Explore our exciting programme of events below, including our October Holidays Workshops and exclusive chances to see our collections from up close and speak to our experts.
Most of our workshops and events are free, unless otherwise stated.
Looking for something specific? Try searching through our events for:
October
Back to the Island – Exclusive Preview
When: Friday 6 October, 8-10pm. Book here.
Where: Wardlaw Museum
Who: Adults
Join us at the Wardlaw Museum for an exclusive preview of the Return to Mingulay exhibition before it opens to the public. We’ll have custom Scottish cocktails, live music and spoken word performances to transport you back to the island.
Critical Conversations – Phillis Wheatley
When: Tuesday 10 October, 5-5:45pm
Where: Microsoft Teams. Join here.
Who: Adults
Whose voices are missing from museums? Which stories are not told? Which uncomfortable histories remain hidden? And how can museums move forward? From empire and colonialism to climate, identity and more, Critical Conversations bring together voices from a variety of perspectives to consider the critical issues.
Photography Pioneers
When: Tuesday 10 October, 2- 2:45pm. Book here.
Where: Wardlaw Museum
Who: 3-6 year olds
Today it’s easy to snap a picture, but in the early days of photography it wasn’t! Discover the secrets behind the earliest cameras and photographs and try your hand at painting with the sun.
Photography Pioneers
When: Tuesday 10 October, 3-4pm. Book here.
Where: Wardlaw Museum
Who: 7-12 year olds
Today it’s easy to snap a picture, but in the early days of photography it wasn’t! Discover the secrets behind the earliest cameras and photographs and try your hand at making your own pinhole camera.
Photography Pioneers
When: Friday 13 October, 2- 4pm. Drop in, no booking required.
Where: Wardlaw Museum
Who: Families
Today it’s easy to snap a picture, but in the early days of photography it wasn’t! Discover the secrets behind the earliest cameras and photographs and try your hand at painting with the sun.
Bird Boxes
When: Tuesday 17 October, 2- 2:45pm.Book here.
Where: Wardlaw Museum
Who: 3-6 year olds
Even though people left the island of Mingulay 100 years ago, many seabirds still live there today. Build your own bird box for your local birds to call home.
Bird Boxes
When: Tuesday 17 October, 3-4pm. Book here.
Where: Wardlaw Museum
Who: 7-12 year olds
Even though people left the island of Mingulay 100 years ago, many seabirds still live there today. Build your own bird box for your local birds to call home.
Bird Boxes
When: Friday 20 October, 2-4pm. Drop in, no booking required.
Where: Wardlaw Museum
Who: Families
Even though people left the island of Mingulay 100 years ago, many seabirds still live there today. Build your own bird box for your local birds to call home.
Curiosity Conversation: Dr Peter Mackay
When: Available from Thursday 26 October
Where: Anchor, Spotify and other podcasting platforms
Who: Adults
The Curiosity Conversation speaks with a different expert every month to explore the world through the unexpected, ground-breaking or contested aspects of the stories museums tell. This month, Matt and Eilidh speak with Dr Peter Mackay, School of English, to discuss the cultural importance of a tiny island off the west coast of Scotland.
November
Wee Wardlaws – Old and New
When: Friday 3 November, 10am-11am.
Where: Wardlaw Museum.
Who: 0-5 year olds
Help your little one explore the world around them through museum objects, stories, songs, crafts and things to do and spot. This event is for children 0 to 5 years and whoever looks after them.
Critical Conversations – Absence/Presence
When: Tuesday 14 November, 5-5:45pm
Where: Microsoft Teams. Join the Teams Live Event here.
Who: Adults
Whose voices are missing from museums? Which stories are not told? Which uncomfortable histories remain hidden? And how can museums move forward? From empire and colonialism to climate, identity and more, Critical Conversations bring together voices from a variety of perspectives to consider the critical issues.
Today, join our panel of experts to discuss whether humans have a negative or positive impact on environments – or is it more complex? And what does this mean for how museums and public attractions encourage people to interact with the natural world?
Treasures of the Photography Collection
When: Thursday 16 November, 12-1pm, Book here.
Where: Martyrs Kirk, North Street
Who: All ages
A rare opportunity to explore the treasures of the Photographic Collection with Assistant Curator of Photography, Lydia Heeley. The collection holds some 2 million photographs, including some of the first ever taken in the world. Lydia brings these treasures out from storage so that you can see them up close and unlock the secrets they hold.
Poetry slam – Inklight X Wardlaw
When: Friday 17 November, 7:30 – 9:30pm. Bookings open soon.
Where: Wardlaw Museum
Who: Adults
Join Inklight Creative Writing Society for an atmospheric poetry slam in the Wardlaw Museum, inspired by culture and place. Grab a cocktail and listen to up-and-coming literary talents in the museum galleries.
Music in Museums
When: Sunday 19 November, 2:30 – 3:15pm
Where: Wardlaw Museum.
Who: All ages
Be immersed in music in the unique setting of the museum galleries. This month, join musician, scholar, and teacher Rona Wilkie as she combines voice and fiddle to create a new and exciting perspective on Highland music. A winner of the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Rona is also currently finishing a PhD at the School of Scottish Studies in the University of Edinburgh, and enjoys working with musicians across the musical spectrum. Free, no booking required.
I Want To Be A… Photographer
When: Thursday 23 November, 4:30-5:30pm. Drop in, no booking required.
Where: Wardlaw Museum
Who: Families
Drop into the Wardlaw Museum to get insider experience into different kinds of jobs that University can lead you to, and spend some time with the people who know all about them. From virtual reality to experiments to code-busting, we’ll explore a different job every month.
This month, try your hand at capturing the world around you in this session for budding photographers.
Scottish Shenanigans
When: Saturday 25 November, 12-4pm
Where: Wardlaw Museum
Who: All ages
Join us for a day all about Scotland with folk music, Ceilidh dancing, crafts, and lots more for all ages. Meet some exciting guests and complete all the activities to win a prize. Free. No booking required.
I Want To Be A… Musician
When: Thursday 30 November, 4:30pm-5:30pm. Drop in, no booking required.
Where: Wardlaw Museum
Who: Families
Drop into the Wardlaw Museum to get insider experience into different kinds of jobs that University can lead you to, and spend some time with the people who know all about them. From virtual reality to experiments to code-busting, we’ll explore a different job every month. This month, try your hand at creating rhythm and making music with our expert from the Laidlaw Music Centre.
Curiosity Conversation
When: Available from Thursday 30 November
Where: Anchor, Spotify and other podcasting platforms
Who: Adults
The Curiosity Conversation speaks with a different expert every month to explore the world through the unexpected, ground-breaking or contested aspects of the stories museums tell.
December
Wee Wardlaws
When: Friday 1 December, 10am-11am.
Where: Wardlaw Museum.
Who: 0-5 year olds
Help your little one explore the world around them through museum objects, stories, songs, crafts and things to do and spot. This event is for children 0 to 5 years and whoever looks after them.