The National Museum's Scotland Listings For January and February Include KABUKI, HUNTING THE HIGGS BOSON, and More

National Museum of Scotland

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

Hunting the Higgs Boson

27 September 2013 - 16 February 2014

Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free

This small exhibition explores the journey and continuing quest to discover the fundamental structure of the universe, and includes objects from CERN as well personal artefacts from Professor Peter Higgs.

Kabuki: Japanese Theatre Prints

4 October 2013 - 2 February 2014

Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3

Free

Come face to face with Kabuki theatre's most famous warriors, villains, heroes and heroines through 61 of the finest Japanese woodblock prints from the Museums' collection. The striking designs present vivid depictions of Kabuki, the popular form of traditional, all-male, Japanese theatre which combines drama, music, dance and acrobatics in convoluted plots concerning dramatic emotional conflicts and feats of derring-do. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to view these beautiful images and to learn more about a fascinating cultural and social period in Japanese history.

Creative Spirit: Revealing Early Medieval Scotland

25 October 2013 - 23 February 2014

Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free

The Glenmorangie Early Medieval Research Project casts new light on iconic objects from the time of the Picts and the Gaels. This small exhibition presents re-creations which bring back to life objects that did not survive or are badly preserved, made using traditional craft skills and innovative technology.

Mammoths of the Ice Age

24 January - 20 April 2014

Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3

Cost: Adult £9, Concession £7.50, Child (5-15) £6, Under 5s free, Family of 3* £19, Family of 4* £25 (*must include at least 1 adult and 1 child), National Museums Scotland Members free, National Art Pass holders receive 50% discount

Journey back in time millions of years and discover the animals of the Ice Age at the first UK showing of this interactive, family-friendly exhibition. Joust with mammoth tusks, feel mammoth fur between your fingertips and touch the replica teeth of a colossal mastodon. Then meet Lyuba, a detailed replica of the 42,000-year-old baby woolly mammoth, and learn why early humans both hunted and honoured these majestic animals. This exhibition was created by The Field Museum, Chicago.

National War Museum

Edinburgh Castle, EH1 2NG

Arctic Convoys

24 May 2013 - 13 March 2014

Free with admission to Edinburgh Castle

Sailing from Scotland, Iceland and North America to ports in northern Russia, the Arctic convoys carried vital supplies to the Russian allies. As well as facing the constant possibility of attack from German U-boats, the men who sailed on these ships faced some of the toughest conditions of the war: freezing cold, storms and treacherous fog. Thousands of British merchant and naval seamen lost their lives in this operation. Through photographs, letters, interviews and personal possessions, this exhibition tells the story of the courage and determination of these wartime heroes.

Events/Activities

National Museum of Scotland

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

For Everyone

Bells Up Brass Quintet

11 January, 15:15-16:00

Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free, drop-in

The award-winning Bells Up Brass Quintet was formed in 2009 by a group of undergraduate students studying on the BMus course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The members all hail from different corners of Scotland and Ireland and they specialise in Western Classical music with trombone, french horn, two trumpets and a tuba.

For Adults

Containing garbage: The evolution of rubbish bin design in the UK and West Germany, 1945-1970s

14 January, 15:00-16:30
Seminar Room, Learning Centre, Level 4
Free, book your place by contacting Maureen Kerr on 0131 247 4274 or m.kerr@nms.ac.uk

Join Professor Ray Stokes from University of Glasgow for the next lecture in our Understanding Technology series. Immediately after the Second World War, the lowly rubbish bin in the UK was remarkably similar to its West German counterpart. During the decades that followed, both countries became consumer societies. By the 1970s, in response to a greatly changed waste stream, bins in West Germany had become radically different from those in the immediate post-war period, while those in Britain remained largely unchanged. This paper explores the factors accounting for this divergence.

Open studies course: Understanding Colour: 2D (B255)

Fridays from 17 January for 10 weeks, 10:30-12:30
Cost: £85/£56, Book online

This exciting new course will introduce the colourful world of the National Museum of Scotland's collections. Examine objects from the natural history, scientific and decorative arts galleries to discover the effects colour has on us. You will also be shown some simple techniques that will allow you to record the colourful images you see, retaining a lasting reminder of your studies.

Open studies course: Discovering the National Collections - Sculpture of the World (B230)

Fridays from 17 January for 10 weeks, 12:15-14:15
Cost: £60, Book online

By using the collections of the National Museum of Scotland discover first-hand how to look at sculpture. Following major periods and styles this course will enable you to extend your visual skills along with knowledge of materials and methods of construction which underpin the creative process.

Saturday Showcase: Making Stones Speak

18 January, 14:00-16:30

Auditorium, Level 1, doors open 13:40
Cost: £10, £8 Members and concessions, to book 0300 123 6789

What can we learn from re-examining replicas, the responses of contemporary artists to the magnificent stones sculptures of Early Medieval Scotland, and from re-creating these ancient monuments using innovative digital technology? Find out in ourSaturday Showcase, in partnership with Glenmorangie. Includes a complimentary glass of Glenmorangie Original, courtesy of our partner.

Evening Lecture: Portable Antiquities Scheme

27 January, 18:00-19:00

Free, to book 0300 123 6789

Roger Bland, Keeper of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum, discusses the role of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, which records and promotes new archeaological finds in England and Wales. In association with the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Spotlight On: Mammoths in Scotland

6 February, 14:00-15:00

Auditorium, Level 1, doors open 13:40

Free, to book 0300 123 6789

What do we know about mammoth activity in Scotland? Curators Andrew Kitchener and Nick Fraser piece together the large footprints of the past.

Glenmorangie Annual Lecture: Cornelia Parker

13 February, 19:00-20:00 (doors open 18:15, entry via Lothian Street at rear of museum)

Auditorium, Level 1
Cost: £6, £5 Members and concessions, to book 0300 123 6789

Acclaimed artist Cornelia Parker unpicks her 30-year dialogue with the found (and lost) object, and her re-interpretation of Henry Moore's sculptural mantra 'Truth to Materials'. Join her as she explores ideas of reverse archaeology, playing with time, and her ongoing series of fractured, unmade and pre-empted 'Avoided' objects.

For Families

Meet the Mammoths

25 - 26 January, 12:00-16:00

Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free, drop-in, children must be accompanied by an adult

The mammoths have arrived! Join us for a weekend of ice age themed activities including '10 Steps to Make a Mammoth' drawing workshops with award-winning children's author-illustrator Catherine Rayner.

Mammoth Music and Movement Workshops

17 - 23 February, 10:45-11:25 and 11:45-12:25

Learning Centre, Level 4
Free, places limited - sign-up on the day

Stomp, slide and swing your trunks and tails with Shuffle Dance Company. Suitable for children aged 5 and under, who must be accompanied by a participating adult.

Cave Painting Weekend

15 - 16 February, 12:00-16:00
Learning Centre, Level 4
Free, drop-in

Mammoths, cave bears, giant deer - which mammals did we find in the last Ice Age? Make your mark by painting them this weekend.

Mammoth Make and Take

17 - 23 February, 12:00-16:00
Learning Centre, Level 4
Free, drop-in

Pop into our Learning Centre to make mammoth masks and other Ice Age inspired crafts to take home.

Magic Carpet

Wednesday during term time

10:30 and 11:30 (25 mins)

Suitable for ages 2-4 (+ their adult)

Free - sign up on day at Info Desk, Entrance Hall, Level 0, as places are limited

The National Museum of Scotland's magic carpet introduces little ones to some of the fantastic things in the museum through 20 minutes of stories, songs and activities. Join us as the carpet visits a different gallery or theme every week. Look out for special guests too!

Magic Carpet Minis

Thursdays during term time

10:30 and 11:30 (20 mins)

Suitable for ages 0-2 (+ their adult)

Free - sign up on day at Info Desk, Entrance Hall, Level 0, as places are limited

Join the National Museum of Scotland for magic carpet sessions for really little ones and their adults. Go along for songs, stories, rhymes and objects in the unique museum setting.

Friday Afternoon Fun

Fridays during term time, 13:30-16:30 (until 31 January)

Free, drop-in

Let out of school early? Make the most of your half-day Friday and come and have some fun with the National Museum of Scotland! Drop by for free activities such as Gallery Safaris, make-and-take and object handling. Check out information screens on the day for details.

Feely Fridays

Fridays during term time, 13:30 - 16:30 (from 7 February)

Free, drop-in

From 7 February we will be starting Feely Fridays - giving you the chance to explore our fascinating handling collections - from meteorites to mammals and Vikings to Victorians! Check out information screens on the day for details.

Daily tours

New Galleries taster tour

11:00 (1 hr)

Free

Suitable for: Adults

Venue: Tours leave from the Meeting Point, Entrance Hall, Level 0.

Join one of our New Galleries Taster guided tours and discover some of the highlights in the new galleries.

Themed tours

13:00 (1 hr)

Free

Suitable for: Adults

Tours leave from the Meeting Point, Entrance Hall, Level 0.

Join us for our exciting programme of in-depth tours with a different theme every day. You can see the schedule atwww.nms.ac.uk/tours

Scotland highlight tours

15:00 (1 hr)

Free

Suitable for: Adults

Tours leave from the Meeting Point, Entrance Hall, Level 0.

Join one of our daily guided tours and discover some of the highlights in the Scotland galleries.

National War Museum

Edinburgh Castle, EH1 2NG

Soldiers at War: The Crimean War

26 January, 10:00-16:00

Hospital Square, National War Museum, Edinburgh Castle

Cost included in Edinburgh Castle admission

Meet Crimean War re-enactor and bestselling children's author Allan Burnett whose uniform was inspired from the National War Museum's collections, and made by a costumier who worked on the Sharpe series.

National Museum of Rural Life

Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride G76 9HR

Burns Unbound!

25-Sun 26 January 2014, 10:00-17:00
Cost: Included in museum admission. Adult £6.50/£5.50, Child £3 (under 5 free). Family (2 adults, 2 children) £17.00. National Museums Scotland and National Trust for Scotland Members and National Art Pass holders free

Join the National Museum of Rural Life for a weekend of Burns Night celebrations. As Scotland gets ready to welcome the world for Homecoming Scotland 2014, get in the spirit of our national bard with Burns-themed family craft activities, costumed characters, gallery trails, music, storytelling, theatre, and local food and drink. You can also explore the 1950s working farm, Georgian farmhouse and award-winning museum. Part of the extended Winter Festivals programme of events taking place around the country.

Willow Harvest

2 February 2014, 10:00-17:00

Cost: Included in museum admission, but booking essential, please call 0300 123 6789 to book. Adult £6.50, Concessions £5.50, Child £3 (under 5 free), Family (2 adults, 2 children) £17. Free to National Museums Scotland Members only, there is a charge for National Trust for Scotland Members.

Join the National Museum of Rural Life for this fun outdoor event, Willow is a naturally eco-friendly and versatile material has been used for centuries to make utensils and herbal remedies. Put your wellies on and help us harvest this year's crop!