National Museum of Scotland Releases Schedule of Events for April 2015

Game Masters

5 December 2014-20 April 2015

Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3

Cost: Adults £10/£8; Child £6.50; Under 5s free; Family of 3 £23; Family of 4 £28; National Museums Scotland Members free; National Art Pass holders 50% discount; Students £5 (Tuesdays only)

Featuring over 100 playable games, Game Masters showcases the work of more than 30 leading videogame designers. The exhibition explores the development of videogames through interviews with game designers and rare original game artwork, as well as looking forward to how independently produced games are leading the way in design, aesthetics and game play.

Exhibition created by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne, and supported by the Victorian Government.

Express Yourself

12 December 2014-29 March 2015

Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1

Free

Jewellery is an incredibly powerful and personal form of expression. Whether the individual is a collector or designer, what they choose to buy, commission or create defines them. Discover more about those who are or were involved in collecting, commissioning or creating jewellery, including leading UK jewellers David Watkins and Wendy Ramshaw and fashion designer Jean Muir.

Masters of Japanese Porcelain

6 March-30 August 2015

Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1

Free

In the late 19th century, new markets and technologies inspired innovation in the Japanese ceramic industry. The finest potters of this period achieved recognition as Imperial Household Artists. This small exhibition focuses on four such individuals; Seif? Yohei III (1851-1914), Miyagawa K?zan (1842-1916), It? T?zan I (1846-1920) and Suwa Sozan I (1851-1922).

Fully Fashioned: The Pringle of Scotland Story

10 April-16 August 2015

Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3

Free

Celebrate the 200th anniversary of Pringle of Scotland at the National Museum of Scotland. This exhibition explores the central role the company has played in the production and design of knitwear, not only in Scotland but around the world. Using rare pieces of early knitwear, iconic fashion garments, archival records and film footage, the exhibition traces Pringle's evolution from hosiery manufacturer to cutting-edge fashion brand.

National War Museum

Edinburgh Castle, EH1 2NG

Open 09:45-17:45 daily

Helmand Return

27 February 2015-March 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 Adults

Spotlight On: Eric Lomax, Railwayman of War and Peace

14 March

14:00-15:30 (doors open at 13:45)

Auditorium, Level 1

Free, booking required. Age 14+

Dr Michael Bailey, President of the Stephenson Locomotive Society, tells the story of Eric Lomax, whose photographs form a remarkable archive of pre-war Scottish railways. Eric's autobiography, The Railway Man, now a feature film, tells the story of his incarceration during the Second World War and subsequent bouts of combat stress.

Edinburgh International Science Festival adult events

4-19 April

Pricing dependent on event

This year the Science Festival will transform into the 'Ideas Factory' and celebrate its role as a hub for ideas, information, innovation and inspiration. Special events include:

LateLab - Tron v Tron: Legacy

4 April

19:30-22:00

Auditorium, entry via Lothian Street

Cost: £10, £8 Members & Concessions

Kick off the 2015 LateLab season by playing Light Cycle to decide which of these two films gets the Atmosphere treatment in this special expanded cinema event to complement the Game Masters exhibition. Be transported inside the software world of a mainframe computer where interaction between programmes good and malicious is the only way to get back out. Behind the smoke and mirrors, watch out for the bits and bytes.

Part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Games for Everyone, by Everyone

8 April

20:00-21:30 (doors open at 19:45)

Auditorium, entry via Lothian Street

Cost: £8, £6 Members & Concessions

Dr Jo Twist, CEO of the Association for UK Interactive Entertainment will discuss diversity in games and will share stories from some of the industry's most successful women.

Jo will also take an in depth look at the UK computing curriculum and the measures that need to be put in place to attract more women into STEAM subjects like computer science and coding.

Part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Spotlight On: Philosophy and the Sciences

9 April

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

Auditorium, Level 1

Free, booking required. Age 14+

Explore the relationships between philosophy, science and our universe at National Museum of Scotland. How did cosmology evolve from metaphysics to science? How can the laws of cosmology be tested? What are dark matter and dark energy, and what is the evidence for them? Join philosopher of science Michela Massimi and Peter Davidson, senior curator of Minerals and Meteorites, National Museums Scotland, to ask the big questions about our universe.

Part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

The Big Bang Bash

10 April

19:00-22:30

Cost: £12, £10 Members & Concessions. Age 18+

Join us and Edinburgh International Science Festival for an out-of-this world party celebrating the wonders of space. Sample a space-themed cocktail from the Bar at the End of the Universe, discover the solar system in our portable planetarium then have a go at making your own space craft to take home. Challenge yourself to build an interstellar structure using Splatform, watch roving scientists perform mind-boggling experiments, hear short talks from space experts, including authors Marcus Chown, Prof Monica Grady and Dr Roberto Trotta, or relax and enjoy vintage sci-fi films and our space-tacular DJ.

Part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Made in Scotland, Played by the World

15 April

20:00-21:30 (doors open at 19:45)

Auditorium, Level 1. Entry via Lothian Street at rear of Museum.

Cost: £8, £6 Members & Concessions. Age 14+

Join Keza MacDonald, Editor at Kotaku UK, as she discusses artistry, innovation, independence and success with Scottish indies Space Budgie, Lucky Frame and original members of DMA Design, the initial creators of Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto.

Part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Spotlight On: Serious Games

17 April

14:00-15:00

Auditorium, Level 1

Free but ticketed. Age 14+

Join Pam Kato, Professor of Serious Games at Coventry University, to explore how the adoption of game technology is changing our lives for the better.

Part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

GameCity: Modern Playing

18 April

15:00-16:30 (doors open at 14:45)

Auditorium, Level 1

Cost: £8, £6 Members & Concessions. Age 14+

Celebrate videogaming's place at the heart of our cultural life Join us for an afternoon of ideas, video, music and debate and play the latest demos of innovative games from Scottish developers.

Part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

For families

March Magic Carpet Weekenders

7 March-29 March (Saturdays & Sundays only)
11:00-11:25

Meet at the Lighthouse Lens, Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free, places limited

Join us on the museum Magic Carpet for stories, songs and activities inspired by our fascinating collections.

Supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery.

Science Sunday

22 March

12:00-16:00

Free, drop in

Come and enjoy an afternoon of demos, activities and mini challenges as part of British Science Week.

Supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery.

Magic Carpet

Wednesday during term time

10:30 and 11:30 (25 mins)

Suitable for ages 2-4 (+ their adult)

Free - sign up on day at Info Desk, Entrance Hall, Level 0, as places are limited

The National Museum of Scotland's magic carpet introduces little ones to some of the fantastic things in the museum through 20 minutes of stories, songs and activities. Join us as the carpet visits a different gallery or theme every week. Look out for special guests too!

Supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery.

Magic Carpet Minis

Thursdays during term time

10:30 and 11:30 (20 mins)

Suitable for ages 0-2 (+ their adult)

Free - sign up on day at Info Desk, Entrance Hall, Level 0, as places are limited

Join the National Museum of Scotland for magic carpet sessions for really little ones and their adults. Go along for songs, stories, rhymes and objects in the unique museum setting.

Supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery.

Feely Fridays

Fridays during term time

13:30-16:30

Free, drop-in

Feely Fridays gives you the chance to explore our fascinating handling collections - from meteorites to mammals and Vikings to Victorians! Check out information screens on the day for details.

Supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery.

Edinburgh International Science Festival family events

4-19 April

Pricing dependent on specific event

Enter the 'Ideas Factory' and explore activities for the whole family around the museum, including drop-in events and shows from the University of Edinburgh. Events include:

Lab Rats in Space: Explore Your Universe

7-11 April
10:30, 11:30, 14:30 & 15:30 (45 mins)

Free

Help our museum lab rats scientists on their astronomical adventures through fun demonstrations and hands-on experiments. Suitable for ages 5-8 and their adult helper.

Part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Astro-teenies

14-19 April
10:30 & 11:30 (30 mins)

Free

Reach for the stars in our space-themed sensory science story sessions. Suitable for under 3s and their adult helper.

Part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

Astro-tots

14-19 April
14:30 & 15:30 (35 mins)

Free

Come on a museum space science adventure with stories, songs and mini experiments. Suitable for ages 3-5 and their adult helper.

Part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

For everyone

Daily tours

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

NEW! 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.

Themed Tour

Daily at 15:00 (1 hr)

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

Free

Looking for a more in-depth experience? We offer a wide range of themed tours. Ask at the information desk or check our website for forthcoming tour titles www.nms.ac.uk/tours

National War Museum

Edinburgh Castle, EH1 2NG

Open 09:45-17:45 daily

Tales from the Front: The Thin Red Line

8-15 March

10:30-12:45, 13:30-16:00

Included in admission to Edinburgh Castle

Meet a 93rd Highlander soldier in full uniform from the Battle of Balaclava, in 1854 during the Crimean War.

Join costumed interpreter Allan Burnett in Hospital Square and learn the history behind Robert Gibb's famous painting The Thin Red Line.

National Museum of Flight

East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF

What a Drag!

3-12 April

12:00-16:00

Cost included in museum admission. Drop-in. Age 3+

Find out about air resistance at the National Museum of Flight this Easter holiday.

Drag, also known as air resistance is the force that air exerts on aircraft , slowing them down. See how this has shaped aeroplanes before learning more through science demonstrations with our facilitators. Then build your own model parachutist.

National Museum of Rural Life

Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride G76 9HR

Magic Carpet

7 January-1 April

Every Wednesday, 10:30-10:55

Suitable for ages 3-5 (+ their adult)

Cost included in museum admission

Explore life on the farm with a magical adventure on board the Magic Carpet. Discover life on the farm and in the countryside with 25 minutes of stories, songs and activities each Wednesday during term-time.

Magic Carpet Minis

7 January-1 April

Every Thursday, 10:30-10:55

Suitable for ages 0-2 (+ their adult)

Cost included in museum admission

Explore life on the farm with a magical adventure on board the Magic Carpet. Discover life on the farm and in the countryside with 25 minutes of stories, songs and activities each Thursday during term-time.

Mums go free on Mother's Day

15 March

10:00-17:00

Free entry for mums on Mother's Day at the National Museum of Rural Life.

NB. Mum must be accompanied by at least one child under the age of 16. One free ticket per transaction and group. Offer valid on 15 March 2015 only.

Go Wild in Spring

3-19 April

10:00-17:00

Cost included in museum admission

School holiday fun for active adventurers, including den building, crafts and photography.

Easter Sunday Funday

5 April

10:00-17:00

Cost included in museum admission

Spring into Easter and celebrate the new season by welcoming our new lambs and calves and going on an egg hunt, then see if you can spot the Easter bunny!