National Museums Scotland Announces Listings, Through March

Exhibitions & Displays

National Museum of Scotland

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

Open 10:00-17:00 daily

Monkey Business

9 Dec 2016 - 23 Apr 2017

10:00-17:00

Exhibition Gallery 1

Adults £10, £8 Concessions, Child £7 (5-15 years, under 5s free), Members free.

Stand shoulder to shoulder with our closest living relatives. Swing with the orangutans, spot one of the world's smallest primates, the grey mouse lemur, get up close to a lowland gorilla and see if you can catch as many termites as a chimpanzee. Learn how primates have adapted to their surroundings, discover how they communicate and investigate how humans and primates co-exist today.

Featuring more than 60 taxidermy specimens created especially for the exhibition, as well as photography, film and hands-on interactives for all ages, this immersive, family-friendly exhibition will take you into the heart of the jungle.

Supported by players of the People's Postcode Lottery

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

16 Sep 2016 - 19 Feb 2017

Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3

Free

This world-renowned exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, features 100 awe-inspiring images, from fascinating animal behaviour to breath-taking wild landscapes. The most prestigious photography event of its kind,Wildlife Photographer of the Year has provided a global platform to showcase the natural world's most astonishing and challenging sights for over 50 years.

Sponsored by Morton Fraser and Arts & Business Scotland New Arts Sponsorship Grant

Nordic Modernist Design

23 Sep 2016 - 12 Feb 2017

Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free

Discover a remarkable collection of Modernist jewellery, glassware and ceramics. This small display will showcase highlights of a private collection recently gifted to National Museums Scotland, featuring design classics by leading Nordic designers and manufacturers of the mid-20th century. Characterised by simplicity and functionality, and inspired by the nature, landscape, and climate of northern Europe, these Modernist creations continue to influence designers and manufacturers today.

Supported by the Embassy of Denmark

Scottish Pottery: Art and Innovation

3 Feb - 25 Jun 2017

Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1, Grand Gallery

Free

Over 250 years ago Scottish industry began producing a wide range of pottery, from everyday ware to exotic decorative pieces. Potteries established by Scottish entrepreneurs sprung up around the Forth and Clyde regions, as well as further afield. Scottish Pottery: Art and Innovation is a small display that brings together key objects from National Museums Scotland's collection from this important time in Scottish industrial history, and tells the story of some of the people who embarked on this journey of industrialisation.

Part of Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology

National War Museum

Edinburgh Castle, EH1 2NG

Open 09:30-17:00 daily (last entry 16:00)

Life Support: Stories from The Royal Regiment of Scotland

25 Apr 2016 - 26 Feb 2017

Free with admission to Edinburgh Castle

Marking The Royal Regiment of Scotland's first decade of operations, this exhibition offers a fresh perspective on the combat and peacekeeping work of Scotland's infantry soldiers as well as the people, military and civilian, who make up their vital support network at home and on the frontline.

Life Support: Stories from The Royal Regiment of Scotland is created in association with the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Events/Activities

National Museum of Scotland

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

For everyone

Spotlight On: Monkey Business

19 Jan 2017

14:00-15:00

Auditorium, Level 1

Free (booking required, online or call 0300 123 6789)

Join curator Andrew Kitchener for an introductory talk on our special exhibition Monkey Business.

For families

Magic Carpet

11 Jan - 8 Feb 2017 (No session on 15 Feb)

Every Wednesday, 10:30-10:55, 11:30-11:55

Meet at the Green Fountain in the Grand Gallery on Level 1

Free (sign up on the day at the Information Desk in the Entrance Hall)

Suitable for ages 2-4 (plus accompanying adult)

Take a trip on the Magic Carpet to explore the fantastic things in the National Museum of Scotland. The events introduce little ones to objects in the Museum through 25 minutes of stories, songs and activities. Limited places, on a first come, first served basis.

Supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery

Magic Carpet Minis

12 Jan - 9 Feb 2017 (No session on 16 Feb)

Every Thursday 10:30-10:50, 11:30-11:50
Free (pre-book 10:30 session from day before or sign up for 11:30 session on the day in the Entrance Hall)

Meet at the green fountain, Grand Gallery, Level 1

Suitable for ages 0-2 (plus accompanying adult)

Take a trip on the Magic Carpet to explore the fantastic things in the National Museum of Scotland. Magic Carpet Mini sessions are especially for really young children and their carers. Come along for songs, stories, rhymes and objects in the unique museum setting.

Supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery

Feely Friday

13 Jan - 10 Feb 2017 (No session on 17 Feb)

13:30-16:30

Check information screens for each sessions' theme and location

Free (drop in)

Discover strange and wonderful objects from our handling collections every Friday during term time.

Supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery

Burns Unbound

22 Jan 2017

11:00-16:00

Auditorium and Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free (some activities have limited places so will require sign up on the day)

Celebrate Scotland's bard with a packed programme of Burns-themed activities for all ages. Learn to ceilidh dance, get crafty and discover some braw Burns poetry in a live family show. In the afternoon, join us in the Grand Gallery for some foot-stomping live music from some of Scotland's finest folk ensembles. Keep up-to-date with the latest programme details at www.nms.ac.uk/burns

Burns Unbound is supported through Scotland's Winter Festivals

February half term: Monkey Mischief

11 Feb - 19 Feb 2017

11:00-16:00

Free (full programme and booking available from 1 February)

Join our primate party and take part in daily activities inspired by our Monkey Business exhibition. Highlights will include Monkeying Around dance and movement workshops (11-17 Feb), heads and tails mask and bottom-making and a special Science Saturday all about anatomy (18 Feb).

Monkeying Around - dance and movement workshops

11 - 17 Feb 2017
Free (booking/sign-up required)

Event Space, Level 2

Join our friends from Shuffle Dance to learn a range of monkey moves to help you cross different natural environments and make it to the once in a lifetime Primate Dance! Follow the music and watch out for those pesky human primate cousins!

Four sessions per day, 30 child places per session:

10:30 - 11:10 from walking to age 4. Children must be accompanied. Book from 1 February.

11:30 - 12:10 from walking to age 4. Children must be accompanied. Sign up on the day.

13:30 - 14:15 P1 - P4 age. Adults not required to stay but should remain nearby in the museum (book from 1 February).

14:30 - 15:15 P1 - P4 age. Adults not required to stay but should remain nearby in the museum (sign up on day).

For adults

Spotlight On: Iranian Collections

10 Feb 2017

14:30-16:00

Seminar Room, Learning Centre, Level 4

Free (book online or call 0300 123 6789)

Senior Curator, Friederike Voigt traces the history of the Iranian collections of National Museums Scotland. She will focus on the role of Scottish engineer and diplomat, Sir Robert Murdoch Smith, in building up the collections, and explore how ideas surrounding their development, research and display have changed. The talk will feature a selection of objects from our collections.

Part of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival 2017

Museum Socials

20 Jan - 17 Mar 2017

10:30-12:00

Free (call 0300 123 6789 to book your place)

Series of monthly relaxed and informal sessions offering anyone living with Dementia, along with their relatives, friends and supporters, an opportunity to explore a different part of the museum each month with our learning staff. Sessions are free and include a cup of tea.

20 Jan 2017 - Our National Poet: Rabbie Burns

17 Feb 2017 - The Rise of Photography

17 Mar 2017 - Celebrating Science

Short courses

17 Jan - 24 Mar 2017

10:30-12:00

Seminar Room, Learning Centre, Level 4

The University of Edinburgh Short Courses are presented by the Centre for Open Learning. For more information visit www.nms.ac.uk/shortcourses

Booking information: Telephone: 0131 650 4400 or email: COL@ed.ac.uk

Booking is now open for The University of Edinburgh's Short Courses at the National Museum of Scotland

Daily tours

Join one of our free daily tours and spend an hour exploring some of the highlights of the National Museum of Scotland.

Themed Tours

Daily at 15:00 (1 hr)

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

Free

Our free guided themed tours at National Museum of Scotland explore everything from Scotland's history to the supernatural.

Discover the National Museum

Daily at 11:00 (1 hr)

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

Free

From stunning Victorian architecture to the Lewis Chessmen, this tour will give you a flavour of all the National Museum of Scotland has to offer.

Scottish Galleries Highlights Tour

Daily at 13:00 (1 hr)

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

Free

Follow the story of Scotland through fascinating objects on this highlights tour.

New! Guided descriptive audio tour for the visually impaired

11 Feb 2017

Venue: Tour leaves from Tower Entrance off Chambers Street

Free (booking recommended - call 0300 123 6789 or 0131 247 4199 (answer machine) or sign up in person at our Information Desk, Entrance Hall, Level 0)

A new free audio descriptive guided tour, suitable for visually impaired people, using handling objects to explore 18th century Scotland.

National Museum of Flight

East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF

Make and Paint Models

11 Feb - 19 Feb 2017

12:00-16:00

Free with museum admission

Use our collection as inspiration for building and painting a model aeroplane. Head off for a journey of discovery at East Fortune Airfield this for half term and explore the history of aviation from the First World War to the present day. Explore our historic hangars and choose an aircraft you would like to make as a model.

New military and civil aviation hangars

Winter opening: Saturdays & Sundays only

5 Nov 2016 - 26 Mar 2017

10:00-16:00

Free with museum admission

Concorde audio guide: Free

Explore two new hangars at the National Museum of Flight and experience the history and drama of flight as never before. Discover the stories behind one of Europe's best collections of aircraft and find out more about the people who flew and worked with them through dramatic displays and fascinating interviews.

National Museum of Rural Life

Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride G76 9HR

Farm matters

30 Dec - 31 Mar 2017

10:00 onwards

Free with museum admission

Discover the everyday activities on the Wester Kittochside farm at National Museum of Rural Life and join us for seasonal agricultural demonstrations with the animals and crops (weather permitting).

Museum addresses:
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
National War Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, EH1 2NG
National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian EH39 5LF
National Museum of Rural Life, Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789/www.nms.ac.uk

For images or any further information please contact the press office on 0131 247 4391 or email media@nms.ac.uk

Notes to Editors

1. National Museums Scotland looks after museum collections of national and international importance and provides loans, partnerships, research and training in Scotland and internationally. Our individual museums are the National Museum of Scotland, the National Museum of Flight, the National Museum of Rural Life and the National War Museum. The National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh houses conservation and research facilities as well as collections not currently on display.

2. The National Museum of Scotland reopened in summer 2011 following a three-year, £50m redevelopment. With over 9 million visitors since reopening, the National Museum of Scotland is the most popular museum in the country outside of London (source: Association of Leading Visitor Attractions). The National Museum of Scotland was awarded a Gold certificate by Green Tourism in 2016.

3. Wildlife Photographer of the Year Portfolio 25, edited by Rosamund Kidman-Cox, was published by the Natural History Museum on 14 October 2015, and is priced £25.

Natural History Museum Publishing produces high-quality, fully illustrated non-fiction books about the natural world. To view the entire range of books, visit www.nhm.ac.uk/business-services/publishing

4. About Arts & Business Scotland (A&BS):

· Arts & Business Scotland (A&BS) is a national charity which encourages and promotes new and sustainable collaborations between the creative and business sectors. It fosters dynamic cross sector relationships to enable Scotland to benefit from a vibrant cultural community.

· The New Arts Sponsorship (NAS) Grant programme encourages private sector sponsorship of cultural activity in Scotland. Administered by A&BS and funded by the Scottish Government via Creative Scotland it offers £1 for £1 match funding to cultural organisations which have secured sponsorship from an eligible business.

· In total, over £7 million has been invested in culture through NAS with Scottish Government investment exceeding £3 million since the grant programme began in 2006.

5. Burns Unbound at the National Museum of Scotland is supported through Scotland's Winter Festivals - Burns Night:

· Burns, our national bard, is one of Scotland's favourite icons encapsulating the very essence that makes Scots Scottish - creative, proud and confident.

· Robert Burns, or 'Rabbie' as he is affectionately known, was born in Alloway, South Ayrshire, in 1759. He began writing poetry and songs at an early age and became famous across Scotland for his writings.

· After his death at the age of just 37, Rabbie's works became internationally renowned and to this day, people from all corners of the world sing 'Auld Lang Syne' to bring in the New Year.

· Every year on Burns' birthday, 25 January, Scots and Scots at heart from across the globe celebrate his life and cultural legacy by hosting a Burns Supper. The traditional components include addressing the haggis, toasting the lassies and reciting the Selkirk Grace, however there are often many modern variations and twists on these traditions.

· Learn how to hold your own Burns Supper as well as the meaning behind some of the most beloved words and phrases and more about the life of the Bard himself be visiting www.scotland.org/burns

· The Scotland's Winter Festivals event fund is managed by EventScotland.

6. The National Museum of Scotland's family events programme is supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery. About People's Postcode Lottery:

· People's Postcode Lottery is a charity lottery. Players play with their postcodes to win cash prizes, while raising money for charities and good causes across Great Britain and globally

· A minimum of 30% goes directly to charities and players have raised £161.6 Million for good causes across the country

· £10 for 10 draws paid monthly in advance with prizes every day. For further prize information visit: www.postcodelottery.co.uk/prizes

· Maximum amount a single ticket can win is 10% of the draw revenue to a maximum of £400,000

· Players can sign up by Direct Debit, credit card or PayPal online at www.postcodelottery.co.uk, or by calling 0808 10-9-8-7-6-5

· Postcode Lottery Limited is regulated by the Gambling Commission under certificate nr 000-000829-N-102511-011 and 000-000829-R-102513-010. Registered office: Titchfield House, 69/85 Tabernacle Street, London, EC2A 4RR

· People's Postcode Lottery manages multiple society lotteries promoted b