The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry: East Lothian Safari

09 Jul 2024

10th Anniversary Celebration!

The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry’s world premiere exhibition was held in Prestonpans ten years ago this June.

To celebrate this milestone, they have partnered with East Lothian Council’s museums and libraries to present a special multi-venue exhibition which embeds the tapestry into the communities of its home county.

Selections of panels, in country groupings, will be displayed at 17 venues around East Lothian, including John Muir’s Birthplace.

Where the Light Enters You

01 May 2024
Where The Light Enters You: exploring loss and longing in local landscape, with words and images by Vicky Allen
✨ Wednesday 1st May – Sunday 2nd June
???? Wed-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm
☀️ John Muir’s Birthplace
This exhibition is a search for hope amidst the lament around our changing climate and how it is impacting us. From contemplating a changing landscape to noticing the small beauties found all around us, art and words combine to invite us to be attentive to our shared environment with a particular and very local focus.
The title of the exhibition is drawn from Rumi’s famous poem:
“I said: what about my eyes?
He said: Keep them on the road.
I said: What about my passion?
He said: Keep it burning.
I said: What about my heart?
He said: Tell me what you hold inside it?
I said: Pain and sorrow.
He said: Stay with it. The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”

City Slickers in a Smart Countryside

02 Apr 2024

We are opening back up for the summer with a photography exhibition of images taken along the John Muir Way by Sharon McMenemy Khan/4 Pegs Gallery. Celebrating 10 years of the John Muir Way.

“When you’re preparing for the John Muir Way, you focus on navigating: distances, signposts, gradients. Once you start riding along the path, you begin to relax and enjoy the countryside. You disconnect from everyday life and connect with the history of the people and the place. It’s a heart-warming journey that connects you to nature.”

The photographs are taken at different viewpoints from Falkirk to Dunbar.

Nature writing workshop

13 Mar 2024

We are really excited to be hosting a workshop with experienced writer and facilitator Elspeth Wilson. Join Elspeth for a relaxed, creative session on writing about the natural world. This will be a supportive space where all abilities and confidence levels are welcome!

  • 2-4pm (including a break)
  • Thursday 28th March
  • Dunbar Town House
  • Free to attend

To book please contact John Muir’s Birthplace at museumseast@eastlothian.gov.uk or on 01368 865899. Booking is essential as places are limited. Do feel free to get in touch or pop in if you have any questions.

Elspeth Wilson is a writer and poet who is interested in exploring the limitations and possibilities of the body through writing, as well as writing about joy and happiness from a marginalised perspective. Her nature writing has been shortlisted for Canongate’s Nan Shepherd Prize and Penguin’s Write Now scheme. Her debut poetry pamphlet, Too Hot to Sleep, is published by Written Off Publishing and was shortlisted for the Saltire Society’s 2023 Poetry Book of the Year Award. Her debut novel, These Mortal Bodies, is forthcoming with Simon and Schuster in 2025. She can usually be found in or near the sea.

The workshop is part of the Scottish Library and Information Council‘s ‘Shelf Life’ project promoting climate engagement across libraries – we’re happy to be sharing it with East Lothian Library Services!

We are hiring (again)!

12 Jan 2024

We are delighted to say that East Lothian Council Museums Service are recruiting Seasonal Museum Assistants to work with us from April – September in 2024. The closing date for applications is Sunday 28th January.

We are looking for people with enthusiasm, flexibility, great communication and organisational skills and a passion for delivering great customer service to join our team to help visitors get the most from their visit to our museums. Museum Assistants open and close our museums, welcome visitors to our venues, answer enquiries and make sure that everyone has an enjoyable and safe visit. They operate our shops, assist with school and other groups, activities, events and exhibitions.

We operate four museums and have a range of shift patterns available (including at John Muir’s Birthplace).

For more information on the individual posts, the role and how to apply take a look on MyJobScotland here.

Call for exhibitions

03 Jan 2024

We would like to invite exhibitors from across the UK to be part of a ‘Climate Call to Action’. Combining the best in visual art with a passion for inspiring climate action, we plan to hold a series of exhibitions from April 2024 to encourage climate action.

We welcome entries from amateurs or professionals working across a diversity of art forms, including artists, photographers, makers, crafters and community groups.

? opportunity to host meet the artist sessions and workshops

? Dunbar High Street location with 10m wall space and case

? expressions of interest by 31st January 2024 to John Muir’s Birthplace,126 High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ, museumseast@eastlothian.gov.uk, 01368 8659899.

Please don’t hesitate to be in touch with any further queries. We’re open to both first-time and seasoned exhibitors – no question is too silly!

We are hiring!

23 Dec 2023
We are looking for a part-time permanent Museum Assistant (17.5 hours a week) to join the team at John Muir’s Birthplace.
 
We are looking for someone with:
  • enthusiasm
  • flexibility
  • great communication skills
  • great organisation skills
  • and a passion for delivering excellent customer service
If you think you have the skills to help visitors get the most from their visit take a look at the full job advert on myjobscotland at https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/east-lothian-council/jobs/museum-assistant-john-muirs-birthplace-dunbar-361748.
 
The deadline for applications is 7th January 2024.

Festive closures

21 Dec 2023

John Muir’s Birthplace will be closed from 25th December 2023 to 2nd January 2024 for a festive break. We are open up until Christmas Eve for all your last minute Christmas shopping needs. If you are planning on visiting us on the 24th please note that we’ll be closing at 4pm rather than our usual 5pm.

We are looking forward to welcoming you all back to the museum on the 3rd of January!

We want to say a huge thank you to all our visitors that made this year so special – John Muir Way walkers, local primary schools doing their John Muir Awards, pilgrims from the US, and all the local families who pop in for a nosey (and sometimes just to use the loo)!

Some of our highlights from this year are:

Who knows what 2024 has in store? In the meantime thank you for all your continued support, and we hope you all have a peaceful winter break.

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Recent News

The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry: East Lothian Safari
09 Jul 2024
Where the Light Enters You
01 May 2024
City Slickers in a Smart Countryside
02 Apr 2024
Nature writing workshop
13 Mar 2024
We are hiring (again)!
12 Jan 2024

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