National Museum of Scotland Announces Listings

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

Cost: 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

Stone Age Jade from the Alps

20 May 2016-15 Jan 2017

Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free

This small display showcases National Museums Scotland's rarely seen collection of Stone Age jade axeheads, alongside Tim Pomeroy's contemporary sculpture, Axehead. These rare and exquisite objects found around the Scottish countryside have long puzzled archaeologists. How did these beautiful Neolithic axeheads end up in Scotland, so far from their origins in the North Italian Alps around 6,000 years ago? Now, thanks to a French-led project involving National Museums Scotland - Projet Jade - the fascinating story of their creation, use and astonishing 1,500 km journey has been revealed.

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

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

Christmas Art Competition

27 Dec-30 Dec 2016

10:30-16:30

Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free (drop-in)

Be inspired by the objects in the museum and get drawing. Take part in our popular annual art competition suitable for all ages and abilities, basic materials and lots of encouragement provided.

FameLab

7 Jan 2017

14:00-16:00

Auditorium, Level 1

Free (Booking required) Visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/

Join us for the return of the Scottish Final of FameLab where host Quentin Cooper will introduce some of our finest young science communicators. Learn some amazing facts as each of our contestants gets their three minutes to battle it out for a place in the FameLab UK Final.

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 (curator) for an introductory talk on our special exhibition Monkey Business.

For families

Magic Carpet

26 Oct-21 Dec 2016, 11 Jan-8 Feb 2017

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

27 Oct-22 Dec 2016, 12 Jan-9 Feb 2017

Every Thursday 10:30-10:50, 11:30-11:50

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

Mini Makers - Mini Engineers

7 Dec 2016-8 Jan 2017

11:00-11:40, 14:00-14:40

Free, call 0300 123 6789 to book your place - booking available from 19 Dec 2016

Learning Centre, Level 4

Join us on the first weekend of the month for our hands-on activity sessions for 3-5 year olds plus their adult helper. In January become a mini engineer to experiment with cogs, gears and levers and help us fix our clock that won't tock.

Supported by players of the People's Postcode Lottery

Sprogmanay

Fri 30 Dec 2016- Sun 1 Jan 2017

12:00-16:30

Free (drop-in)

Join us for three days of Hogmanay family fun. The Museum will become a hub for New Year celebrations with live music, creative crafts, seasonal storytelling and a Viking-led lantern procession through the Grand Gallery.

Part of Edinburgh's Hogmanay, see edinburghshogmanay.com/events/sprogmanay for daily programme details.

Hogmanay Family Ceilidh

Sat 31 Dec 2016

14:00-15:30

Free (drop-in)

Enjoy an afternoon of whirling and birling for all ages with the Canongate Cadjers Ceilidh Band. It's enthusiasm not experience that counts!

Supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery

Families: Make it at the Museum

15 Jan 2017

11:00-12:30

Learning Centre, Level 4

Cost: £10 per child (accompanying adult free)

Older children and their families can come together in these new workshops to learn a practical skill or a creative technique, to make something together. Explore the creative side of electronics in an art design challenge with Artronix.

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 the poetry and legacy of Robert Burns with our packed programme of creative activities and performances. Learn to ceilidh dance, get crafty and discover some braw Burns poetry.

For adults

Museum Socials: Rabbie Burns

20 Jan 2017

10:30-12:00

Free, call 0300 123 6789 to book your place

One of our 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.

Grown ups: Make it at the Museum

15 Jan 2016

14:00-16:00

Learning Centre, Level 4

Cost: £20, £15 Members and Concessions

Inspired by our newly displayed collections, get hands-on with arts, science and technology in our new workshops just for adults. Join us in December to explore the creative side of electronics in an art-design challenge with Artronix.

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), free.

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)

Free

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

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

National Museum of Flight

East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF

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 Mar-31 Dec 2016

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). The society will give a short presentation about how the past year has looked and what you yourself might see this time of year.

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