Explore Deaf history | Walter Geikie
British Sign Language (BSL) presenter Trudi Collier and Senior Curator Helen Smailes explore the fascinating story of Edinburgh-born artist, Walter Geikie.
Take part in an activity, read an artist blog, listen to a music concert recorded in the gallery or find resources to help you make the most from a visit to the gallery.
The National Galleries of Scotland is a place where everyone can come and learn, be creative and make their own connections to the nation's art collection. We programme a range of inspiring talks, workshops, concerts, exhibitions and more - designed for all ages, abilities, and experiences.
Watch/Listen
Video and audio to spark curiosity, lose yourself in and hear from different perspectives.
Music at National Galleries of Scotland
A series of short performances recorded in our gallery spaces, brought to you by our partners Live Music Now Scotland, in response to artworks in the collection.
Opening talk | Alberta Whittle
To mark the opening of her major solo exhibition at Modern One artist Alberta Whittle spoke to chief curator Lucy Askew.
Queer Lives & Art: 40 Years of Lavender Menace
Lavender Menace opened in Edinburgh in 1982 and was Scotland’s first LGBT bookshop. It is now a queer events space and archive. We invited founders Sigrid Nielsen and Bob Orr to be part of a panel discussion.
Read
Dive deeper into artworks, gain insights from artists and curators and explore past performances and exhibitions.
Read more
Remaking our histories | Scotland, Slavery and Empire
Lisa Williams takes as a starting point a selection of portraits of famous Scots, and considers in detail how integral the Transatlantic slave trade system was to Scotland’s development during this period.
2020: Stories, Portraits, Visions
Last year we invited you to send us your 2020: Stories, Portraits and Visions to be included in You Are Here, a new display in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Explore the entries in this shared story of 2020.
Scottish identity: Who decides who we are?
This resource invites teachers to use images from the National Galleries of Scotland collection, such as Monarch of the Glen, as tools to encourage Creativity Skills and interdisciplinary learning.
A Year of The Drawing Room online
Over the last few months of the pandemic lockdowns, The Drawing Room Kitchen Table has been a vital lifeline for connecting audiences to artists and one another through a shared creative experience.
Take part
Join us for one of our live workshops, concerts, talks, tours or storytelling sessions - online or in person. There's something for everyone.
Families
We run regular events for families of all ages and stages - both online and at the galleries. Our artist-led sessions are confidence-boosting, interactive, free and fun for the whole family.
Access events
We run regular events for visitors with specific access needs. This includes Deaf-led British Sign Language (BSL) tours, tours and workshops for visually impaired visitors and regular and special events for anyone affected by dementia.
Adults
Our events for adults include a regular programme of talks and lectures, live music performances and our Drawing Room sessions which encourage you to explore the range of possibilities within contemporary drawing practice.
Spin
Are you challenged, inspired or mystified by contemporary art? Then join our monthly art discussion group. We organise a year of informal discussions with artists and curators, providing out of hours access to galleries and studio spaces across Edinburgh.
Visit us
We welcome group visits to the galleries. Be inspired by the international art collection and special exhibitions, take part in activities and explore the resources available.
School visits
Inspire creative thinking by booking workshops and self-led / supported visits that enhance the 3-18 curriculum and support health & wellbeing.
Community & access groups
We invite community and access groups to explore Scotland’s national collection for free through guided or self-led visits and free entry to all ticketed exhibitions.
Adults
Groups of 10 or more adults can book self-led visits to view the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.
Enhance your visit
Make the most of your day in the gallery with these trails, audio guides and resources.
Smartify
Discover the stories behind the art with Smartify, the free informative art app. Download before your visits and enjoy access additional information about the artworks on display and audio guides using their own phone.
Audio described tour| Sculpture park
Join artist Juliana Capes as she takes you on a touch tour of the sculpture park at the Modern.
Family activities
We have a wealth of activities for you to enjoy including trails, sensory stories and fun activities.
How to look at art
We all see things differently. These resources offer simple prompts to start a conversation about any artwork, with learners of all ages.
Learning & Engagement contact details
If you're looking for more information on our learning programmes, please get in touch with our team who will be happy to advise and help plan your group visit.
+44 (0)131 624 6410