Just in-case anyone is visiting Edinburgh, here's a few things you might be able to get up to, ...

----- Forwarded message from nms.ac.uk ----- Subject: National Museums Scotland listings to 1 December 2013

Please find below National Museums Scotland listings to 1 December 2013.

Exhibitions

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

Mary, Queen of Scots 28 June - 17 November 2013 Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 Cost: Adult £9, Concession £7.50, Child (12-15) £6, Under 12s free, National Museums Scotland Members free, National Art Pass holders receive 50% discount. Arguably one of the most enigmatic figures in Scottish history, the story of Mary, Queen of Scots can still arouse strong emotions: was she betrayed by those she trusted, condemned to die a Catholic martyr, or a murdering adulteress with her husband's blood on her hands? This major exhibition, only showing in Edinburgh, provides a unique opportunity to re-evaluate much that has been written and speculated about this charismatic monarch, drawing together surviving relics intimately connected with Mary and wider Renaissance material, such as documents, portraits, jewellery, furniture and textiles.

Hunting the Higgs Boson 27 September 2013 - 16 February 2014 Grand Gallery, Level 1 Free This small exhibition explores the journey and continuing quest to discover the fundamental structure of the universe, and includes objects from CERN as well personal artefacts from Professor Peter Higgs.

Kabuki: Japanese Theatre Prints 4 October 2013 - 2 February 2014 Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 Free Come face to face with Kabuki theatre's most famous warriors, villains, heroes and heroines through 61 of the finest Japanese woodblock prints from the Museums' collection. The striking designs present vivid depictions of Kabuki, the popular form of traditional, all-male, Japanese theatre which combines drama, music, dance and acrobatics in convoluted plots concerning dramatic emotional conflicts and feats of derring-do. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to view these beautiful images and to learn more about a fascinating cultural and social period in Japanese history.

Creative Spirit: Revealing Early Medieval Scotland 25 October 2013 - 23 February 2014 Grand Gallery, Level 1 Free The Glenmorangie Early Medieval Research Project casts new light on iconic objects from the time of the Picts and the Gaels. This small exhibition presents re-creations which bring back to life objects that did not survive or are badly preserved, made using traditional craft skills and innovative technology.

National War Museum Edinburgh Castle, EH1 2NG

Arctic Convoys 1941-45 24 May 2013 - March 2014 Free with admission to Edinburgh Castle Sailing from Scotland, Iceland and North America to ports in northern Russian, the Arctic convoys carried vital supplies to the Russian allies. As well as facing the constant possibility of attack from German U boats, the men who sailed on these ships faced some of the toughest conditions of the war: freezing cold, storms and treacherous fog. Thousands of British merchant and naval seamen lost their lives in this operation. Through photographs, letters, interviews and personal possessions, this exhibition tells the story of the courage and determination of these wartime heroes.

Events/Activities

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

For Everyone

Uplifting Afternoon Concerts Join the National Museum of Scotland for an uplifting series of concerts on the second Saturday of every month this season. We've got a wind quintet, period singers and flute trio performing in the glorious setting of the Grand Gallery. Don't miss the wonderful Edinburgh University Renaissance Singers on 9 November and the Champagne Flutes Trio on 14 December.

For Adults

Mary, Queen of Scots lectures for groups Cost: £5 per head (45 mins). Please note this does not include entry to the exhibition. Enhance your group visit to our Mary, Queen of Scots exhibition with an illuminating introductory talk by a museum expert. Available for adult groups (minimum 20, maximum 60) on specified weekdays only. Information and booking on 0131 247 4041 or tours@nms.ac.ukmailto:tours@nms.ac.uk

Spotlight On: Creative Spirit 31 October, 14:00 - 15:00 Seminar Room, Learning Centre, Level 4 Free - book in advance. To book call 0300 123 6789 Curator Martin Goldberg and Glenmorangie Research officer Mhairi Maxwell introduce highlights of our exhibition showcasing the work of an award-winning research partnership which is bringing ancient objects to life through contemporary craftwork and digital technology.

Kabuku: Japanese Theatre on Film 7 November, 18:30 - 20:00 Auditorium, Level 1 This fascinating documentary about contemporary Kabuki actor Kamejiro Ichikawa II explores the family traditions, staging and costume of this unique theatrical genre. Screening followed by a discussion with the film's director Yoshitaro Saito. In Japanese with subtitles.

RBS Museum Lates: Mary, Queen of Scots 8 November, 19:00 - 22:30 Cost: £18/£16 (entry to Lates and Mary, Queen of Scots exhibition), £10/£8 (entry to Lates only). 18+ only. To book call 0300 123 6789 Don't miss the latest in our award-winning series of late night extravaganzas with a last chance to see our spectacular Mary, Queen of Scots exhibition and an exciting programme of live music, entertainment, culture, bars and surprises, including Silent Disco, face-painting, animal handling and a headline performance from upbeat Glaswegian indie pop sensations Blood Relatives.

Scotland's Living Reefs 9 November, 14:00 - 15:00 Free - book in advance. To book call 0300 123 6789 Flame shells, mussels and fan worms build diverse and vibrant living reefs in Scottish coastal waters. Dan Harries, marine ecologist at Heriot-Watt University, explores their fragile habitats. Found a shell and want to find out what it is? Bring it along at 12:30 and our experts will identify it. The talk is part of the Regional Meeting of the Conchological Society of Great Britain and Irelandhttp://www.conchsoc.org/node/5345.

Spotlight On: Ballad of the Five Marys FULLY BOOKED 14 November, 14:00 - 15:00 Seminar Room, Learning Centre, Level 4 Donald Smith, Director of the Scottish Storytelling Centre, presents his contemporary fiction exploring the central issues of Mary Queen of Scots' reign as seen through the eyes of others.

Saturday Showcase: Iconic Queens 16 November, 13:30 - 16:00 Auditorium, Level 1 Cost: Adults £10, Concessions and Members £8. To book call 0300 123 6789 From 16th century portraits to modern reconstructions, visual representations of Mary, Queen of Scots and her cousin Elizabeth have taken many forms. Discover more with our expert panel, including Tarnya Cooper from the National Portrait Gallery, London. Refreshments included.

Spotlight On: Hunting the Higgs Boson FULLY BOOKED 21 November, 14:00 - 15:00 Auditorium, Level 1 Free - book in advance. To book call 0300 123 6789 Exhibition curator Tacye Phillipson is joined by Dr Victoria Martin from the University of Edinburgh, part of the ATLAS team who found the Higgs boson at CERN in 2012. Together they explore the hunt for this elusive particle, which culminated in the recent award of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics to François Englert and Peter Higgs.

Daily tours

New Galleries taster tour 11:00 (1 hr) Free Suitable for: Adults Venue: Tours leave from the Meeting Point, Entrance Hall, Level 0. Join one of our New Galleries Taster guided tours and discover some of the highlights in the new galleries.

Themed tours 13:00 (1 hr) Free Suitable for: Adults Tours leave from the Meeting Point, Entrance Hall, Level 0. Join us for our exciting programme of in-depth tours with a different theme every day. You can see the schedule at www.nms.ac.uk/tourshttp://www.nms.ac.uk/tours

Scotland highlight tours 15:00 (1 hr) Free Suitable for: Adults Tours leave from the Meeting Point, Entrance Hall, Level 0. Join one of our daily guided tours and discover some of the highlights in the Scotland galleries.

For Families

Queens, Kings and Wild Things 12 - 20 October, 12:00 - 16:00 Free, drop-in (children must be accompanied by an adult) Drop-in for daily holiday fun with costumes, crafts stories and shows inspired by the Mary, Queen of Scots exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland. Dn;t forget children under 12 get free entry to the Mary, Queen of Scots exhibition.

Once Upon a Journey 19 October, 11:00 - 16:00 Free, drop-in (children must be accompanied by an adult) It's the Scottish International Storytelling Festival and the Museum is alive with storytellers and workshops, including special Magic Carpet sessions. Find out more at www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.ukhttp://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk/

Big Draw: Future Fictions Weekend 26 - 27 October, 12:00 - 16:00 Free, drop-in (children must be accompanied by an adult) Robots, hover boards, flying cars - how did people in the past picture the future? Take part in a fun weekend of future-themed art, demonstrations and performances. Part of www.familyartsfestival.comhttp://www.familyartsfestival.com/

Visible Fictions: Friends Electric 26 - 27 October, 12:30 and 14:30 (30 min) Suitable for ages 7+ (children must be accompanied by an adult) Cost: £3, book in advance online or from the Info Desk in our Entrance Hall. Please bring ticket and meet at the Lighthouse Lens in the Grand Gallery, 5 mins before start A heart-warming new theatre show for families - and robots! The Professor has spent her life with robots. She has built them, tested them, broken them and started all over again. The Professor has spent so much time with robots that some people say she prefers them to humans. Friends Electric is a magical story about a spark of connection between a human (you) and a robot (like you?). Discover what makes you human, how our hearts can take over our brains and how our brains can do amazing things. The new show from Visible Fictionshttp://www.visiblefictions.co.uk/.

Makerbot - 3D Printer 26 - 27 October, 12:00 - 16:00 Free, drop-in (children must be accompanied by an adult) Drop by to see a demonstration and find out more about the potentials and pitfalls in 3D printing.

Robots that Interact 27 October, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00 Free, drop-in (children must be accompanied by an adult) Advanced robots that can demonstrate interactive capabilities such as detecting and kicking balls, responding to gestures and dancing in a coordinated manner are some of the mini humanoids that will be on show. You can also play a game of Connect4 with a robot arm or try on a prosthetic hand! Highlighting some of the cutting edge robotics research out of the University of Edinburgh's School of Informatics, this event is presented by Prof Sethu Vijayakumar FRSE and Dr Ram Ramamoorthy and researchers from the School of Informatics.

Kabuki Kids 16 - 17 November, 12:00 - 16:00 Grand Gallery Free, drop-in (children must be accompanied by an adult) Inspired by Kabuki: Japanese Theatre Prints exhibition, create a Japanese paper or peg figure and get your face painted Kabuki-style! There will also be traditional Koto and Shamisen music between 12:00 - 14:00 each day.

Museum Takeover Day 28 November Young people take over the Museum's events programme for the day - stop by to see what they have in store!

St Andrew's 'Shorts' 30 November, 11:00 and 14:00 (2 hr) Hawthornden Court, Level 1 Free, drop-in Bite-sized interactive snippets of Scottish history! Step back in time and encounter everyday characters from Scottish history, all with a story to tell. There's a steam engine driver, an alewife, an Edinburgh doctor, and a punishment wifie in the stocks! Who will you meet today?

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!

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.

Friday Afternoon Fun Fridays during term time 13:30 - 16:30 Free, drop-in Let out of school early? Make the most of your half-day Friday and come and have some fun with the National Museum of Scotland! Drop by for free activities such as Gallery Safaris, make-and-take and object handling. Check out information screens on the day for details.

National War Museum Edinburgh Castle, EH1 2NG

Soldiers at War Meet re-enactor Scottish soldiers from the Crimean and First and Second World Wars at the National War Museum, Edinburgh Castle this season. See below for further details, dates and times.

First World War Liverpool Scottish 16 & 17 October, 10:00 - 16:00 Hospital Square, National War Museum, Edinburgh Castle Cost included in Edinburgh Castle admission Meet re-enactors Dave and Ailsa Clarke who play a soldier of the Liverpool Scottish and a nurse. The Liverpool Scottish were a Territorial unit who rapidly found themselves on the front line. The story of nursing in the First World War is no less interesting, how did they cope with the realities of war?

Second World War Soldier 10 November, 10:00 - 16:00 Hospital Square, National War Museum, Edinburgh Castle Cost included in Edinburgh Castle admission Learn about the experiences of normal soldiers in the Second World War during this special Remembrance Sunday event.

The Crimean War 18 October & 24 November, 10:00 - 16:00 Hospital Square, National War Museum, Edinburgh Castle Cost included in Edinburgh Castle admission The soldier from the Crimean War is portrayed by Allan Burnett who had his uniform made, based on items in the National War Museum's collection, by a costumier who worked on the Sharpe series.

Military Ancestors Workshop 12 & 19 November, 14:00 - 16:00 Free, booking essential. 18+ only. To book call 0300 123 6789 The National War Museum's library has resources that may help you to research your military ancestors. These include army lists going back to 1740, through which brief details of an officer's career may be traced, including rolls of honour, medal rolls, casualty lists and regimental histories. Join Information Services staff in a workshop on how to use these resources and other sources of information.

National Museum of Rural Life Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride G76 9HR

Go Wild in Autumn 12 - 20 October, 11:00 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 16:00 Cost included in museum admission. To book call 0300 123 6789 or enquire at the Information Desk on arrival A different country-themed activity every day, offering kids the chance to try something new, from puppet, badge or mask making to Enviro-art. You can also pick up a trail at the Information Desk on arrival for a self-guided tour and find out about the history of the countryside in Scotland, farming machinery, the Wester Kittochside flora and fauna and the animals on the 1950s working farm.

Halloween in the Country 31 October, 17:00 - 19:00 (normal museum opening hours 10:00 - 17:00) Free, no need to book. Children under 12 to be accompanied by an adult Join in the spooky fun on this, the scariest night of the year! Take part in apple-dooking, scary trails and lots of spirited activities.

Autumn Stargazing 13 November, 19:00 - 21:00 (normal museum opening hours 10:00 - 17:00) Free, no need to book. Children under 16 to be accompanied by an adult Try your eye for astronomy with the Clydesdale Astronomical Societyhttp://www.clydesdaleastro.org.uk/ (weather permitting) and find out what the heavens have to offer this autumn.

National Museum of Flight East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF

What did you do in the War, Great-Grandad? 12 - 20 October, 12:00 - 16:00 Cost included in museum admission Find out what your Great-Grandad might have done during the World Wars this October half-term. Learn how to research your family's military history then make your own family history scrapbook to take home.

Air and Scare Halloween 26 - 27 October, 10:00 - 17:00 Cost included in museum admission Come and hear spooky tales and join in with some scary activities... if you think you're brave enough!

Listings are now available as RSS feeds: National Museum of Scotland http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/450bg9ocjee745agvs7smrni1s%40group.cale...

National War Museum http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/6dkrkkv41o09a9sfddmd9acpgk%40group.cale...

National Museum of Rural Life http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/o8c44s12818teeaamd6011p6v0%40group.cale...

National Museum of Flight http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/87lfdldrp2p0iucrsd2ldbs3b4%40group.cale...

Museum addresses: National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF National War Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, EH1 2NG National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian EH39 5LF National Museum of Rural Life, Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789/www.nms.ac.ukhttp://www.nms.ac.uk For images or any further information please contact the press office on 0131 247 4391 or email media@nms.ac.ukmailto:media@nms.ac.uk

Notes for Editors: National Museums Scotland looks after museum collections of national and international importance and provides loans, partnerships, research and training in Scotland and internationally. Our individual museums are the National Museum of Scotland, the National Museum of Flight, the National Museum of Rural Life and the National War Museum. The National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh houses conservation and research facilities as well as collections not currently on display.

Esme Haigh Marketing & Communications Assistant

National Museums Scotland Chambers Street Edinburgh EH1 1JF Tel: +44 (0) 131 247 4391 http://www.nms.ac.uk/

Our exclusive summer exhibition is now on! Discover the epic tale of Mary, Queen of Scots until 17 November 2013. www.nms.ac.uk/mary

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Brian McNeil