National Museums Scotland listings 9 February - 20 March 2009

National Museums Scotland listings

9 February - 20 March 2008

Highlights

Jean Muir: A Fashion Icon
National Museum of Scotland
Until Sun 15 March
Free

Jean Muir:
A Fashion Icon
presents selected
highlights from National Museums Scotland's priceless
Jean Muir collection.  The exhibition
contains elements of her design, manufacturing and marketing processes,
showcasing sketches, pattern pieces, a toile (trial garment), fabric samples
and 30 finished garments and accessories.

Jean Muir was part of the British design revolution of the 1960s.
Her look was based on signature fabrics, colours, details as well as precision
cut and fit.  Fabric, texture and strict
attention to detail were of paramount importance. Garments were designed to
skim and flatter the body with movement, and Jean Muir collections gained
dedicated followers the world over.  Her
work has graced the wardrobes of celebrities including Lauren Bacall, Joanna
Lumley, Barbra Streisand, Judi Dench and Diana Rigg.

Jean Muir events are sponsored by
Pagan Osborne

Treasured: Wonderful Things, Amazing
Stories

National Museum of Scotland
Until 2011
Free

This exhibition offers the chance to discover some of the most
extraordinary treasures in the care of National
Museums Scotland. Featuring
over 300 objects drawn from the four corners of the globe and spanning across
centuries, Treasured - Wonderful Things,
Amazing Stories
celebrates the wonder and diversity of the National
Museums' world-class collections.

From a Sumatran tiger to a Victorian corset, Treasured is an eclectic mix of the spectacular, extraordinary,
precious and personal. The exhibition provides a link to the Royal Museum collections
during closure, casting new light on familiar objects and also giving a first
glimpse of some of the objects which will feature in the redeveloped National
Museum of Scotland when it re-opens in 2011.

Scotland: A Changing Nation

National
Museum of Scotland
New permanent gallery

Free

Our
major new gallery celebrates Scotland's great contributions to
the world, as part of the Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme.  The gallery explores war, industry, daily
life, social change and emigration, as well as Scottish achievement in sport,
culture, medicine, science and technology.

Reflecting
the vibrancy and diversity of Scottish culture during the past century, Scotland: A Changing Nation creates a
thought-provoking glimpse into Scottish social history.

Exhibitions

Helmand: Face of
Conflict

National War Museum

Opens 27 Feb 2009

Included in
Castle admission

Helmand: Faces of Conflict at the National War Museum features the photography
of Robert Wilson, war artist with Edinburgh's 52 Infantry Brigade.
From the faces of weary men returning from three weeks on patrol to the dusty
landscape of their surroundings, Wilson captures the lives of
soldiers and civilians with an unflinching sense of intimacy.

Events/activities

National Museum of Scotland

The Animal and Ourselves

Hawthornden Court

Wed
11 February

19:00 (1 hr)

£5/£4/Members
free

On
the eve of Charles Darwin's bicentenary, zoologist and broadcaster Professor
Aubrey Manning considers two questions: do humans have instincts?  And do animals have intellects?

Jean Muir event: Exhibition Tour

Special
Exhibitions Gallery, Level 3

Wed
11 February

14:00 (1 hr)

Free
(limited places: book now on 0131 225 7534)

A
unique opportunity to explore the exhibition with curator, Kristina Stankovski,
and to learn more about Jean Muir's unique archive. Limit: 15 places.

Jean Muir events are sponsored by
Pagan Osborne.

Curator's Choice: National Museum of
Rural Life

Dunfermline
Room

Fri
13 February

14:00 (1 hr)

£5/£4/Members
free

Book
now on 0131 225 7534

The
National Museum of Rural Life opened seven years ago in the middle of a
foot-and-mouth epidemic. Curator Elaine Edwards traces its story from those
difficult early days to its current position as a five star visitor attraction.

African Drumming Workshop

Hawthornden Court

Sat
14 February

11:00/12:00/14:00/15:00/16:00 (30mins)

Free

Suitable
for age 8+

Have
you got rhythm? Join Doug Hudson to find out how you sound on the African drums
before exploring African material in the Treasured exhibition.

My Treasure

Level
5

Sat
14, Mon 15, Wed 18 February

12:00 - 14:00

Free
(Drop-in)

Our
new exhibition showcases some of the museum's most treasured objects. Bring in
your own wonderful things to be photographed and share your amazing stories.

Curator Talks - Amazing Stories!

Level
5

Sat
14 - Sat 21 February

11:00/15:00 (30mins)

Free

Join
some of the Treasured curators in the
gallery to explore some of our most treasured objects. Find out more about
Tibetan identity, Sri Lankan masks and an Egyptian royal burial. Visit www.nms.ac.uk for a detailed programme.

The True Story of Captain Gow

Hawthornden Court

Sun
15 February

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

Free

Join
Captain Gow, the swashbuckling Scottish pirate and re-live his exciting
adventures.

Mega Beasts

Connect
Gallery

Mon
16, Tue 17 February

10:30-12:30/13:00-16:30

Free
(Drop-in)

See
some of the Treasured exhibits for
real! A variety of extraordinary animals will be visiting the museum, including
a bird-eating Goliath spider. Come and handle a snake.... if you dare!

A Slice of Life

Levels
1,3,4

Mon
16 - Fri 20 February

10:30 - 12:30/14:00
- 16:00

Free
(Drop-in)

Encounter
everyday characters from Scottish history. Meet a steam engine driver, an Edinburgh doctor and an unlucky
lady in the stocks!

Super Half-term Science!

Connect
gallery

Mon
16 - Fri 20 February

All
day

Free

Join
a Super Science Show, Meet the Scientist or check out what's
going on in the Connect gallery every day during half-term. Visit www.nms.ac.uk for details.

Mask making with Big Top

Hawthornden Court

Sat
21 February

12:00-16:00

Free
(Drop-in)

Make
your own mask, taking inspiration from some of the precious masks on display in
the new Treasured: Wonderful Things, Amazing Stories exhibition.

The Sights and Smells of Old Edinburgh

Hawthornden Court

Sun
22 February

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

Free

A
comic, musical, theatrical trip through the streets of 18th century 'Auld
Reekie'.

Sunday Morning Music

Level
1

Sun 22 February

11:00
(1 hr)
Free

Enjoy
a relaxing stroll through the galleries to the soothing sounds of talented
young musicians with Live Music Now! Scotland.

Scottish Traditions of Dance Trust

Hawthornden Court

Sun
1 March. 5 April, 3 May

13:45/14:45
(30mins)

Free

Get
your toes tapping to the sounds and spectacle of Scottish traditional dance
with a variety of performers, dance styles and music.

Treasured: Exhibition Guided Tours

Hawthornden Court meeting point
From 3 March

Every
Tuesday at 15:00 and Friday at 12:00
Free (Limited spaces: book now on 0131 225 7534)

Find
out more about Treasured: Wonderful Things, Amazing Stories on a tour with one
of our guides.

Understanding Technology: Train
Technology

Dunfermline
Room

Thurs
5 March

15:00

Free

Professor
Colin Divall of York University talks about making the
train a desirable technology.

In association with the Institute
for the Study of Science, Technology and Innovation,
University of Edinburgh

The Jean Muir Archive: Conserving
the Collection

Special
Exhibitions gallery
Fri 6 March

14:00 (1hr)
Free (limited places: book now on 0131 225 7534)

A
second chance to hear Lynn McClean, Head of Paper & Textiles Conservation,
and Mirian McLeod, Textiles Conservator, discuss their fascinating
behind-the-scenes work to conserve and preserve the Jean Muir Collection for
the future.

Jean Muir events are sponsored by
Pagan Osborne

Big K'Nex Construction Session!

Hawthornden Court

Sun
8, 15 March

11:00 - 16:00

Free
(drop in)

A
bumper K'Nex event to mark National Science and Engineering Week 2009!  Build anything your imagination allows from
bridges to robots to space buggies.

Dinosaurs, Feathers & Ferns

Early
People gallery

Wed
11 March

19:00

£5/£4/members
free

Nick
Fraser, Keeper of Natural Sciences, shares his exciting discovery of the new
Chinese fossils he came across while examining the feathered dinosaurs of Liaoning province on an exchange
trip.

Curator's Choice: The Colonisation
of the British Isles by Mice and Voles

Dunfermline
Room

Fri
13 March

14:00

£5/£4/Members
free

Jerry
Herman, Senior Curator of Mammals, looks at how the DNA of two of our commonest
mammals can be used to look back in time. 
Where did they come from, and how did they spread through Britain after the last Ice Age?

Jean Muir.... After Hours

Hawthornden Court and Special Exhibitions
Gallery
Fri 13 March

19:00 (2hrs)
Free (limited places: Book now on 0131 225 7534)

Enjoy
a sophisticated evening of fashion, Jean Muir-style.  Explore the collection in a late-night
opening of the exhibition whilst enjoying a glass of fizz, hair and make-up
demonstrations and a fashion show by Edinburgh College of Art students.

Jean Muir events are sponsored by
Pagan Osborne

Connect Super Science Shows

Connect
Gallery

Every
Saturday & Sunday 12:15/13:15/14:15/15:15

Free

Suitable
for children aged 5+.  Come along to our
free events every week in Connect.  Find
out about science in the real world at our Meet
the Scientist
events or enjoy a Super
Science Show
!

Free Tours: Scottish Collections

Tours
leave from the Hawthornden meeting point:

Highlights Tour (1hr)

Daily
11:30/13:30

Themed Tour (1hr)

Daily
14:30

Family Tour (15mins)

Sat
14:00

Treasured Tour (1hr)

Tue
15:00/Fri 12:00

Information
about topics for themed and family tours can be found on the Museum's
information screens and on our website www/nms.ac.uk/tours

National Museum of Rural Life

Look
out for Spring events at the Museum of Rural Life.

National Museum of Costume

The
National Museum of Costume closed on 31
October 2008 and will re-open on 1 April, with Jean Muir: A Fashion Icon.

National Museum of Flight

Camouflage
Sat 7 - Sun 15 February

11:30-13:00/14:00-16:00

Event
included in museum admission

Do something
interesting during the half-term holidays in February! Visit the National
Museum of Flight and try on some real uniforms before designing your own
camouflage.

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 EH39 5LF

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
images or any further information please contact the press office on 0131 247
4391 or email [email protected]

Please note that National Museums Scotland (no ‘of'
or ‘the) is our corporate name. Our individual museums are called National
Museum of Scotland, National Museum of Flight, National Museum of Rural Life,
National Museum of Costume and National War Museum.