National Museum of Scotland Releases Full Schedule of Events through March 2016

National Museum of Scotland

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

BUILD IT! Adventures with LEGO® Bricks

29 Jan - 17 Apr 2016

Free

5 display cases, Grand Gallery, Level 1

Renowned artist in LEGO® bricks, Warren Elsmore and his team display some of their most beautiful and intricate mini-buildings and models in our Grand Gallery. To add to the set, they will also be on-site, building a special three metre model of our very own museum. But don't let them have all the fun. Join us for some hands-on LEGO® brick activities from February till April. Get creative in the Builders' Yard, help us make a special sculpture of one of our most-loved museum objects, or build your own masterpiece.

BUILD IT! is part of the Festival of Architecture 2016, which will celebrate Scotland's fantastic built environment, as a key part of the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Designcelebrations. #IAD2016

Fossil Hunters: Unearthing the Mystery of Life on Land

19 Feb - 14 Aug 2016

Free

Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3

Discover how life on earth moved from water onto land 360-345 million years ago through ground-breaking discoveries made in Scotland. See fossils unearthed as recently as summer 2015, meet the people who uncovered these remarkable finds, discover the scientific techniques used to extract and identify them, and glimpse what life was like before the dinosaurs.

This exhibition is informed by the findings of the TW:eed research project.

Kindly supported by the National Environment Research Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Celts

10 Mar - 25 Sep 2016

Adult £10, concession £8, child (12-15) £6.50, members and under 12s go free.

Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3

This major exhibition, organised in partnership with the British Museum, unravels the complex story of the different groups who have used or been given the name 'Celts' through the extraordinary art objects they made and used. Spanning more than 2,500 years, the exhibition explores history through these powerful decorated objects and examines how art styles have changed considerably over time, often flourishing during periods when different cultures came into contact.

Sponsored by Baillie Gifford.

National War Museum

Edinburgh Castle, EH1 2NG

Open 09:45-17:45 daily

Helmand Return

27 Feb 2015 - 27 Mar 2016

Free with admission to Edinburgh Castle

Five years after his poignant exhibition Helmand: Faces of Conflict, renowned photographer Robert Wilson revisited Afghanistan as an official war artist to record the British troops' final tour of duty. The photographs allow a rare insight into the process of withdrawing from a war zone; capturing the essence of the human and logistical challenges faced during the transfer of responsibility and withdrawal.

Helmand Return is created by Robert Wilson, curated by Catherine Collins and Rhiannon Adam, and loaned by Gallery One and a Half.

Events/Activities

National Museum of Scotland

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

Open 10:00-17:00 daily

For everyone

Live Build

3 Feb - 15 April 2016

Every Wed & Fri from 11:00-16:00

Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free

Watch Warren Elsmore's team create a large LEGO® brick model of our very own museum.

BUILD IT! is part of the Festival of Architecture 2016, which will celebrate Scotland's fantastic built environment, as a key part of the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Designcelebrations. #IAD2016

Museum Socials

19 Feb - 16 Sep 2016

Monthly, 10:30-12:00

Free, call 0300 123 6789 to book your place

This new series of relaxed and informal sessions offers 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.

Young Demonstrators - Meet us, join us!

27 Feb 2016

13:00-16:00

Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free (drop-in), age 14-22

The National Museums of Scotland Young Demonstrators are looking for new members for our team! Could it be YOU?

Are you creative, fun and up for a challenge? Aged 14-22? Do you want to have a say in what the museum does for young people? Come and meet the Young Demonstrators team and chat to them about getting involved!

Tours for Visually Impaired Visitors

12 Mar 2016

11:00-12:0, 14:00-15:00

Meet at the Tower Entrance

Free

To mark Disabled Access Day we are showcasing our Tours for Visually Impaired visitors. Developed with and for people with a visual impairment, these tours offer an opportunity to touch objects from our handling collection. Information on these tours is available in braille, large print and on our website.

Edinburgh International Science Festival at the Museum

26 Mar - 10 Apr 2016

10:00-17:00

Visit the National Museum of Scotland during the Edinburgh International Science Festival to discover sensational science activities, events and workshops for all ages.

The full Festival programme is available at www.sciencefestival.co.uk

For families

Magic Carpet

24 Feb - 23 Mar 2016

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

Free. Limited spaces available, sign up on the day at the Information Desk in the Entrance Hall. Suitable for ages 2-4 (and accompanying adult).

Take a trip on the Magic Carpet to explore the fantastic things in the National Museum of Scotland through stories, songs and activities.

Supported by players of the Peoples Postcode Lottery.

Magic Carpet Minis

25 Feb - 24 Mar 2016

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

Free. Limited spaces available, book online at www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland. Suitable for ages 0-2 (and accompanying adult).

Take a trip on the Magic Carpet, especially for very little ones, to explore the fantastic things in the National Museum of Scotland through stories, songs and activities.

Supported by players of the Peoples Postcode Lottery.

Magic Carpet Weekenders

23 Jan - 22 May 2016

Monthly, 11:00-11:25

Free. Limited spaces available, sign up and meet at the green fountain, Grand Gallery, Level 1.

Join us for our monthly special weekend story activity sessions as we explore different objects on the Magic Carpet through stories, songs and activities.

Supported by players of the Peoples Postcode Lottery.

Play and Display

29 Jan - 24 Mar 2016

Daily where possibly from 10:00-16:30

Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free (drop-in)

Play and create your own LEGO® brick masterpiece to display for a day in our mini maker station.

BUILD IT! is part of the Festival of Architecture 2016, which will celebrate Scotland's fantastic built environment, as a key part of the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Designcelebrations. #IAD2016

Babies First

First Thursday of every month

11:30-11:55

Free. Book online limited spaces available, book online at www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland or sign up on the day at the Information Desk.

A Magic Carpet session exclusively for first-time parents, grandparents and carers and their little one (up to 18 months). Enjoy some quality social time exploring the museum through songs, rhymes, actions and play.

Supported by players of the Peoples Postcode Lottery.

BUILD IT! at Half-Term

13 Feb - 21 Feb 2016

11:00-16:00

Free(drop-in)

The Builder's Yard is open for builders of all ages to get creative with LEGO® bricks and discover our Brick Bingo Challenge - we've hidden some special museum-inspired models and figures in our galleries. Can you find them all?

Then join us in the Grand Gallery and help our Master Builders create a special Big Build of one our iconic museum objects...what will it be?

BUILD IT! is part of the Festival of Architecture 2016, which will celebrate Scotland's fantastic built environment, as a key part of the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Designcelebrations. #IAD2016

Celts for Families

12 Mar 2016

12:00-16:00

Free (drop-in)

Join us for a day of family-friendly activities to celebrate the opening of Celts, our major exhibition organised in partnership with the British Museum. Discover the lives of the different groups who have used or been given the name 'Celts' and the extraordinary objects they made through storytelling, music and craft.

Make & Innovate: Challenge Day

13 Mar 2016

12:00-16:00

Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free (drop-in)

Test your construction skills in a series of fun, architecture based challenges inspired by our BUILD IT! display.

BUILD IT! is part of the Festival of Architecture 2016, which will celebrate Scotland's fantastic built environment, as a key part of the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Designcelebrations. #IAD2016

Edinburgh International Science Festival at the Museum

26 Mar - 10 Apr 2016

10:00-17:00

This spring the whole family can enjoy sensational science at the museum with drop-in events, bookable workshops and shows.

Join the Mars Master Constructors for an out-of-this-world LEGO® brick build. Construct pods, buildings, labs, habitats, and anything else you think that humans need to live on another planet. The Festival's first building has been designed and crafted by renowned artist in LEGO® bricks, Warren Elsmore. Now it is up to you to add to the Mars landscape and help construct the first colony.

From explosive chemistry to marvellous medicine, discover science with real scientists from The University of Edinburgh and visit the National Museum of Scotland's Learning Centre for free, family-friendly activities.

The full Festival programme is available at www.sciencefestival.co.uk

Mini Engineers

28 Mar - 2 Apr 2016

10:30-11:10 & 11:30-12:10

Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free, suitable for ages 3-5 years (and accompanying adult). Pre-booked and on the day slots provided, book online or call 0844 557 2686.

What happens when I turn a handle? How can I lift something heavy? Explore how cogs, wheels, pulleys and all kinds of mechanics help us in our everyday lives in this construction challenge for 3-5 year olds and their adult helper.

Part of the 2016 Edinburgh International Science Festival programme. The full Festival programme is available at www.sciencefestival.co.uk.

For adults

Spotlight On: Fossil Hunters

31 Mar 2016

14:00-15:00 (doors open 13:45)

Auditorium, Level 1

Free. Age 14+, book online or call 0300 123 6789.

Newly discovered fossils have led to an exciting breakthrough in recent years, bridging the gap between life in water and life on land. Dr Nick Fraser, Keeper of Natural Sciences, tells the story of these and other finds, and what they reveal about how vertebrates colonised the land.

Part of the 2016 Edinburgh International Science Festival programme. The full Festival programme is available at www.sciencefestival.co.uk.

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

Secret War

13 Feb - 21 Feb 2016

10:00-16:00

Free with museum admission (drop-in)

Discover the secret weapons that were used during the Second World War this half-term at National Museum of Flight. Through hands-on displays and special talks, learn more about the Enigma Machine, Robert Watson-Watt and his development of Radar. Send messages on genuine Second World War equipment, make your own semaphore flag and try your hand at being a spy with our Top Secret Spy Trail!

New Hangar Opening Celebration

25 Mar 2016

10:00-17:00

Free with museum admission (drop-in)

Join us to celebrate the unveiling two transformed hangars at the National Museum of Flight with a day of fantastic family activities. Our newly restored Second World War hangars tell the stories of military and civil aviation through the 20th and 21st centuries. From defenders of the nation and jumping jets to supersonic passenger planes and airborne maternity wards, discover the incredible planes in the museum's world class collection and find out more about the men and women who flew in them.

Bird People

25 Mar - 10 Apr 2016

12:00-16:00

Free with museum admission (drop-in)

Come and explore the forces of flight in the uplifting Bird People science show with medieval would-be aviator and alchemist John Damian. Then use what you discover to compete in our family technical challenge.

Part of the 2016 Edinburgh International Science Festival programme. The full Festival programme is available at www.sciencefestival.co.uk.

National Museum of Rural Life

Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride G76 9HR

Farm matters

11 Feb - 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.

Mums go free on Mother's Day

6 Mar 2016

10:00-17:00

Free for mums (terms and conditions apply)

To celebrate Mother's Day escape to the countryside for a full day of family fun at our five-star museum and historic working farm with free entry for mum!

Easter Sunday Fun Day

27 Mar 2016

10:00-17:00

Free with museum admission

Join us at Wester Kittochside farm for our annual Easter Sunday Fun Day. Meet chicks, rabbits and all of our new spring arrivals at the farm. There's also a chance to try some craft activities, follow our Easter egg trail and see if you can spot the Easter Bunny.

National War Museum

Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, EH1 2NG

Tales from the Front: The Thin Red Line

27 Feb & 28 Feb 2016

10:30-16:00

Free with admission to Edinburgh Castle (drop-in)

Meet best-selling author and historian Allan Burnett as he brings back to life a range of museum exhibits and takes audiences back in time to October 1854. On that day a thinly spread out, red-coated line of kilted Highlanders stood their ground against a Russian cavalry advance at the Battle of Balaclava.

Wearing full authentic replica uniform as worn by the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders in 1854, Allan explains the background to the Crimean War and the famous 'Thin Red Line'.