Exhibitions & Displays
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Waterloo: After the Battle
15 May-27 September 2015
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1
Free
To mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, find out more about the impact of the battle within Scotland, from public celebrations to political unrest, the celebrity of veterans and the birth of battlefield tourism.
Photography: A Victorian Sensation
19 June-22 November 2015
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Cost: Adult £10/£8; Child £6.50; Under 12s free; Museums Scotland Members free; National Art Pass holders 50% discount
Meet the pioneers of photography and discover how the Victorian craze for the photograph transformed the way we capture images today and mirrors our own modern-day fascination for recording the world around us. Follow the cross-channel competition between photographic trailblazers Louis Daguerre and William Henry Fox Talbot, enter the world of the 1851 Great Exhibition and see some of the world’s first stereophotographs. Then get swept up in the collecting craze of the carte-de-visite and discover the fascinating stories of the people behind the pictures, including Hill and Adamson’s beautiful images of Victorian Edinburgh.
Kindly supported by The Morton Charitable Trust.
The Silversmith’s Art: Made in Britain Today
18 September – 4 January 2016
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free
This ground-breaking exhibition celebrates the exceptional creativity and skill which make Britain a world leader in modern silver. The Silversmith’s Art features 150 masterpieces made by 66 acclaimed silversmiths between 2000 and 2015. At the heart of the exhibition is The Goldsmiths’ Company’s role as patron of contemporary studio silver. This guild, situated in the City of London, has supported Britain’s gold and silversmithing trades for over 700 years.
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
Open Study Short Courses: Victorian Photography
14, 21 August & 24 October
10:30-16:30 (doors open 10:15)
Seminar Room, Learning Centre, Level 4
Cost: £38/£27. Visit www.ed.ac.uk/short-courses or call 0131 650 4400 to book.
From its invention in 1839, photography had a huge impact on Victorian society. This course will explore the art, science, products and popularity associated with photography in the Victorian era. The course runs in conjunction with the major exhibition at National Museum of Scotland, and includes an exhibition entry.
Open Studies: Victorian Edinburgh
From 1 October (10 weeks)
10:30-12:30
Seminar Room, Learning Centre, Level 4
Cost: £121/£80. Book at www.ed.ac.uk/openstudies or call 0131 650 4400 to book.
Examine Edinburgh’s economic social and political climate during 1837-1901 and assess how the city’s inhabitants responded to some of the most important Scottish, British and international events of the era. Includes exhibition entry.
Glenmorangie Annual Lecture: Malcolm Appleby
22 September
19:00-20:00 (doors open at 18:15) , age 18+
Auditorium, entry via Lothian Street
Cost: £6/£5
Join engraver and silversmith Malcolm Appleby for the Glemorangie Annual Lecture at the National Museum of Scotland.
To book tickets visit the website
Doors Open Day at the National Museums Collection Centre
26 September – 27 September
National Museums Collection Centre
Free, booking required
Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at National Museums Scotland? This guided tour offers a rare insight into how we care for and conserve our internationally important collections.
Victorian Photography: A Scottish Perspective
3 October
10:30-16:30 (doors open at 10:15)
Cost: £30/£25, Booking required. Adults 14+
Join our panel of speakers as they discuss the pioneers of early Scottish photography and their influence in Scotland and beyond.
For families
Magic Carpet
2 September – 7 October
Every Wednesday 10:30-10:55, 11:30-11:55
Free, limited places. First come, first served basis.
Take a trip on the Magic Carpet to explore the fantastic things in the National Museum of Scotland through 25 minutes of stories, songs and activities.
Magic Carpet Minis
3 September – 8 October
Every Thursday 10:30-10:50, 11:30-11:50
Free
Magic Carpet Mini sessions especially for really young children and their carers. Come along and explore the fantastic things in the National Museum of Scotland through songs, stories, rhymes and objects in the unique museum setting.
Dig It! At the Museum: Magic Carpet Mini Diggers
Saturdays and Sundays in September
11:00-11:45, free but ticketed (Book from 1 September)
Join us for archaeology-themed songs, stories and actions on the Magic Carpet before putting new skills to the test with our toddler-friendly dig box. Suitable for ages 2-4 and their adult helper.
Dig It! At the Museum: Hands-On History
Saturdays and Sundays in September
14:00-16:00, free (drop in)
Explore objects from Scotland, Europe and beyond, all with an archaeological story to discover.
Explorathon
Friday 25 September
12:00-16:00, free (drop in)
Join us for this Scotland-wide celebration of all things scientific. Meet real researchers and find out what cutting edge discoveries are being made by our nation’s world-class scientists. Ask questions, see some surprising sights and maybe even take part in their experiments.
For more information on events and exhibitions:
National Museums Scotland
