National Museums Scotland listings

28 April to 9 June 2008

Classic Car Show

National Museum of Rural Life

Sun 4 May

10:00 –17:00

Adult £6/Conc £5/Child free/National Museums Scotland Members free

Rolls Royce, Mini, Beetle and MGB – whatever your dream machine we have them all at our ever-popular annual classic car show. Children also have the chance to join in our themed craft workshop.

Second World War Days

National Museum of Flight

Sat 3–Sun 4 May

£6 Adults/£5 Conc/Children 12 and under free/Members free

Book now

Parking £4

Take a nostalgic trip back in time and discover what life was like during the Second World War.

See the vehicles that were used at East Fortune during the Second World War, and hear the roar of their powerful engines!

You’ll have the opportunity to meet and watch characters from the 1940s as they perform lifestyle re-enactments, which will give you a flavour of what it was like to live and work at East Fortune during the 1940s. You’ll also get the chance to try out dancing from the era. See if you can master the flamboyant moves of the jitterbug, jive and swing, in our free dance classes.

There are plenty of activities for all the family. Kids will discover the old fashioned games that children played, while dressing up in period clothing. Try to recreate the look yourself! Join our fashion and make-up workshops to pick up the hints and tips you’ll need to take a step back in time.

Exhibitions

Hip Knits

National Museum of Costume

Until Fri 31 October

Included in museum admission

After you have journeyed through a century of style in our room settings, look out for this stylish showcase that’s bang up to date!

From Fair Isle sweaters, to cutting-edge creations, Scotland has an international reputation for its beautifully designed knitwear.

This new exhibition puts the spotlight on ‘hip knits’ from Scotland. Explore the enduring popularity of luxury Scottish knitwear and check out some of the latest catwalk designs. See knitwear by Queene and Belle, Pringle of Scotland, Ingrid Tait (of Tait & Style), James Millar, Vivienne Westwood and other leading international fashion firms.

Extremes: Life in Subarctic Canada

National Museum of Scotland

Fri 16 May–Sun 19 Oct

Free

Experience the lives of one of Canada’s indigenous communities and discover some of Scotland and Canada’s shared history. In the 1850s and 60s Scottish fur traders collected beautifully-crafted objects from the Dene peoples living in the Canadian subarctic. Now part of National Museums Scotland’s collection, these objects provide a fascinating insight into a living community.

Extremes: Life in Subarctic Canada is the result of a new relationship National Museums Scotland has built with the descendents of the people who traded with the Scots, in particular the Dogrib Dene, or Tlicho, in their own language. The objects are returning to Scotland from Canada where they have been on display, along with contemporary material purchased from the Dene people for our collections.

Find out how the objects came to the museum. Admire their beauty, skill and workmanship. Experience personal stories from the community. Discover the extremes of the subarctic environment. What was it like to live here 150 years ago and how is it different today?

Events/activities

National Museum of Scotland

Connect Super Science Shows

Connect gallery

Saturdays and Sundays

11:45/12:45/13:45/14:45 (20mins)

Free

Find out about science in the real world at one of our Super Science Shows or Meet the Scientist – every weekend, for free! Age 5+.

Hands on History

Hawthornden Court

Saturdays 3, 10, 17, 24 May

11:00–13:00/14:00–16:00

Free/drop-in

Can you unlock the key to the past? Explore real and replica objects from our themed handling collections. What will you discover today?

Sunday Afternoon Fun: Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust

Hawthornden Court

Sun 4 May

13:45/14:45 (30mins)

Free

Sunday Afternoon Fun: Early Music Forum

Hawthornden Court

Sun 11 May

12:45–15:45

Free/drop-in

Sunday Afternoon Fun: Antonine Guard

Hawthornden Court

Sun 18 May

11:45/12:45/14:45 (30mins)

Free

Sunday Morning Music

Sun 25 May

11:00 (1hr)

Free/drop-in

Enjoy a relaxing Sunday morning stroll through the galleries to soothing sounds from talented young musicians.

Sunday Afternoon Fun: Alba Puppet Show

Hawthornden Court

Sun 25 May

12:45/13:45/14:45 (30mins)

Free

Sunday Afternoon Fun: Traditional Games

Hawthornden Court

Sun 8 June

12:45/13:45/14:45/15.45 (25mins)

Free

National Museum of Rural Life

Crafty Cars

Sun 4 May

14:00–16:00

Compost Demo Day

Sun 11 May

14:00–16:00

Adult skills: Willow weaving
Sat 17 May

10:00–16:00
Cost included in museum admission

More information about this workshop will be available online shortly. For more information or to book online, telephone 0131 247 4377.

Adult skills: Dry Stone Dyking
Sun 18 May

10:00–16:00
Cost included in museum admission

More information about this workshop will be available online shortly. For more information or to book online, telephone 0131 247 4377.

Adult skills: Herbal Preparations
Sun 25 May

10:00–16:00
Cost included in museum admission

More information about this workshop will be available online shortly. For more information or to book online, telephone 0131 247 4377.

Food, Farming and Nature Day

Sun 1 June

10:00 –17:00

Cost included in museum admission

Get green-fingered with wildlife walks and tours of our farm: hear about the wonders of bio-fuels and plant your very own sunflower seed. Our expert Walter Gilmour will even have some handy hints and tips for making the most of your own garden plot.

Sunflower Planting Workshop

Sun 1 June

14:00 –16:00

More information about this workshop will be available online shortly. For more information or to book online, telephone 0131 247 4377.

National Museum of Costume

Teddy Bears’ Picnic

Mon 5 May

11:00 –16:00

If you go down to the woods today you’re sure of a big surprise! Bring your favourite bear and join in the fun and games or simply relax with your picnic in the beautiful setting of Shambellie House.

Flower Festival

Sun 25, Mon 26 May

11:00 –16:00

Experience an explosion of colour with this positive feast of flowers and floral art displays. Stroll through the grounds, admire the views and enjoy a rare opportunity to explore the Walled Garden.

National Museum of Flight

Workshop: Make and Take

Sundays

11:30–13:00/14:00–16:00 (20mins)

Drop-in

Bring the kids along to a Make and Take workshop where they can have fun making toys, using everyday objects, from cotton-reel tanks and paper planes to camouflage bandanas. Age 3+.

Radar Room

Until Friday 31 October

Wednesdays 10:00–12:00/13:00–16:00

See vintage radio, radar and avionics equipment.

Scenic Helicopter Tours

Until Friday 31 October

10:00–17:00

Castles and Harbours around East Lothian and Edinburgh City. Free admission to the museum for tour members. Book with PDG Helicopters on 0870 607 9000.

Behind The Hangar Door

Mon 19 May

11:00/12:00/14:00/15:00/16:00

Go behind the scenes with the curators on these free guided tours.

Museum addresses:

National Museum of Scotland, Chambers St, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

National War Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, EH1 2NG

National Museum of Costume, Shambellie House, New Abbey, Dumfriesshire,

DG2 8HQ.

National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian. For updated opening times see: http://www.nms.ac.uk/mf_openingtimes_ticketprices.aspx

National Museum of Rural Life, Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Rd (off Stewartfield Way), East Kilbride, G76 9HR

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0131 247 4422/www.nms.ac.uk

For more on what’s on at the Museums throughout 2008, please see:

http://www.nms.ac.uk/pressrelease_year_ahead_2008.aspx