The Museum of Childhood is a very special place, and now they have a very special exhibition which runs until 9 December 2018.
Entitled Growing Up with Books it tells the stories that all children have loved for centuries. There is Peter Pan and Robinson Crusoe and a selection of the 15,000 books which the Museum has in its collection.
There are some really well known characters among the exhibits, but perhaps the most poignant of all, are the inscriptions and personal messages inside some of the books.
There are flowers inside one copy of Little Women which makes you wonder where they were picked, and who the owner was. The much-loved books in the free exhibition will lead you into a world of stories.
There are five themes in the exhibition : Learning to Read, Worlds of Knowledge, Shaping Identities, Worlds of Imagination and The Lives of Children’s Books.
Alongside the exhibition there is a programme of events for all ages. Details are below.
Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “This display celebrates that one childhood activity that never gets old – the joy of a good book. A love of reading is developed at a young age and travels with you, and these books have clearly been treasured and on a few journeys!
“As the first exhibition to open at the newly refurbished Museum of Childhood, Growing Up With Books is a great opportunity for visitors to explore the new ground floor space before enjoying a trip through centuries of children’s literature. I am particularly pleased that from 1 June all of the Council’s Museums and Galleries will be open seven days a week, which means everyone will be able to enjoy the new space and this exhibition all summer long.”
Lyn Stevens, Museum of Childhood Curator said: “This project has been a wonderful opportunity to explore the Museum of Childhood’s book collection and reveal to our visitors the treasures that have been found. We have selected a fantastic range of books for the exhibition that will let visitors reminisce about some of their favourite stories and also learn how over the years children’s books have evolved and been used.”
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
Friday 6 July, 1pm – 4pm
Your Favourite Book Character
Bring your favourite book to the museum and Broons and Oor Wullie artist Stephen White will draw you a special portrait of your favourite character. Free drop-in no need to book.
Saturday 7 July, 10.30am – 12.30 pm or 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Bookmark Beasts
Come along and make beautiful bookmarks from cardboard and wool to create fantastical beasts and creatures to live in the pages of your books. Decorate your bookmarks with wool tails or fire-breath!
With artist Katie Forrester. Free drop-in no need to book.
Saturday 22 September, 1pm – 4pm
Peter Pan
Artist Stephen White was creator of Peter Pan the Graphic Novel , Join Stephen in the museum to watch him draw some characters and if you are very lucky he will personalise and sign one of his drawings for you. Free drop-in no need to book.
Saturday 22 September, 10.30am – 12.30 pm or 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Marvellous Puppets
Bring your favourite characters to life with artist Lauren McLaughlin. Using a range of recycled materials, you can create and take home your very own puppet inspired by our Growing up with Books Exhibition. Free drop-in no need to book.
Saturday 13 October, 10.30am – 12.30 pm or 1.30pm – 3.30pm
The Spooky Enchanted Forest
Inspired by all the traditional spooky stories about ghosts and ghouls, join artist Melanie Ross in the Museum to create your own terrifying ghosts and monsters that live in the forest, by using, felt, paper and card to show your journey exploring and investigating the spooky woods. Free drop-in no need to book.
Saturday 3 November, 10.30am – 12.30 pm or 1.30pm – 3.30pm
The Biggest Explosion
Inspired by all the stories of Bonfire Night, join artist Melanie Ross in the Museum to experiment with different textures and mixed media to create beautiful bonfire and firework pictures telling us the story of Guy Fawkes. Free drop-in no need to book.
Sunday 19 August, 1pm – 3pm and 3.30 – 4.30pm
Puppets and Prose
Inspired by the Growing with Books exhibition, join storyteller Julie Bannatyne to hear some enchanting children’s prose brought to life with puppetry and props.
Free drop in, no need to book.
Saturday 8 September, 1pm – 3pm and 3.30 – 4.30pm
Magical Victorian Fairy Tales
Join storyteller Nicola Wright to hear some enchanting stories and discover tales relating to Catherine Sinclair. An Edinburgh born writer of children’s fiction. Nicola well also share some Victorian fairy tales and stories linked to all our favourite childhood games, toys. Free drop in, no need to book.
Saturday 1 December, 1pm – 3pm and 3.30 – 4.30pm
Musical Stories
To celebrate Bookweek Scotland, join storyteller Daniel Allison to hear some captivating tales brought to life with music and inspired by the traditional tales we all know and loved as children. Free drop in, no need to book.
Family Performance
We are delighted to have Brymore Productions in the Museum.
Sunday 12 August, 1pm and 3pm
The Bureau of Untold Stories
In sock drawers, notebooks, and the minds of people just like you, are tales of significant importance, waiting for discovery. The inspired inspectors who uncover these fables are members of an elite unit known as the Bureau of Untold Stories, and these are the stories you’ve shared.
Unravel the hidden stories of the audience with our inspectors as they utilise live sound effects, improvisation and their unconventional storytelling skills to immerse you into the excitement of an old radio mystery. Free event, but booking essential. To book, please contact the Museum of Childhood reception on 0131 529 4142 or visit www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Edinburgh International Storytelling Festival
Saturday 20 October, 1.30pm – 4.30pm (stories throughout the afternoon)
Once Upon a Book
Scottish Storytelling Centre & Museum of Childhood
Old books come back to life as storytellers guide you through the world of children literature in a vibrant afternoon of stories for all ages. Inspired by the exhibition “Growing up with Books”, the event will feature an array of Scottish storytellers. With sessions for different age ranges, with accompanying adults. Free Event but booking is essential. More information will be available in July on www.tracscotland.org and on www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk . Tickets bookable from September on www.tracscotland.org.
For Adults
Fridays 28 September, 19 October, 9 and 30 November 2018, 2pm – 4pm
Growing up with Books – and writing your own!
£80 for 4 sessions.
Join our friendly new writing group for adults led by award-winning author Regi Claire.
Develop your writing skills within the unique surroundings of the Museum of Childhood and enjoy access to our temporary exhibition. Everyone welcome, from beginners to already published authors.
To book, contact the museum of Childhood reception on 0131 529 4142. Please note this is a 4 week course and payment is in full at booking.
Adult Creative Workshops
Saturday 18 August 10.30 am – 3.30pm.
Tunnel Books: Illusions and Stories £30
Create your very own tunnel book and capture the stories that sparked your childhood imagination in a 3d optical illusion art piece. Transform old books or create your very own corrugated tunnel book sculpture encapsulating layered worlds and stories to peer into and escape with.
This workshop aims to explore your experiences and memories of childhood stories and the lasting and unique way in which these experiences can stay with us into adulthood. Tunnel books date from the mid-18th Century and were inspired by theatrical stage sets. They were often created to capture definitive events in history and kept as narratives of cultural happenings. With artist Rachael Forbes. Please bring along your favourite childhood books. Booking is essential, to book please contact the Museum of Childhood reception on 0131 529 4142 or visit www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Saturday 1 September, 10.30am – 3.30 pm
Stitching Stories £30
Explore the potential of applique and hand embroidery to create your very own stitched narrative inspired by your childhood memories of characters, places and worlds discovered in stories. Imbue your stitching with personal meanings and create a nostalgic collage of fabrics, paper, embroidery and found objects to create your unique narrative.
This workshop aims to explore your personal experiences and memories of childhood stories and the lasting and unique way in which these experiences can stay with us into adulthood. With artist Rachael Forbes. Please bring along your favourite childhood books, and any personal items or memories you would like to stitch into your work. Booking is essential, to book please contact the Museum of Childhood reception on 0131 529 4142 or visit www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Venue Details:
Address: Museum of Childhood, 42 high Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TG
Telephone: 0131 529 4142
Website: www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Twitter: @EdinCulture
Facebook: www.facebook.com/museumofedinburgh
Instagram: instagram.com/museumsgalleriesedinburgh
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday 12pm – 5pm
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