Whisper it, but museums just got exciting

With 16th century fashion shows and hands-on fun for children and adults alike, the Festival of Museums aims to get rid of some dusty preconceptions

Cavernous halls, old bones and assorted very ancient things accompanied by long-winded explanations or, worse, no descriptions at all - isn't that what museums tend to be about?

As for breakdancing, the latest fashions and encouraging little people to run around in strange outfits shouting "Aargh!", well surely museums are far too stiff and sensible for any of THAT.

Yet some of the area's less familiar museums are preparing to shed any remaining vestiges of that dated image and open their doors to the kinds of quirky events that may have unsuspecting visitors wondering if they've come to the right place.

For the first time, a string of smaller museums and galleries across Lothian and beyond will take part in a national Festival of Museums which aims to blitz that image and usher in a new generation of visitors inspired by a weekend of hands-on entertainment from dance to fashion, music to story-telling.

For those who harbour thoughts of museums as places of hushed study and quiet contemplation, there's a 16th-century fashion show, a tea party, jitterbug and jiving. And if, after that, anyone still prefers something more sedate, there's a prized chance to gaze upon one of the finest collections of sculpture casts in the UK.

Scores of venues across Scotland will take part, some throwing their doors open in the evening when museums are typically closed, and each hoping to encourage us to rethink our impressions of the nation's museums.

And because the larger and better known museums - such as the Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street - aren't involved, smaller venues, such as the new Musselburgh Museum, will have a perfect chance to show what they have to offer.

The event is being spearheaded by umbrella organisation Museum Galleries Scotland and features an eclectic range of concerts, talks, workshops, performances and exhibitions, many of them free.

There are 14 separate events in Lothian alone and the organisation's chief executive, Joanne Orr, says it all provides an ideal chance for venues to shed any lasting negative images.

"This new festival for Scotland is all about showcasing the diversity of museums and galleries across the country and demonstrating that they are fantastic places to visit, year round.

"Many people have a preconceived idea of what a museum is like and this festival is all about showing locals and tourists alike that these are exciting and vibrant places to visit.

"The (nationwide] programme features around 80 events, ranging from fashion shows to art events, cookery challenges to footballing fun, and it has been really inspiring to see so many museums and galleries working together to place their region, and Scotland, firmly on the international cultural map.

"There are a number of stand-out events, especially across Edinburgh and the Lothians, and with such a varied programme there will be something for everyone to enjoy."

Among the pick locally is a Mad Hatter's Tea Party at Lauriston Castle with puppets, cakes and treasure hunt, and a fascinating delve into the relationship between sport and science at Surgeons' Hall Museum in Nicolson Street, which promises to reveal the secrets of the footballers' magic sponge.

For those who still aren't convinced that museums have fully loosened their stays and finally relaxed, three East Lothian venues plan to slip on their dancing shoes for a string of high-energy events which aim to bring history to life through the dancehall.

Events there begin on Friday at Dunbar's Castle Park, when the era of dodgy fashion and mullet hairstyles - the Eighties - is revisited with music, breakdancing and visitors encouraged to dress from the decade.

Next day, at the recently-opened Musselburgh Museum, the era shifts to Forties tea dances and wartime glamour, then on Sunday at Prestongrange Museum the opening of the venue's new Sixties' style living room exhibition will be accompanied by beehives, the twist and Summer of Love maxi skirts and psychedelic prints.

Sarah Cowie, education officer at East Lothian Museums, says the dance theme isn't simply fun. Instead. it's a way to encourage young people to engage with bygone eras and for an older generation to remember past times.

"Going to the dancing is a fun thing to do. You get dressed up and everyone can relate to it," she explains. "Kids can come along, learn how people dressed, how they behaved and how they had fun, and older people can enjoy remembering how it was.

"It's about giving people something 'active' to do when they come to visit, rather than just look at what's there.

"It's also about keeping up with the other attractions around us, so people know that they can come here and do things that are entertaining too," she adds. "We're lucky because our museums are in communities and the people there have a real connection with them already. But we're aware we have to work that bit harder to encourage people from outside to come and visit."

Other venues will give visitors a chance to gaze at exhibits not typically on show. The Edinburgh Cast Collection contains Athenian casts donated by Lord Elgin and others purchased in the 1820s in Rome, Florence and Paris. Together they make up the finest collection of its kind in the UK.

It's normally used by art and classics students. However, on Saturday, Edinburgh College of Art's main building at Lauriston Place will open to give us all a chance to learn more about the variety of classical friezes, anatomical figures and sculptures.

There'll be a chance to find out more about the works from artist and tutor Joan Smith before attempting to create your own work of art with sketchpad and pencil.

At around the same time, Dr Glenys Davies will guide visitors through the historical aspects of the collection while younger visitors can discover the fascinating stories of the ancient heroes who have inspired artists down the centuries.

From the Ancient Greeks to modern fashion and the City Art Centre in Market Street, where one of Scotland's leading milliners, William Chambers, will unveil some of his latest fashions in a Festival event inspired by one of the gallery's most popular artistic themes, hats.

The Glasgow-based designer says museums played a key role in his development as a young artist and agrees it is crucial to continue to encourage a new generation of visitors.

"When I was at school, I remember going to the Scotland Street Museum in Glasgow and loving it.

"But quite often people think of museums as being full of just old things that don't mean much to them.

"They're not," he insists.

"The thing is museums have to work very hard these days to capture people when they are young to make them want to come back when they're older."

Dynamic, not dino

FROM fashion Renaissance style to tea on the lawn, jitterbugs and digging for wartime victory, the Festival of Museums appears to have it all... and not a dinosaur bone in sight.

The programme runs from Friday to Sunday at venues across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Highlights include a celebration of the 70th anniversary of Edinburgh's Polish School of Medicine and a rare chance to explore St Cecilia's Hall Museum of Musical Instruments in the Cowgate, where visitors can handle the unusual instruments and create their own music.

There's Victorian era family fun at the Scottish Mining Museum and a wartime-inspired programme of activities for youngsters at Livingston's Almond Valley Heritage Centre.

The Renaissance fashion show at Trinity Apse, off the Royal Mile, puts models into 16th century styles and the Museum of Fire in Lauriston Place offers a chance to learn more about one of our most vital services.

For more details of Festival of Museum events, go to www.festivalofmuseums.com. Most events are free, some must be booked.