Your adventure starts here!
For one night only in May, we’re opening up Kinneil Museum in Bo’ness. There will also be activities at Kinneil House and within the surrounding Kinneil Estate.
- Come along to the Museum any time between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Friday 16 May for entertainment, activities – and free goodie bags (subject to availability).
- Neighbouring Kinneil House will be open for free tours for the first hour – from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. (last admission at 6.30 p.m.). Don’t be late! The House boasts some of the best renaissance wall paintings in Scotland.
- Kinneil Youth Band will be playing outside the Museum around 7 p.m. The band were a real hit last year.
- Inside the museum kids can try the new back packs – or dress up in Roman gear.
- We’ll end the night with a bat/nature walk around the surrounding Kinneil Estate (be ready to leave from the museum for around 8.45 p.m.)
The event is part of the Festival of Museums and Museums at Night celebrations. This year there’s also a natural theme to tie in with the local Nature Fest and the launch of the John Muir Way, which runs through Kinneil Estate.
IN DETAIL
KINNEIL HOUSE – open between 6 and 7 p.m. on Friday 16 May 2014. Boasts some of the best renaissance wall paintings in Scotland – and reputedly a ghost. The evening event is part of a series of FREE open events at the House in 2014. Find out more about the House and other things to see at Kinneil at http://www.kinneil.org.uk/attractions
KINNEIL MUSEUM – open between 6 and 9 p.m. on Friday 16 May 2014. The museum is located in the estate’s former stable block (located right in front of the House). It boasts hands-on displays, dress up clothes and audio visual displays. For the Festival of Museums, visitors will be able to claim a free goodie bag (subject to availability) and even try on some of the dress-up clothes donated by The Friends of Kinneil.
KINNEIL YOUTH BAND – the stars of previous Night at Kinneil events are back for 2014 to entertain visitors. Last year the band played outside Kinneil House and drew visitors to the estate to hear what all the fuss was about. Enjoy them outside the museum (or inside if the weather is poor) from 7 p.m. Follow the band on Twitter @kinneilband
BAT WALK – The special event on May 16 2014 will end with nature/bat walk around Kinneil Estate. We’ll be leaving the Museum around 8.45 p.m. – so make sure you get there in time. Falkirk Council ranger Lesley Sweeney will take us on a nature walk around the estate. Then, as dusk arrives, we’ll look for bats. The event should be completed by around 10 p.m.
Participants in the walk should:
- bring warm clothing;
- take a torch;
- wear stout footwear; and
- bring along a warm drink (if you wish).
Anyone under 16 MUST be accompanied by an adult. Sadly dogs can’t come on the bat walk. Please note that if there’s heavy rain – the bat walk won’t take place.
Timings are approximate. A big thank to you Falkirk Council for helping to arrange the walk.
The Kinneil event has been organised by The Friends of Kinneil in association with Falkirk Community Trust (which runs the museum), Historic Scotland (which cares for the House), and Falkirk Council (for helping run the bat/nature walk). Supporting us are the great teams at Museums and Galleries Scotland, running Festival of Museums and Culture 24, behind Museums at Night. The event is complemented by other events at Callendar House, Falkirk – as part of the Your Adventure Starts Here! mini festival.
- Night at Kinneil House and Museum is just one of many exciting events taking place as part of Festival of Museums between 16 and 18 May 2014. Visit www.festivalofmuseums.com for full event listings.
- Festival of Museums is coordinated by Museums Galleries Scotland. Museums Galleries Scotland is the National Development Body for Scotland’s museums and galleries. For more information visit www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk
- Festival of Museums is a celebration of Scotland’s culture and coincides with Europe-wide museum events such as Museums at Night.
- Museums at Night is the annual after-hours festival of arts, culture and heritage when hundreds of museums, galleries, libraries, archives and heritage sites open their doors for special evening events. It takes place over the weekend of Thursday 15 to Saturday 17, 2014. www.museumsatnight.org.uk
- Culture24 – co-ordinating Museums at Night – is a non-profit cultural publishing organisation supporting arts and heritage venues to reach audiences across digital platforms. We collect and share cultural data, publish websites, run the national Museums at Night campaign and lead action research projects. www.WeAreCulture24.org.uk
- Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2011 and 2015, we will invest £1.4 billion of public money from government and an estimated £1 billion from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk
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