Celebrate Robert Burns 2012 at the National Museum of Scotland from 21st – 27th January.
Robert Burns: To a Mouse Family Footprints Trail
Dates: Sat 21 – Fri 27 January
Time: All day
Cost: Free
Available from: Info Zone, Level 3, Grand Gallery Balcony
A new museum trail for families exploring one of Burns’ famous poems through exhibits in our Scottish collections.
Supported by Scotland’s Winter Festivals.
Dates: Sat 21, Sun 22 and Fri 27 January
Times: 11:00–13:00, 14:00–16:00
Where: Scotland galleries Levels -1, 1 and 3
Three colourful characters step from the pages of history into the Museum, to explain what life was like in the past.
Supported by Scotland’s Winter Festivals.
Date: Sunday 22 January
Join us for an afternoon of engaging activities, workshops, performances and encounters with some of our 26 Treasures writers, Hopscotch Theatre, and Slice of Life characters who will help you celebrate and explore Scotland, Burns and the Scots tongue!
The Scots Magical Museum
Time: 13:00–16:00 (drop in, but please gather at 13:00 for the introduction if possible)
Where: Grand Gallery, Level 1
Cost: Free
More than 200 years ago a man called James Johnson, working in collaboration with Robert Burns, published an important set of books of Scottish songs called The Scots Musical Museum. This afternoon, Scots writer James Robertson will help create a Scots Magical Museum. Join James at 13:00 as we kick off with some fun introductory games in Scots before you go off and select an interesting object to draw. James will help you find a word or phrase in Scots to describe it before you add it to the Scots Magical Museum. What will you choose?
Hopscotch Theatre: Tam O’Shanter
Times: 13:30 and 15:30 (45 mins)
Where: Hawthornden Court, Level 1
Cost: Free
Join the more than slightly tipsy Tam as he clambers aboard his long suffering, but trusty grey mare Meg, and sets off into the heart of a wild storm, for a confrontation with witches, warlocks and ‘the deil himsel’! Performed in the round and with audience participation, the versatile actors will bring to vivid life the many colourful characters from this epic, cautionary tale, full of couthy humour and dark mystery.
Supported by Scotland’s Winter Festivals.
SuperScot!
Time: 14:00 (60 mins)
Where: Learning Centre Level 4
Cost: Free, but places are limited. Please sign up on the day in the Learning Centre.
Suitable for: Ages 9–12
What would your ideal Scottish Superhero be like? What superpowers would they have? Join 26 Treasures writer Kate Tough to create your own Super Scot through words and pictures in this workshop suitable for ages 9–12.
Viking Gold
Time: 15:00 (60 mins)
Where: Learning Centre, level 4
Cost: Free, but places are limited. Please sign up on the day in the Learning Centre.
Suitable for: Ages 10–15
V Campbell’s latest book Viking Gold is an historical action adventure about a 16 year old Viking boy who discovers America with the help of a mysterious Irish manuscript. Victoria will read excerpts from Viking Gold and use replica Viking arms, costumes, everyday objects and multi-media to instigate discussions about what life would be like for young people in Dark Age Europe. There will also be a chance to ask questions about her book and the writing process.
Dates: Mon 23 and Wed 25 January
Times: 10:30, 11:30 (20 mins)
Suitable for: Up to 5 years
Cost: Free – sign up on the day for a limited place at the Information Desk in the Entrance Hall.
Our magic carpet introduces your little ones to different themes and galleries in the museum through stories, songs, objects and activities. Join guest leader and Scots writer Aimee Chalmers for some special sessions themed around Robert Burns and the Scots language.
Supported by Scotland’s Winter Festivals.
Date: Thu 26 January
Time: 18:30 (1.5hrs)
Cost: £6, £5 Concession and Members
Booking: Book tickets online or call 0300 123 6789
A museum is a treasure chest not just of objects but of stories. At this closing event for the 26 Treasures project, James Robertson, Sara Sheridan, Lee Randall and Lucy Harland join Jamie Jauncey to discuss how they tapped into the rich story of Scotland’s past through objects that connect them not only to social, political, cultural and religious history, but to the powerful emotions of people who lived at that time.
James Robertson and Aimee Chalmers kick off this event with a selection of Burns poetry and a 21st century Scots poem inspired by the bard.
Supported by Scotland’s Winter Festivals.
