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Dumfries Museum - Exhibitions 2010
2010 brings a varied calendar of exhibitions and events at Dumfries Museum.
 | 2010 School Holiday Activities |
2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, and we have taken this as the theme of our family workshops. We will be exploring the huge variety of animals, plants and habitats that exist all over the world in an effort to understand the vital role that biodiversity plays in sustaining life on Earth.
Biodiversity 1: Terrific Trees
Tuesday 13 July
10.30 – 11.30am
To celebrate International Year of Biodiversity we have a series of six sessions each themed on a different group of living things. We start with some of the biggest living things in the world, the trees. There will be games and craft activities for children from 5 years. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. With Tom Henry, Nithsdale Ranger, Planning and Environment Services.
Biodiversity 2: Fantastic Fungi
Tuesday 20 July
10.30 – 11.30am
We continue to celebrate the international year of Biodiversity with a look at the Mushrooms and Toadstools, neither plant nor animal they can be a delicious treat or deadly poison. Games and crafts for children from 5 years. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. With Tom Henry, Nithsdale Ranger, Planning and Environment Services.
Biodiversity 3: Incredible Insects
Tuesday 27 July
10.30 - 11.30am
A creature that lays its eggs inside another hatches out and eats it from the inside, another that eats by vomiting on it's food and sucking it up through a straw. Celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity we look at the amazing and disgusting world of insects. Games and activities for children from 5 years. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Biodiversity 4: Remarkable Reptiles
Tuesday 3 August
10.30 – 11.30am
This International Year of Biodiversity activity looks at snakes, lizards and turtles. Games and crafts for children from 5 years. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Biodiversity 5: Brilliant Birds
Tuesday 10 August
10.30 – 11.30am
Catching prey in the air at 200MPH, flying over 1000 miles without landing, hovering a mile above the ground to spot prey, bet you can't do any of that. Games and crafts for children from 5 years. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Biodiversity 6: Marvelous Mammals
Tuesday 17 August
10.30 – 11.30am
The last of our activity sessions celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity. This week we look at the furry world of mammals, from the spikyness of the hedgehog and the incredible hearing of the bat to the immense size of the whale.
 | Bats! An illustrated talk followed by a gentle stroll along the banks of the River Nith looking for the different species of bat. |
A joint event with Dumfries and Galloway Bat Group.
Booking essential, please telephone Dumfries Museum on 01387 253374 to reserve a place.
 | Building Scotland Scotland's traditionally built environment is one of the nation's most unique and cherished features. It gives her inhabitants a sense of place and identity and draws visitors from around the world. |
This exhibition celebrates the varied raw materials that have been employed in forming the nation's traditional buildings. Many, such as stone and timber, have been used since the earliest days of human habitation in Scotland. Others, such as pantiles and iron, came into general use in more recent times.
For the majority of traditionally constructed buildings it is the use of these materials in combination with one another that has produced such beautiful and diverse results - stone, lime and pantiles come together to form distinctive buildings in east coast towns and villages - timber, clay, stone and thatch are combined to form the blackhouses so distinctive of the Western Isles.
The exhibition reveals the regional variations and explores the human story behind the materials and how they have shaped Scotland's traditionally built environment. The exhibition includes actual examples of each material as well as a selection of the traditional tools that would be used to work and build with them.
The exhibition was produced by the Conservation Group of Historic Scotland and will journey to different locations around Scotland over the next two years. It comes to Dumfries Museum to celebrate Scottish Archaeology Month.
Dumfries Museum - 7.30pm Friday 24 September 2010
Architect David Miller will talk about the conservation areas of Dumfries, exploring the unique buildings that are the result of locally available raw materials and methods of construction.
A Scottish Archaeology Month Event.
Booking essential, please telephone Dumfries Museum on 01387 253374 to reserve a place.
Doors Open Day
Your chance to see inside some of Dumfries and Galloway's most interesting buildings, completely free of charge - Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September 2010.
The Camera Obscura at Dumfries Museum
2pm - 6pm Sunday 26 September
Free admission to the camera obscura at Dumfries Museum
Robert Burns Centre, Dumfries
10am – 5pm Saturday 25 and 2pm – 5pm Sunday 26 September
Free admission to the AV at Robert Burns Centre
 | Moving Stories 10 people, 10 experiences, one unmissable exhibition! This unusual travelling exhibition combines photography, objects and audio-visual material in an exploration of ten people's experiences of interacting with the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. |
The first phase of the exhibition toured 1,330 miles around Scotland during 2009, and received more than 100,000 visitors. This updated version explains how the stories of the ten people featured have moved on since they first became involved with the Scottish Parliament.
Amongst the stories featured in the exhibition are -
Bob Reid, South of Scotland, submitted a petition to establish Off-Road Motorbike Facilities.
I am a great believer that there is a key to every young person, no matter what their problems are... give them a new challenge, something they can relate to, something they can belong to.
John Muir, West of Scotland, submitted a petition on tackling knife crime following the death of his son.
I think that the public in Greenock and surrounding areas did recognise that the situation that Damian found himself in could have been their son or their daughter...something's got to change.
Reverend Iain MacDonald, Highlands and Islands, led Time for Reflection in the Scottish Parliament.
People here are thoroughly engaged with community, with social justice issues. A real community is defined by how it looks after its most needy.
Claire Ewing, Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament.
Politics is everywhere and everything but young people don't see that...if you want it then you'll fight for it...you need to believe in yourself and believe in what you're doing.
The photography in the exhibition is by the Scottish Parliament's official photographers Andy Cowan and Adam Elder and the interviews were carried out by freelance oral historian Catherine O'Byrne.
 | Forgotten Carols With The Feral Choir This beautiful and atmospheric concert has become an essential part of Dumfries and Galloway's winter celebrations. It features "forgotten" carols originating from Britain's rich folk traditions. The performance is woven together with readings of contemporary poetry and prose. Light refreshments. |
Tickets £8.00
Spaces are limited, tickets are available in advance from Dumfries Museum, open 10am-1pm, 2-5pm Tuesday - Saturday from October 1 2010 onwards. Tel 01387 253374. Email dumfries.museum@dumgal.gov.uk
October School Holiday Activities
2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, and this is the theme of our family workshops. We will be exploring the huge variety of animals, plants and habitats that exist all over the world in an effort to understand the vital role that biodiversity plays in sustaining life on Earth.
Admission is free to all workshops. Unless otherwise stated booking is required, and spaces are limited. Please reserve a place by telephoning Dumfries Museum on 01387 253374. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Please wear old clothes – workshops will be messy!
 | (no booking required) A chance to discover the timbers, trees and woodlands of the region. This exhibition stars the native trees that play an important part in the story of Dumfries and Galloway's past, present and future. Follow the Gallery Tree Investigation, test your powers of observation with our Tree Quiz, and try the Harry Potter Challenge! |
(booking required)
Aerial Acrobatics!
6.30pm – 8.30pm Tuesday 12 October
Family games and craft activities, followed by a gentle walk along the banks of the River Nith looking for bats, the evening wizards of the air, and other more earthbound wildlife. You will be amazed at what is going on right in the middle of the town – once you take the time to look out for it! With Tom Henry, Countryside Ranger for Nithsdale.
 | (booking required) Which wood is best for making what? Harry Potter and his friends have wands made from branches of holly, hawthorn, oak, willow, ash, mahogany, yew, elder and many other trees. Come along and explore the various qualities and many uses of the trees that grow around us. With Tom Henry, Countryside Ranger for Nithsdale. |
 | (no booking required) Decorate colourful leaves and use them to create your own wand. Then use it to help the Spirit of the Woods tell exciting stories of the forest and the creatures that live in it. With storyteller Anne Errington. |
For further information on any of the exhibitions please contact the museum. If you have any special access requirements please get in touch with the museum in advance of your visit and we will do our best to meet your needs.
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