

These new roles represent a critical investment in the future of the sector, ensuring specialist skills and knowledge are passed on to future generations. 

Lynn McClean, Principal Conservator at National Museums Scotland, said:  “These internships will help safeguard Scotland’s irreplaceable textile heritage and the highly skilled profession of textile conservation.

“The support of Leslie B. Durst and the Clothworkers Company have allowed us to offer these career-defining opportunities and we are delighted to welcome three new conservators to our team.” 

Recruitment for the first paid, one-year internship will start this summer with an anticipated start date in October 2022. Further one-year positions will begin in 2023 and 2024.  

National Museums Scotland reveals contemporary whisky collection

National Museums Scotland has revealed a new collection exploring contemporary Scottish whisky. Announced to coincide with World Whisky Day on 21 May 2022, a selection of bottled whiskies, packaging and related material have been acquired to reflect the thriving industry in the 21st century.

An icon of Scottish heritage and culture, whisky is the UK’s largest food and drinks export reaching 166 international markets and shaping perceptions of Scotland around the world. In recent years the industry has undergone a period of growth and reinvention, with dozens of distilleries opening for production since the turn of the century.

This important moment is reflected in a new collection of 14 objects that spans more than a decade of production. Acquisitions have been made as part of a sixth-month Student Development Fund Project in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, and represent the length and breadth of Scotland, from the Scottish Borders to the islands of the Inner Hebrides and Thurso, the most northern town on the British mainland.

Laura Scobie, Doctoral Researcher at the University of Edinburgh and National Museums Scotland, said: “I’m delighted to add such fascinating examples of material culture associated with contemporary Scottish whisky to the national collection, from actual bottles of whisky to surprising artistic responses from local makers.

“These items not only provide an insight into one of our leading industries but reveal a picture of Scotland in the early 21st century that will now be preserved for generations to come.”

Today’s whisky industry exists against a backdrop of global environmental concern and demand for greater sustainability. As well as improvements in sustainable production and practice, many new distilleries are building brand identities that embrace the nature and landscape that surrounds them.

A bottle acquired for the collection from Isle of Rasaay Distillery is textured with fossil details from the region’s geological topography. Torabhaig Distillery’s Allt Gleann Single Malt Whisky, was named after one of the burns that provide the distillery with spring water.

In Gaelic,“Allt” means stream or burn and “Gleann” a glen or a valley. The slogan “Shaped by Skye” further emphasises the narrative that the whisky has been forged by the island’s rugged landscape.

The collection also considers the relationships between distilleries and Scottish makers. A 25ml measure created by Skye-based potter Katharina Lenz for Torabhaig Distillery highlights the ways in which the island’s creative community is stimulated and supported by the local whisky industry.

On a larger scale, a backpack collaboration from Isle of Jura Distillery and accessories brand Trakke has been produced in Glasgow with materials sourced from across Scotland, including waxed cotton from Dundee that has been dyed with lichen native to Jura.

National Museums Scotland’s contemporary collecting programme collects history as it happens.

Objects are acquired that reflect major shifts in Scotland during the 21st century, or change our understandings of the past, to inspire visitors now and in the future. This project will complement and expand the Museums’ current collections, revealing the story of Scottish whisky in the 21st century.

Japanese Contemporary Design

6 May 2022 to 5 March 2023 – National Museum of Scotland

A new artwork by ground-breaking Japanese artist Hitomi Hosono will be unveiled in a display at the National Museum of Scotland. 

Japanese Contemporary Design (6 May 2022 – 5 March 2023), will showcase developments in art, craft and design in Japan over the past 50 years. Hosono’s spectacular A Large Pine Tree Pool has recently been acquired for the National Collection and will be shown for the first time. 

From striking statement jewellery to glass and porcelain sculptures, this free display will explore the rich and varied practice of Japanese contemporary designers over five decades.

Cultural events associated with the 1964 Tokyo Olympics prompted Japanese makers to take notice of international design. The artists represented in the display reflect the developments of the following 50 years, combining traditional artisanship and themes with new materials, inspiration and techniques.  

A more diverse range of makers has also emerged in Japan in recent years. Ceramicist Hitomi Hosono is one of the highly skilled female artists breaking into historically male-dominated disciplines.

This follows a move away from the traditional apprenticeship-based system and the long-established custom of the eldest son taking over from his father. Japanese Contemporary Design will include an equal number of works by female and male makers, shining a light on some remarkable artisans who have previously been overlooked. 

Dr Louise Boyd, Curator of the Japanese and Ainu collections at National Museums Scotland, said: “This display will highlight the extraordinary skill and diversity of contemporary Japanese makers.

“The objects exhibited represent recent developments in the art world, both in Japan and internationally. I am particularly delighted to include Hitomi Hosono’s remarkable A Large Pine Tree Pool, on display for the public to enjoy for the very first time.” 

Further highlights include Junko Mori’s intricate New Pinecone Silver Organism. Nature is often seen as a fundamental element of traditional Japanese culture, but Mori incorporates new methods and forms influenced by studying and working in the UK.

Striking examples of contemporary jewellery designs will also be showcased. Adapting metalworking and engraving techniques traditionally used in the making of Japanese sword fittings, jeweller Suō Emiko has created colourful graphic pieces to adorn the body.  

Last chance to see Audubon’s Birds of America

NATIONAL MUSEUMS SCOTLAND LISTINGS

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

*** LAST CHANCE TO SEE Audubon’s Birds of America ***
Until 8 May 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed, £0-£10  


This exhibition examines the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and largest books.   

Published as a series between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a landmark work which achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized ornithological illustrations.    

Audubon’s Birds of America showcases 46 unbound prints from National Museums Scotland’s collection, most of which have never been on display before, as well as a rare bound volume of the book, on loan from the Mitchell Library. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see so much of Audubon’s work in one place.   

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 
 
Book now nms.ac.uk/BirdsofAmerica 

NEW Japanese Contemporary Design 

Fri 6 May 2022 – 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. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/JapaneseContemporaryDesign   

 
The Typewriter Revolution 
Until 11 Sep 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons. 

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters 
 

Inspiring Walter Scott 

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

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition 
 

Book of Hours 

31 Mar – 3 Aug 2022 
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1) 
Free  

Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display. 

Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen. 

The book will be exhibited in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery in a display alongside other objects associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Six different pages within the book will be revealed, with a new page displayed every three weeks. A QR code will allow you to scroll through the vividly illustrated pages in detail. 
 
The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life 
2 Jul – 13 Nov 2022 
Member Preview Day 1 Jul 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed 

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

 
This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century. 

Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy 

JUST ANNOUNCED Bernat Klein: Design in Colour  

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

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

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

Visit nms.ac.uk/BernatKlein   

 
Events 

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

Festival Family Encounters Day 
7 May 2022 
10:00-16:30 
Grand Gallery 
Free, drop-in. Some events may have timed slots and require sign-up on the day. 

 
The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival opens on Saturday 7 May with Family Encounters at the National Museum of Scotland. Come along to get curious, creative and enjoy specially commissioned performances from Scottish based artists. 

All events at Family Encounters on 7 May are free. Some may have timed slots and require sign-up on the day. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

How The Nose Got Its Sneeze  

11 – 12 Jun 2022
10:00-16:45
Event Space, Level 2
Free sign up on the day

In this fun and immersive play adventure, children will explore what happens inside the nose when things like smoke, dust and pollen get inside and how the nose defends our precious lungs against these invaders. 

Play will start with a story to set the scene, followed by a journey through a giant nose and then continue with lots of loose-part-play within two large lung-shaped domes. A gentle soundscape of music and breathing will surround the hands-on activity. OKIDO play rangers and lung researchers will be on hand to help with questions and fun! 

Sign up on the day for a 45 minute session, starting each hour from 10am until (last session) 4pm. 

This event is for under-fives but parents, carers, grandparents and older siblings are encouraged to join in too! 
 
In partnership with OKIDO Studio. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

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

Bird Bingo 
1 Apr – 31 Aug 2022 
10:00-17:00 
A trail around the museum 
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass 

 
Come and play Bird Bingo at the National Museum of Rural Life!  

Can you find all the birds hiding around the museum? Using the clues on our family trail sheet, see if you can spot different birds in our museum galleries and learn fun facts about them on your journey. 

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/birdbingo 

Woolly Weekend 
28 – 29 May 2022 
11:00-16:00 
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass 
 
Visit the National Museum of Rural life to celebrate the start of summer and all things woolly. See our shearer at work with our Scottish Blackface sheep and enjoy wool-themed family crafts and activities. 

 
This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/woollyweekend 

National Museum of Flight   
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF 
From 1 Apr, Open daily 10:00 – 16:00 

Make Do and Mend 

19 Apr – 22 Apr 2022 
11:00-16:00 
Concorde Hangar 
Free with museum admission 

Find out about the sustainability skills that people used during and after the Second World War with hands-on, family-friendly activities. 

 
Discover original Second World War RAF items and find out how people reused these objects creatively in the times of austerity after the war. Visitors can also try “French” knitting or book tickets for the “Bundle and Steam” fabric printing workshops. 

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 

Find out more and book nms.ac.uk/makedoandmend 

Dig for Victory 

8 May 2022 
11:00-16:00 
Free with museum admission 

Find out how people grew and cooked their own food during the Second World War with cooking demonstrations, talks, tours and hands-on family activities. 

 
Discover the challenges of wartime cooking with food historian Nichola Fletcher and find out about the fruit and vegetables that were grown on the airfield. Families can also join drop-in workshops to create a wildflower seed bomb or make a paper pot to take home. 

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/digforvictory 

Falklands 40 and the Vulcan at War 

28 – 29 May 2022 
10:00 – 17:00 
Concorde Hangar and Vulcan Aircraft 
Free with museum admission 
 
Learn about the role of the Vulcan in the Falklands War, with talks, tours and displays to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the conflict. 
 

The Vulcan aircraft on display at East Fortune, serial number XM597, took part in Black Buck missions, attacking Argentinian radar defences. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the conflict, some of the crew members and personnel involved in Operation Black Buck are visiting the museum to share their stories in a series of talks and tours. 

In the Concorde Hangar, visitors will also be able to see a small photography display and some of Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum’s Airborne Forces Collection, and younger visitors will have the chance to make a paper Vulcan underneath Concorde. 

Find our more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Awesome Bricks  

18 –19 Jun 2022
10:00-17:00
Ticketed

Join us for one of Scotland’s biggest LEGO events. See a host of unique and inspiring LEGO constructions, including a 3D hot air balloon festival, and get hands-on in our blue brick build zone. 

Awesome Bricks is produced in partnership with Warren Elsmore. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/awesomebricks 

ENDS 

Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

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 

Audubon’s Birds of America 
Until 8 May 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed, £0-£10 
 
This exhibition examines the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and largest books.   

Published as a series between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a landmark work that achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized ornithological illustrations.    

Audubon’s Birds of America showcases 46 unbound prints from National Museums Scotland’s collection, most of which have never been on display before, as well as a rare bound volume of the book, on loan from the Mitchell Library. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see so much of Audubon’s work in one place. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 
 
Book now nms.ac.uk/BirdsofAmerica 

*LAST CHANCE TO SEE* Scotland’s Climate Challenge 

Until 27 Mar 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1 
Free 

This small exhibition highlights the exciting work being carried out in Scotland to fight against climate change. It brings together just some of the technological responses that have been developed in Scotland or that are being used here in the effort to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

On show are a range of leading-edge equipment, much of it newly collected, alongside samples of natural material. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/ClimateChallenge  
 

The Typewriter Revolution 
Until 11 Sep 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons. 

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters 
 

Inspiring Walter Scott 

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

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition 
 

Book of Hours 

31 Mar – 3 Aug 2022 
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1) 
Free  

Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display.  

Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen. 

The book will be exhibited in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery in a display alongside other objects associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Six different pages within the book will be revealed, with a new page displayed every three weeks. A QR code will allow you to scroll through the vividly illustrated pages in detail. 
 
The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life 
1 Jul – 13 Nov 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed 

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

This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century. 

Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy 

 
Events 


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

 
Relaxed Opening Hour  
27 Mar 2022  
10:00-11:00  
Free entry   

The monthly Relaxed Opening Hour at the National Museum of Scotland is 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.   

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. The Relaxed Opening Hour includes access to the entirety of the museum currently open to the public. At 11:00 sound will be switched back on, but visitors to this session are welcome to remain in the museum for as long as they like.   

Find out more at nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Edinburgh Science Festival 2022 

9 Apr – 24 Apr 2022 
10:00 – 17:00 

The Edinburgh Science Festival brings two weeks of science-fuelled exploration to the National Museum of Scotland, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult talks.  

The Grand Gallery will be home to DataSphere, a multi-media exploration of the information driving our world. Elsewhere in the museum get-hands on with amazing drop-in experiments from the University of Edinburgh, and children’s workshops exploring everything from Creative Coding to Disease.  

Adults can enjoy a series of fascinating talks and debates on topics from climatology and the philosophy of science to death, folklore and the cities of the future. Speakers include A.C. Grayling, Jim Al-Khalili, Alice Bell and Mary Roach. And join DataSphere After Dark, with bars, a DJ and exclusive activities just for grown-ups. Take the chance to have as much fun as the kids as you send, swipe and scroll through the data that drives our world. 

To book or find out more, visit the Edinburgh Science Festival website. 

 
National Museum of Flight  
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF  
Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 – 16:00 
 
National Lottery Open Week 

26 Mar – 27 Mar 2022 
10:00 – 16:00 
Free entry on presentation of National Lottery ticket (T&Cs apply) 
 
On 26 and 27 March, the National Museum of Flight is taking part in the National Lottery Open Week.  

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. Please book a timed entry ticket online for every member of your group in advance of your visit. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Online 


Museum Socials: Audubon’s Birds of America 

18 Mar 2022 
11:00–12:00 
Online 
Free 
 
Museum Socials are created for anyone affected by Dementia and their relatives, friends and supporters. The monthly events create a friendly environment where everyone is welcome and all contributions are valued.

They are suitable for first-time visitors and for those who might not regularly come to the museum, as well as people who have always loved visiting.  

In March, join exhibition curator Mark Glancy to learn about the making of Birds of America, one of the world’s rarest and most coveted books. 

Museum Socials are inspired by Meet Me at MoMA. They are programmed in partnership with National Galleries of Scotland and the National Library of Scotland. 

Book nms.ac.uk/MuseumSocials  

The Joy of Birds 

31 Mar 2022 
19:30-20:30 
Online 

Free, with optional donation 

Join an online discussion celebrating the joy that birds bring us, the urgent threats they face, and the science and conservation work protecting them.  

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Book Now nms.ac.uk/JoyofBirds 

 
Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

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

What’s On at National Museums of Scotland: Exhibitions and Events

EXHIBITIONS & DISPLAYS 

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

Audubon’s Birds of America 
Until 8 May 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed, £0-£10 
 
This exhibition examines the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and biggest books.   

Published as a series between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a landmark work that achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized ornithological illustrations.   

Audubon’s Birds of America showcases 46 unbound prints from National Museums Scotland’s collection, most of which have never been on display before, as well as a rare bound volume of the book, on loan from the Mitchell Library. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see so much of Audubon’s work in one place.

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 
 
Book now nms.ac.uk/BirdsofAmerica 

LAST CHANCE TO SEE Scotland’s Climate Challenge 

Until 27 Mar 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1 
Free  

This small exhibition highlights the exciting work being carried out in Scotland to fight against climate change. It brings together just some of the technological responses that have been developed in Scotland or that are being used here in the effort to cut carbon dioxide emissions. On show are a range of leading-edge equipment, much of it newly collected, alongside samples of natural material. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/ClimateChallenge
 

The Typewriter Revolution 
Until 11 Sep 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons. 

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters 
 

Inspiring Walter Scott 

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

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition 
 

*NEW* Book of Hours 

31 Mar – 3 Aug 2022 
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1) 
Free  

Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display.  

Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen.

The book will be exhibited in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery in a display alongside other objects associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Six different pages within the book will be revealed, with a new page displayed every three weeks. A QR code will allow you to scroll through the vividly illustrated pages in detail. 
 
The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life 
1 Jul – 13 Nov 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed 

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

This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century. 

Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy 

 
EVENTS

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

Spotlight On: Audubon’s Birds of America 
8 Mar 2022 
14:00-15:00 
Auditorium, Level 1, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Free, advance booking required.  
Suitable for those aged 12 and over. 

Join exhibition Curator Mark Glancy and Paper Conservator Lisa Cumming as they discuss how our upcoming exhibition Audubon’s Birds of America took flight.   
Discover how Birds of America, one of the world’s rarest and most coveted books, was made, and learn about the ongoing conservation work to preserve these life-size, hand-coloured prints for future generations.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Relaxed Opening Hour  
27 Mar 2022  
10:00-11:00  
Free entry  
 
These monthly Relaxed Opening Hours are 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.    

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. The Relaxed Opening Hour includes access to the entirety of the museum currently open to the public. At 11:00 sound will be switched back on, but visitors to this session are welcome to remain in the museum for as long as they like.   
 
Find out more at nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

*NEW*  Edinburgh Science Festival 2022 

9 Apr – 24 Apr 2022 
10:00 – 17:00 

Two weeks of science-fuelled exploration at the National Museum of Scotland, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult talks.  

The Grand Gallery will be home to DataSphere, a multi-media exploration of the information driving our world. Elsewhere in the museum gets hands-on with amazing drop-in experiments from the University of Edinburgh, and children’s workshops exploring everything from Creative Coding to Disease Detectives.

Adults can enjoy a series of fascinating talks and debates on topics from climatology and the philosophy of science to death, folklore and the cities of the future. Speakers include A.C. Grayling, Jim Al-Khalili, Alice Bell and Mary Roach. And join DataSphere After Dark, with bars, a DJ and exclusive activities just for grown-ups. 

Take the chance to have as much fun as the kids as you send, swipe and scroll through the data that drives our world. 

To book or find out more, visit the Edinburgh Science Festival website. 

 
National Museum of Flight  
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF  
Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 – 16:00 
 
*NEW* National Lottery Open Week 

26 Mar – 27 Mar 2022 
10:00 – 16:00 
Free entry on presentation of National Lottery ticket (T&Cs apply) 
 
On 26 and 27 March, the National Museum of Flight is taking part in the National Lottery Open Week.   

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. Please book a timed entry ticket online for every member of your group in advance of your visit. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 


ONLINE 

*NEW* Museum Socials: Audubon’s Birds of America 

18 Mar 2022 
11:00–12:00 
Online 
Free 
 
Museum Socials are created for anyone affected by Dementia and their relatives, friends and supporters. The monthly events create a friendly environment where everyone is welcome and all contributions are valued. They are suitable for first-time visitors and for those who might not regularly come to the museum, as well as people who have always loved visiting.  

In March, join exhibition curator Mark Glancy to learn about the making of Birds of America, one of the world’s rarest and most coveted books. 

Book nms.ac.uk/MuseumSocials 

The Joy of Birds 

31 Mar 2022 
19:30-20:30 
Online 
Free, with optional donation 

Join David Lindo and Paul Walton for an online discussion celebrating the joy that birds bring us, the urgent threats they face, and the science and conservation work protecting them.  

David Lindo, also known as The Urban Birder, is a wildlife broadcaster, nature writer and urban wildlife educationalist. He is Vice-President of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Honorary President of the Colombia Bird Fair, and was voted 7th most influential person in wildlife by BBC Wildlife Magazine. 

Paul Walton is Head of Habitats and Species for RSPB Scotland. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Book Now nms.ac.uk/JoyofBirds 

 
Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

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