Hunterian hosts Burns Night at the Museum

Children and their families are being invited to a special 'Burns Night at the Museum' at the University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum on Sunday, 27 January, 2019.

The Night at the Museum: Burns on Stage programme has been created to attract new younger audiences to the works of Robert Burns.

The event being held at The Hunterian is inspired by the University’s research, historic collections and memorabilia on Scotland’s national bard.

The University has always had close links with Robert Burns and today, its Centre for Robert Burns Studies is the world’s only research unit dedicated to the study of Scotland’s national bard.

Night at the Museum: Burns on Stage, starting at 4.30pm until 7.30pm, will feature fun pop-up activities and fabulous entertainment suited to children and their families.

Professor Kirsteen McCue said:

'To mark Robert Burns birthday on January 25, we decided this year to create a special family friendly event to allow children and young people to learn more about Scotland’s National Bard.

'Burns isn’t just about haggis, neeps and tatties and we want to engage with our younger Scots to allow them to celebrate our bard with a Burns Night at the Museum of music, song and theatre. We hope that it will be a great event for everyone to enjoy.'

Director of The Hunterian, Steph Scholten said:

'The Hunterian is delighted to host another Night at the Museum, this time celebrating Scotland’s national poet. I look forward to welcoming everyone to this very special event and offering our visitors of all ages the chance to experience our wonderful museum and the works of Robert Burns.’

The University of Glasgow has received support as part of the Scotland’s Winter Festivals programme of events to showcase this superb free family event at The Hunterian.

Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development Ben Macpherson, said:

'Burns Night is one of Scotland’s most well-known and best loved annual celebrations, enjoyed by millions around the world. Each year it is a chance for us to come together to celebrate Burns’ poetry and affirm some of our country’s most important values – fairness, equality and internationalism.

'Every year, Scottish Winter Festivals welcome hundreds of thousands of people from far and wide, who come to Scotland to celebrate St Andrew’s Day, Hogmanay and Burns Night, significantly boosting the economy and engaging with our diverse communities.

'The festivals are an occasion to showcase our unique, world-class tourism assets to a global audience and I am pleased that the Scottish Government is supporting these celebrations across the country.'

Tickets are still available and can be booked online via Bookitbee


Notes to Editors

For more information please contact Liz Buie in the University of Glasgow Communications and Public Affairs Office on 0141 330 2702 or email liz.buie@glasgow.ac.uk

Night at the Museum: Burns on Stage
Sunday 27 January 2019
4.30pm – 7.30pm
Hunterian Museum
Admission free - booking required for entry. Tickets can be booked on https://event.bookitbee.com/20612/night-at-the-museum-burns-on-stage

Centre for Robert Burns Studies - The University of Glasgow is home to the biggest concentration of Robert Burns experts in the world, based in the Centre for Robert Burns Studies. The Centre for Robert Burns Studies was established in July 2007. Its mission is the development of research, scholarship and teaching in the area of Robert Burns, his cultural period and related literature.

Scotland’s Winter Festivals is a Scottish Government initiative delivered in partnership with VisitScotland and a wide range of other organisations. Through the celebration of our three national days – St Andrews Day, Hogmanay and Burns Night. Scotland’s Winter Festivals aims to boost Scotland's economy and international profile and also enhance community engagement through a programme of funded and partner events.

The Hunterian is one of the world's leading University museums and one of Scotland’s greatest cultural assets. Built on Dr William Hunter’s founding bequest, The Hunterian collections include scientific instruments; outstanding Roman artefacts from the Antonine Wall; major natural and life sciences holdings; Hunter’s own extensive anatomical teaching collections and a distinguished public art collection.

First published: 24 January 2019