Museum Socials
Museum Socials are free sessions for anyone living with dementia, their relatives, friends and supporters.
Our Socials have been running since October 2015 and are a partnership with the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Library of Scotland.
You can read more about Museum Socials in this blog post.
Museum Socials create a friendly environment where everyone is welcome and all contributions are valued. They are suitable for first-time visitors and for those who might not regularly come to the museum, as well as people who have always loved visiting.
Each month has a different theme. Our next Social is being announced soon!
It’s the highlight of her week… the variety of Friday activities are right up her street. It’s a fabulous program doing really important work and definitely contributing greatly to my Mum’s mental health and wellbeing.
Julie Baikie
Museum Socials on film
Watch a short film to get a flavour of what a Social at the National Museum of Scotland is like.
Our Socials programme was a finalist in Scotland's Dementia Awards 2017, together with the National Galleries of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, for Best Dementia Friendly Community Initiative.
We were nominated by Julie Baikie whose mum, Rae, has been coming to the Socials every week for the last year.
Upcoming events at our museums
- Event
Magic Carpet Explorers
Mon 3 Feb - Mon 17 Mar 2025, 10:30 or 14:00Introduces your little one to the wonderful galleries in the museum at our interactive Magic Carpet Explorers sessions. - Event
Relaxed Magic Carpet
24 Feb - 24 Mar 2025, two time slots: 10:30 - 11:15, 14:00 - 14:45Join us for a relaxed Magic Carpet session as we explore the museum through interactive songs, rhymes, and sensory play. - Event
Museum Late: Big Burns Ceilidh
Fri 24 Jan 2025, 19:30 - 22:30Join us to celebrate Burns Night with a traditional Scottish ceilidh in the Grand Gallery, plus activities throughout our galleries.Sold out