Grab a bag and join us for a beach clean!

We are partnering with Youth 1st and Climate Action Fife for a beach clean at Castle Street Beach. We will have litter pickers, bags and clipboards but if you have your own please bring them as numbers will be limited.

Unlike other litter picks you might have done we will be collecting a survey of the litter collected. These surveys are the most important part of the day other than having some fun on the beach with like minded people.

The survey data will be collated by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). MCS have has been running beach cleans and their flagship event, Great British Beach Clean, for 25 years. Every year, staff and volunteers head to beaches up and down the coast to collect litter and record data about what they find, contributing to citizen science. So far 319 tonnes of litter at the Great British Beach Clean events have been collected. This informs various projects MCS are involved with, and is shared with the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) contributing to a worldwide report on litter levels. All this data has helped inform new policies to tackle beach litter and plastic pollution in the UK such as the plastic bag charge, a ban on microplastics in personal care products and better wet wipe labelling.

Sunday 24th September 2.30pm - 4.00pm

Meet at the museum

What to bring: We’d recommend you pack a rucksack with a few essentials like sunscreen, waterproofs, hand sanitiser, and perhaps some snacks and a drink (in a reusable bottle, of course).

What to wear: If you’re picking up litter with your hands it’s worth wearing a strong pair of gloves - like gardening gloves - just to make sure you’re protected. Sturdy shoes are a must for protection too.

Under 16s: Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult

We’re thrilled to be taking part in Maths Week Scotland 2023!

We’ll be launching and updated “Kipper the Cat’s Maths Trail” to use in the galleries. Join Kipper as he embarks on his first fishing trip, solving puzzles along the way and explore the different ways in which fishermen use maths both in the past and today. Suitable for ages 8-12.

Available from 25th September until stocks last!

Calling all Teachers! We also have a schools self-led version of the trail so why not visit the museum with your class and find out how maths was important to the lives and livelyhoods of fishermen. Contact us to arrange your visit.

We’ll also be taking part in Maths Week Scotland’s #ShowYourWorking campaign on Twitter to highlight how maths is used in all jobs, including those in the Museums sector. Follow the hashtag to inspire maths-themed curiosity!

Join us for this relaxed Friday night out with a twist!

Love art but are not an expert? Find art fun and therapeutic? - you are in good company!

Be inspired by the beautiful paintings in our current exhibition and create your own soothing seascape to help you unwind after a long week at work. A relaxed no-pressure event where you can create as much art as you want and just have a blether with your friends.

Refreshments and all art materials are provided.

Friday 29th September 7.00pm - 8.30pm

Tickets £5 to cover costs of materials

BOOK HERE

Book in advance (some on the door tickets are available) For more information please contact Julia Branch on 01333 310628 or julia@scotfishmuseum.org.

Free October Half Term Activities

Let’s get crafty this October Half Term! Join us and have some relaxing fun at the museum. Activities and Timings TBC.

Free but donations towards materials always welcome.

Free Halloween Activities

Join us for a spooky Halloween at the Museum!

• Take part in our Pumpkin trail.
• Make your own Kipper the Cat or his friend Sooty the steam drifter Cat - Sunday 29th October, Monday 30th October Times TBC
• Spooky Storytime with Kipper - Sunday 29th October Time TBC

October 2023

Free but donations towards materials always welcome.

The Museum is closed from the 22nd of December for Christmas and New Year.

Best wishes for the festive season from all at the Scottish Fisheries Museum!

We look forward to seeing you again on the 4th of January 2023

Join us at the next stop on the Scottish Fisheries Museum Go Industrial Tour.

From July 2019 to July 2020, as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we will be visiting all Go Industrial museums.

We will bring along some of the most interesting items from our collection that tie in with each host museum. This means no two displays will be completely the same and some will be wildly different.

Almond Valley Heritage Trust

15 – 16 February

From foghorns to lanterns and ganseys to sail canvas, come and see the vast range of interesting items the Scottish Fisheries Museum has to offer.

To keep up with the Go Industrial Tour events and other Scottish Fisheries Museum 50th anniversary plans follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @scotfishmuseum and Instagram: scottishfisheriesmuseum.

Don’t forget to also keep up with Go Industrial on Facebook: GoIndustrialScotland, Twitter: @GoIndustScot and Instagram: goindustrialscotland

POSTPONED In light of the rapidly evolving pandemic of Covid-19

This event will be re-scheduled later in the year

Apologies for any inconvenience

From July 2019 to July 2020, as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we will be visiting all Go Industrial museums.

We will bring along some of the most interesting items from our collection that tie in with each host museum. This means no two displays will be completely the same and some will be wildly different.

Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life

18 - 19 April

From foghorns to lanterns and ganseys to sail canvas, come and see the vast range of interesting items the Scottish Fisheries Museum has to offer.

To keep up with the Go Industrial Tour events and other Scottish Fisheries Museum 50th anniversary plans follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @scotfishmuseum and Instagram: scottishfisheriesmuseum.

Don’t forget to also keep up with Go Industrial on Facebook: GoIndustrialScotland, Twitter: @GoIndustScot and Instagram: goindustrialscotland

Join Leaf Natural Food Wraps at the Scottish Fisheries Museum to design your own beeswax food wrap!

You’ll have the chance to create your own design, making a truly unique food wrap that is not only beautiful, but sustainable, too.

Once you have designed your wrap during the workshop, Leaf Natural Food Wraps will take your creation away, wax it, and post it back to you. This, and refreshments on the night, are all included in the ticket price.

Instead of sending cling-film and other plastics to landfill , wrap your food in your very own, sustainable beeswax wrap!

Minimum age for participants is 14, under 18s accompanied by an adult.

Tickets £10, available on Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/design-a-beeswax-food-wrap-adult-workshop-tickets-89214927249

How do we safeguard the future of our seas?

7—8 pm

30 January 2020

Scottish Fisheries Museum

The seas are under pressure from climate change, pollution, and the many demands we place on them for fishing, energy generation, transport and leisure.

Join experts from Marine Scotland, academic research and maritime industries for a series of short talks and lively debate on the future of our seas.

POSTPONED In light of the rapidly evolving pandemic of Covid-19

This event will be re-scheduled later in the year

Apologies for any inconvenience

As climate change moves to the forefront of people’s mind, The Scottish Fisheries Museum looks at the effects of plastic pollution. We will be showing ‘An Ocean Story’ the latest documentary about plastic pollution from By the Ocean We Unite, an organisation based in the Netherlands.

As well as the film showing there will be a video call Q&A with marine biology expert Marijn van Doorn.

16 April from 6.30pm

£10 admission

Tickets available from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-scottish-fisheries-museum-14477550384

Women in the Fishing Industry

For International Woman’s Day 2020, The Scottish Fisheries Museum are bringing together women from all areas of the fishing industry, from research to boatbuilding, to talk about their research, work and what it is like to be a woman in these industries.

If you are interested in science, boatbuilding or environmental issues and want to network with like-minded women then get involved!

8th March

1- 5pm

Admission Free but ticketed

Tickets available from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-scottish-fisheries-museum-14477550384

POSTPONED In light of the rapidly evolving pandemic of Covid-19

This event will be re-scheduled later in the year

Apologies for any inconvenience

Oh, we do love to be beside the seaside, but so do many other creatures!

Find out what lives under the rocks and in the shallows as we go rock pooling on the beach just opposite the museum.

Friday 10th April

10am – 12pm

Cost: £2 via Museum or Eventbrite

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-scottish-fisheries-museum-14477550384

Age 7+ recommended and children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

POSTPONED In light of the rapidly evolving pandemic of Covid-19

This event will be re-scheduled later in the year

Apologies for any inconvenience

One of Scotland’s best-known sculptors, Will Maclean MBE, RSA. FRSE, will reflect on his childhood in a fishing village in Skye and his time working as a ring-net fisherman.

This experience led to a major bursary in 1973 to study ring-net herring fishing. The resulting Ring-Net Project, a body of over 400 drawings, was exhibited at the Third Eye Centre, Glasgow, from where it toured, and in 1986 at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, where it entered the permanent collection.

The title for this talk “Always Boats and Men “is taken from the poem of that name by the Campbelltown poet Angus Martin who published The Ring Net Fishermen in 1981.

Admission FREE but ticketed

Part of Art UK’s Sculpture Around You programme, supported by the Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture.

POSTPONED In light of the rapidly evolving pandemic of Covid-19

This event will be re-scheduled later in the year

Apologies for any inconvenience

Sculptor Marion Smith will run a free mould-making and plaster-casting workshop at the Scottish Fisheries Museum on Saturday 28th March, 10am to 4pm. The workshop will be inspired by Smith’s own sculpture, The Plough and the Reaper, sited outside of the Baptist Church in Anstruther and a cast of the model for Hew Lorimer’s Our Lady of the Isles in the collection the Scottish Fisheries Museum.

Marion Smith has a wide range of experience running workshops, managing sculpture facilities, working in galleries and teaching in art schools. She has several commissions that are sited locally at Anstruther, Dundee and Loch Leven. She is a member of the Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture and served as its first female Secretary from 2012-18.

Saturday 28th March

10 am - 4 pm

Admission FREE but ticketed

Tickets available from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-scottish-fisheries-museum-14477550384

Part of Art UK’s Sculpture Around You programme, supported by the Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture.

POSTPONED In light of the rapidly evolving pandemic of Covid-19

This event will be re-scheduled later in the year

Apologies for any inconvenience

The Scottish Fisheries Museum brings you a symposium in honour of the late Robert Prescott, gathering like-minded academics to talk about their work.

Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd March

Friday 6-9pm – Welcome Reception and look at Sea Change Exhibition

Saturday 10am – 4:30pm – Full day symposium with keynote from Dan Atkinson

Saturday 6 – 9pm – Dinner at The Bank in Anstruther

Sunday 10:30am – 1pm – Tour of Historic Anstruther Harbour with plaque dedication on the Reaper to Dr Robert Prescott.

£15 (+£25 for Saturday Evening Dinner)

Book through the museum or Eventbrite

POSTPONED In light of the rapidly evolving pandemic of Covid-19

This event will be re-scheduled later in the year

Apologies for any inconvenience

From July 2019 to July 2020, as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we will be visiting all Go Industrial museums.

We will bring along some of the most interesting items from our collection that tie in with each host museum. This means no two displays will be completely the same and some will be wildly different.

https://www.goindustrial.co.uk/museum/discovery-point

11 - 12 April

From foghorns to lanterns and ganseys to sail canvas, come and see the vast range of interesting items the Scottish Fisheries Museum has to offer.

To keep up with the Go Industrial Tour events and other Scottish Fisheries Museum 50th anniversary plans follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @scotfishmuseum and Instagram: scottishfisheriesmuseum.

Don’t forget to also keep up with Go Industrial on Facebook: GoIndustrialScotland, Twitter: @GoIndustScot and Instagram: goindustrialscotland

“Go Industrial”:https://www.goindustrial.co.uk/museum/discovery-point

POSTPONED In light of the rapidly evolving pandemic of Covid-19

This event will be re-scheduled later in the year

Apologies for any inconvenience

From July 2019 to July 2020, as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we will be visiting all Go Industrial museums.

We will bring along some of the most interesting items from our collection that tie in with each host museum. This means no two displays will be completely the same and some will be wildly different.

https://www.goindustrial.co.uk/museum/new-lanark

2 - 3 May

From foghorns to lanterns and ganseys to sail canvas, come and see the vast range of interesting items the Scottish Fisheries Museum has to offer.

To keep up with the Go Industrial Tour events and other Scottish Fisheries Museum 50th anniversary plans follow us on Facebook and Twitter: @scotfishmuseum and Instagram: scottishfisheriesmuseum.

Don’t forget to also keep up with Go Industrial on Facebook: GoIndustrialScotland, Twitter: @GoIndustScot and Instagram: goindustrialscotland

While we are unable to offer our full range of events and activities, we are running a digital learning and engagement programme on our social media channels so please look for @scotfishmuseum on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to see how you can get involved.

Our online exhibition Sea Change also includes lots of ideas for activities, both on and off-line.

Thank-you for your ongoing support - stay safe and well!

To whet your appetite for a visit, let our virtual tour give you a taste of the galleries and displays.

Watch the Virtual Museum Tour video (duration 7 minutes)

Make a Noise for Knitting!

When – Saturday 19th of September from 12 - 12.30

Where - @scotfishmuseum on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

This autumn and winter we will be turning our minds to all things warm and WOOLLY as we celebrate the artful tradition of gansey-knitting in Scotland.

So for Go Industrial Day put your baaaaaack into it and make some noise for ganseys!

Join us online as we tell the story of their origins, purpose and unique patterns to unravel the strong connection between traditional knitting and the Scottish fishing industry.

This is a taster for our Knitting the Herring events programme which will include a combination of virtual webinars, online knitting demonstrations, talks and knit-alongs, storytelling and a Knitted Shoal Exhibition - all to be revealed soon!

Our partner museums at Go Industrial will be active online throughout the day - join in the fun at: https://www.facebook.com/GoIndustrialScotland/

Find Wally in The Scottish Fisheries Museum!

Update: We are extending the Where’s Wally spooky trail to the 20th of December!

This Halloween, Wally, the world’s favourite children’s book character – wearing a red-and-white striped shirt and black-rimmed specs – has been travelling the country, appearing in over 75 museums, including the Scottish Fisheries Museum.

The Where’s Wally? Spooky Museum Search, organised by Walker Books and Kids in Museums, celebrates the release of the new book, Where’s Wally? Spooky Spotlight Search.

As part of your museum visit, come along and hunt for Wally amongst the collections, spell out a spooky phrase and receive a special “I found Wally!” bookmark, as well as the chance to enter the Where’s Wally? and Kids in Museums grand prize draw competition to win an ArtFund Family Membership and a bundle of Where’s Wally? goodies.

The activity trail has been tailored to fully comply with our social distancing measures - please book your visit in advance. If you prefer not to visit in person, for fun online activities, visit https://wally.walker.co.uk/

The Scottish Fisheries Museum have teamed up with Netherlands-based charitable foundation “By the Ocean we Unite” for a special screening.

On the 2nd of October 7pm – 9pm, the Scottish Fisheries Museum invites you to join them for an online watch along of “An Ocean Story”, the feature- length documentary by Sander Van Weert featuring National Geographic explorer-in-residence and President/Chair of Mission Blue, Sylvia Earle, as well as the President of Iceland, Guoni Johannesson and UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, Peter Thomson.

Following the screening there will be an exclusive conversation facilitated by the museum with guest, marine biologist Marijn van Doorn, so (virtual!) attendees can discuss further the themes explored in the film and perhaps express specific hopes and solutions for a more sustainable, less damaging future.

The team behind the film explain what to expect …

“Increasing pollution, over-fishing and climate change are only a fraction of the threats our oceans are currently facing worldwide. This documentary follows us on our journey as we film devastating consequences of these harsh realities.”

Book online through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/an-ocean-story-online-screening-and-discussion-tickets-121026492497

A talk hosted by the Scottish Fisheries Museum, presented by Mary Lewis from HCA to launch our Knitting the Herring Events programme and discuss why gansey knitting will continue to be a prominent and relevant heritage craft within the knitting community. Mary will speak on various aspects of gansey knitting, issues affecting intangible heritage and the Endangered Crafts Fund offered by the Heritage Crafts Association.

If you wish and are able, you can knit along with your own ganseys or winter warmers and perhaps share what you have been working on with everyone! So get the kettle on and tune in to join us as we embark on our Knitting the Herring journey!

Book your free ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/knitting-the-herring-talk-and-knit-along-with-heritage-crafts-association-tickets-121847125031

As the daylight shrinks and the shadows lengthen, courie in for a family friendly series of gansey folklore and magical stories!

Collaborative artist and renowned Scottish storyteller Jan Bee Brown will tell three gansey and fisherfolk-inspired stories!

The first story is ’Three Ply’ told in the Scottish traditional: ‘eye to eye, mind to mind and heart to heart’. Following a period of research at the Scottish Fisheries Museum and inspired by two traditional Scottish Folk Tales, Jan’s story has been created bespoke for the Knitting the Herring project. It was fashioned in the spirit of gansey knitting - unravelling and reknitting, combining stories like stitches to create something new to share.

Tune in to hear ‘Three Ply’ and enjoy the magical tale at https://scottishgansey.org.uk/news-and-events/herring-tales/

Join us for our second Herring Tale in the series, ‘Poor man’s Wealth,’ featuring a travelling tailor, three silver herring and three knitting witches!

This story is created bespoke for Knitting the Herring, inspired by the Scottish tradition of travellers tales and Hugh Millar’s ‘Scenes and Legends of The North of Scotland.’

Listen to the story with Jan Bee Brown at https://scottishgansey.org.uk/news-and-events/herring-tales/

Join Matthew Topsfield at Uist Yarn Studio as he gives an insight into Eriskay gansey knitting. The fisherman’s gansey is made throughout the British Isles, but on the small island of Eriskay in the windswept Outer Hebrides this art reached its peak, richly patterned in traditional and symbolic designs.

Matt will present on the ‘anatomy’ of a gansey, explaining their structure and various parts and the distinctive features of an Eriskay gansey.

An Eriskay inspired chart for the herring pattern is available at https://scottishgansey.org.uk/news-and-events/how-to/ and Matt will share and explain the pattern techniques to the group.

You can register for this free zoom event via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/knitting-the-herring-the-eriskay-gansey-tickets-126054625779

The Eriskay Herring in the photo can be found at Grimsay Boat Haven, managed by Grimsay Community Association on Uist: https://www.grimsay.org/

Join Fife author Esther Rutter for a special gansey-themed reading from her critically acclaimed book on knitting history, This Golden Fleece. Patterned fisherman’s jumpers are found all over Britain, from the north of Scotland to the Channel Islands, and in this one-off event we’ll join Esther on her journey to uncover the stories and connections that make up the UK’s unique coastal knitting heritage.

Register for a place via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/knitting-the-herring-this-golden-fleece-tickets-130230965323

https://scottishgansey.org.uk/ https://estherrutter.com/

Join Jan Bee Brown for the story ‘Heart in the Home’, inspired by an old Largo folktale and the gansey collection at the Scottish Fisheries Museum.

Tune in to https://scottishgansey.org.uk/news-and-events/herring-tales/ this Halloween for a magical ghost story!

A special online telling of a tale for St Andrews Day, with local storyteller Sheila Kinninmonth.

Celebrating the rich storytelling tradition of Scotland’s Travellers, Sheila will share an atmospheric tale to bring a wee touch of colour and a sprinkling of magic to a long, dark winter’s night in Fife!

Tune in to our Facebook page @scotfishmuseum or our YouTube channel for a St Andrews Day delight!

Michael Stephen Clark, author of Mr Buckland, Mr Walpole and Mr Young: Around Scotland with the Fisheries Men brings us a pre-recorded online talk about Frank Buckland’s Christmas Lectures, where he will discuss how Buckland came to do these series of lectures, what they were about and the legacy they left in the world of science and academia.

Join us on Facebook and YouTube on the 22nd of December at 7pm.

Enjoy Kipper’s FUNtastic sailing adventure across Scotland at: https://scottishgansey.org.uk/news-and-events/herring-tales/

If you live in Fife, you can pick up your own comic and colouring sheet to take home with you after your visit: The Scottish Fisheries Museum - Art Tickets

Join the Scottish Fisheries Museum and storyteller Jan Bee Brown at the the Taibhsear Collective’s online festival:

Winter’s Last: A Celebration of Scottish Folklore, Traditions and Community Practices

Jan will be telling her Herring Tales, inspired by Scottish fishing and knitting communities, with related craft activities, at:

7pm, 28th January 2021

Book online and see the full programme at: https://taibhsearcollective.com/winters-last-2021/

If you missed the chance to book, or want to try the activity in your own time, why not break up the home schooling and make a pie with the drawings by Jan and some recycled materials, or create your own silver darlings! Find the guidelines to stargazey pie here: https://buff.ly/3c2CGhN

Send a photo to us on Facebook or Twitter @scotfishmuseum. We can’t wait to see your creative pies!

Mark your calendars! By the Seaside is opening virtually on Saturday - register now!

Join the Scottish Fisheries Museum and the student team from the University of St Andrews to celebrate the virtual opening of By the Seaside: Heritage, Healing, and New Horizons. The themes of wellness and blue space will be discussed by the event’s keynote speaker, Dr. James Grellier of the University of Exeter, who managed the EU-backed ‘BlueHealth’ project of 2020. Dr. Grellier will later be joined by a panel of scientists, artists, and conservationists to answer questions regarding the topic from attendees. We can’t wait to see you by the seaside!

Saturday, March 20th from 18:00 to 19:30 (GMT).

Register here: “https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/by-the-seaside-virtual-opening-tickets-146349506313”:

Admission to this event is free of charge.

To support our summer exhibition By the Seaside, we are inviting members of the public to submit works to our annual Art Competition.

Usually open only to schoolchildren in Fife, we are opening up the competition this year to members of the public. We are also accepting written poetry or prose submissions too - so, whoever you are and however the sea inspires you, you can take part!

If you would like to submit an entry, please see the full details at the Art Competition webpage.

Submissions from the public will not be entered into the schools competition but will be considered for exhibtion, both onsite in the museum and online.

So, if the sea is your muse, please get creative and share the results with us!

Sources for the history of Scottish fishing and fishing communities

Online - Wednesday 12 May 2021

Speakers include historians, archaeologists, ethnographers, museum curators and archivists including Jen Gordon (Scottish Fisheries Museum) who will speak on:

Knitting the Herring: unravelling the histories of fishermen’s ganseys

The conference will take place via Zoom, is open to SRA members and non-members alike and is free of charge. For more details, see the conference webpage.

Backyard BioBlitz: Wildlife Survey

By the Seaside is teaming up with the University of St Andrews’ Backyard BioBlitz: WIldlife Survey to provide a fun, family-friendly weekend activity.

Backyard Bioblitz is an online wildlife survey you can do from home. Take pictures of any and all animals, insects, or creatures you spot by the ocean and submit it to the BioBlitz team! Follow @backyardbioblitz on Facebook and Instagram and @BBioblitz on Twitter for more information.

Click this link to connect with their event page: https://events.st-andrews.ac.uk/events/backyard-bioblitz-2/

Are you interested in knitting, ganseys and want to meet for a knit and natter? Join us on Zoom for a friendly get together to share your knitting projects, ask questions and enjoy a gansey gaggle!

Join us on the last Thursday of the month at 7pm (BST) from April – June, reconvening in the winter months.

Contact carolyn@scotfishmuseum.org for more information and the Zoom details to join.

Part of our Knitting the Herring project, more information at www.scottishgansey.org.uk. Knitters of all abilities welcome.

We look forward to seeing you!

Are you interested in knitting, ganseys and want to meet for a knit and natter? Join us on Zoom for a friendly get together to share your knitting projects, ask questions and enjoy sea shanties with storyteller Jan Bee Brown!

Join us at 7pm (BST) this evening for our last knit and natter session before reconvening in September.

Contact carolyn@scotfishmuseum.org for more information and the Zoom details to join.

Part of our Knitting the Herring project, more information at www.scottishgansey.org.uk. Knitters of all abilities welcome.

We look forward to seeing you!

Beach Clean-Up with Transition St Andrews

Join us for a socially-distanced beach clean-up with Transition St Andrews! More details to come.

Oh, we do love to be beside the seaside, but so do many other creatures! Find out what lives under the rocks and in the shallows as we go rock pooling on the beach just opposite the museum.

After the guddle, take a seaside craft home with you to enjoy!

Book your free ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rock-pool-guddle-tickets-92348096643

*Details:

Meeting outside the Sun Tavern at 2pm, we will walk across to the beach for low tide at 2.30.

An event for children age 8-12, (under 8’s to be accompanied by a responsible adult).

Please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the guddle and the weather conditions, using sun cream if necessary.

Part of the East Neuk Summer Activities, this is a free event led by Fife Coast and Countryside Trust and the Scottish Fisheries Museum. Donations are welcome to both organisations.*

Summer by the Seaside - a series of creative family events promoting mindfulness and well-being

Take some inspiration from the Anstruther seaside and our By the Seaside exhibition to explore how being near the coast makes you feel at our pebble painting activity. This is a family activity so parents must be present throughout.

We will take you down to the beach to select your pebbles (weather permitting). Then you will sit at family stations with painting and decorating materials for some relaxing pebble painting. Take your painted pebbles home, or leave them by the sea for someone else to find!

12 - 1 pm or 2 - 3 pm, 15th July 2021

Entry by Donation. Book online via Eventbrite

If you have any questions ahead of booking or attending the event please contact andrea@scotfishmuseum.org. Each ticket is for a family of up to 4 people from 1 household/bubble.

Summer by the Seaside - a series of creative family events promoting mindfulness and well-being

Take some inspiration from the Anstruther seaside and our By the Seaside exhibition to make your own windmills and then take them out to the beach to spin in the wind. You can also let us see how your ideal day by the sea looks by creating some seaside-inspired pictures..

At our family craft stations, build your own toy windmill and create your seascape with our craft materials.

We all love a trip to the seaside, so what does your ideal day by the sea look like?

11 am - 12 pm or 1 - 2 pm, 30th July 2021

Entry by Donation. Book online via Eventbrite

If you have any questions ahead of booking or attending the event please contact andrea@scotfishmuseum.org. Each ticket is for a family of up to 4 people from 1 household/bubble.

Session 1: 10am – 12pm

Tickets by donation via Eventbrite – 1 ticket per family/household bubble – maximum of 2 adults per family group

Make and model your own swimsuit - the sillier the better! Explore the way seaside fashions have changed throughout the years. What we wear now would be considered indecent, while the concept of the bathing machine and full body coverage now feels ridiculous to the majority of contemporary culture.

Please book tickets for the workshop through Eventbrite from 31st July:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/165256280985

Session 2: 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Tickets by donation via Eventbrite – 1 ticket per family/household bubble – maximum of 2 adults per family group

Make and model your own swimsuit - the sillier the better! Explore the way seaside fashions have changed throughout the years. What we wear now would be considered indecent, while the concept of the bathing machine and full body coverage now feels ridiculous to the majority of contemporary culture.

Please book tickets for the workshop through Eventbrite from 31st July:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/165256280985

Climb aboard our historic Fifie moored opposite the museum in Anstruther Harbour.

Our volunteer crew will guide you above and below decks to see the boat and onboard exhibition.

Open Wednesday - Sunday

12 pm - 4 pm

Entry by donation

Fèis Chala An t-sruthair

3rd - 5th of June 2022

We look forward to welcoming you to Anstruther Harbour for a fun filled weekend!

The festival will again revive the burgh’s historic market ‘Anster Fair’ with food and craft stalls from local traders. All ages are invited to enjoy a wide range of live music and dance events with special entertainment just for children.

Plus, see the inauguration of our Fisherlass and Lad at 11 am on Saturday.

Highlights

• Skipinnish
• King Creosote
• Traditional music, dance and song
• Street Performers
• Craft and Food Market Stalls
• Sailing Muster
• Kids Activities
• Pirate Olympics

For further details on the Festival Programme see the Harbour Festival website

Our informal, online get-together for all things woolly and wonderful is back!

Are you interested in knitting, ganseys and want to meet for a knit and a natter? Join us on Zoom for a friendly get together to share your knitting projects, ask questions and enjoy a gansey gaggle!

Make a cup of tea, pull up a chair and join us on the last Thursday of the month at 7pm from September (BST) to February (GMT) (with a break over Christmas and New Year).

Contact jen@scotfishmuseum.org for more information and the Zoom details to join.

More information on knitting and fishing at www.scottishgansey.org.uk. Knitters of all abilities welcome.

We look forward to seeing you!

Once I caught a fish alive!

We can’t promise live fish, but there will be lots of fishy songs, rhymes and activities when we drop in to Dreel Babies and Toddlers for Maths Week!

Join Jen for this fun session exploring numeracy, patterns and problem solving - it’s never too early for maths!

Friday 1st October, 10 am - 12 pm

Dreel Halls, Anstruther

For more information contact Julia at Dreel Babies and Toddlers.

Join scientists from the Sediment Ecology Research Group (SERG) of the Scottish Oceans Institute to survey the tidal margins of the Dreel Burn

10 am – 2 pm, Thursday 21st October

come along and get stuck in

(wear wellies and warm clothes if you want to get muddy)

at the Dreel Burn and Dreel Halls, Anstruther

no booking required, children must be accompanied by an adult

Transitional waters, where the freshwater from rivers and burns meets the sea, are vitally important habitats. Learn how these ecosystems are responding to climate change and play your part in protecting them. Open to all – no previous experience required.

Part of Culture at COP - see https://www.cultureatcop.com/ for full events listings.

Join us at the next Fife Family Learning Roadshow at Cambo Estate, Kingsbarns.

Wednesday 20th October

2pm - 4pm

Getting Cosy and Staying Busy in Autumn with the wonderful natural material - Wool!

Learn a little bit about the famous woolly jumpers (Ganseys) worn by fishermen on board to help them stay warm. See some wool being spun, have a go yorself, and pick up a simple kit to try knitting your own little square at home - this could be the perfect (relaxing and rewarding) hobby you never knew you needed in your life this season!

A spooky trail for the October holidays

at the Scottish Fisheries Museum

9th to 31st October 2021

“Be careful as you climb the stairs, I swear I saw a mouse sat there…”

As the days get shorter and the shadows longer, the museum buildings come to life in a different way…

Listen carefully and you may hear the footsteps of fishermen long gone, the creepy creakings of soot-blackened rafters and the hurried scurries of shy little creatures as they disappear into dark corners, eager to escape the beady eyes of Kipper the Cat!

Can you help our feline friend track down the 10 mischievous mice hiding in the galleries?

FREE with museum admission

Please book online or drop by to see if we have entry times available.

The Buckland Foundation presents:

Resurrection: the fall and rise of industry participation in fisheries science

by Steven Mackinson, Chief Scientific Officer, Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association

5.15 pm, 11th November

Booth Lecture Theatre, Medical Building

University of St Andrews, KY16 9AJ

Free and open to all - book your ticket online:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-fall-and-rise-of-industry-participation-in-fisheries-science-tickets-191745444787

Our informal, online get-together for all things woolly and wonderful!

Are you interested in knitting, ganseys and want to meet for a knit and a natter? Join us on Zoom for a friendly get together to share your knitting projects, ask questions and enjoy a gansey gaggle!

Make a cup of tea, pull up a chair and join us on the 28th of October at 7pm (BST) and then on the last Thursday of the month to February (with a break over Christmas and New Year).

Contact jen@scotfishmuseum.org for more information and the Zoom details to join.

More information on knitting and fishing at https://scottishgansey.org.uk/. Knitters of all abilities welcome.

We look forward to seeing you!

Our informal, online get-together for all things woolly and wonderful!

Are you interested in knitting, ganseys and want to meet for a knit and a natter? Join us on Zoom for a friendly get together to share your knitting projects, ask questions and enjoy a gansey gaggle!

Make a cup of tea, pull up a chair and join us on the 25th of November at 7pm (GMT) and then on the last Thursday of the month to February (with a break over Christmas and New Year).

Contact jen@scotfishmuseum.org for more information and the Zoom details to join.

More information on knitting and fishing at https://scottishgansey.org.uk/. Knitters of all abilities welcome.

We look forward to seeing you!

Do your bit to fight back against pollution in our oceans.

As an introduction to next year’s exhibition ‘When it Rains, We Harvest/Cuando Llueve, Cosechamos: El Niño and Abundance in a Peruvian Fishing Community’ curated in collaboration with the University of St Andrews, Museum and Gallery students invite you to come along and help clean up East Sands beach!

Saturday 20th November, 10am - 1pm

Bin bags, gloves and (most importantly!) hot chocolate will be provided. There is no need to sign up or get tickets as this is a free, drop-in event.

Donations towards the collaborative exhibition (opening March 2022) would be appreciated.

We join Dreel Babies and Toddlers to Celebrate Stories

As the theme of this year’s Book Week theme is ‘Celebration’, we’re going to share some fabulous children’s books which celebrate life in, on and by the sea on Friday morning.

Friday 19th November, 10am - 12pm

Dreel Halls, Anstruther

Please come along with your baby or toddler, and feel free to bring a book you’d like to celebrate too!

Our informal, online get-together for all things woolly and wonderful!

Are you interested in knitting, ganseys and want to meet for a knit and a natter? Join us on Zoom for a friendly get together to share your knitting projects, ask questions and enjoy a gansey gaggle!

After the Christmas festivities it’s time to unwind so make a cup of tea, pull up a chair and join us on the 27th of January at 7pm (GMT).

Special Guests: We will be joined by Astrid Adams and Janice Snowball to talk to us about the Williams Gansey Project!

Contact jen@scotfishmuseum.org for more information and the Zoom details to join.

More information on knitting and fishing at https://scottishgansey.org.uk/. Knitters of all abilities welcome.

We look forward to seeing you!

Our informal, online get-together for all things woolly and wonderful!

Are you interested in knitting, ganseys and want to meet for a knit and a natter? Join us on Zoom for a friendly get together to share your knitting projects, ask questions and enjoy a gansey gaggle!

While its cold and dark outside, coorie in, pull up a chair and join us on the 24th of February at 7pm (GMT) for our last Knit and Natter of the winter.

Contact jen@scotfishmuseum.org for more information and the Zoom details to join.

More information on knitting and fishing at https://scottishgansey.org.uk/. Knitters of all abilities welcome.

We look forward to seeing you!

The Museum is closed from the 20th of December for Christmas and New Year.

We re-open on Wednesday the 5th of January and look forward to seeing you then.

Best wishes for the festive season from all at the Scottish Fisheries Museum!

The Festive Season is here!

Need a wee break from holiday planning?

To celebrate the opening of our Knitting the Herring exhibition, we’ll be hosting a woollen-themed crafts session in the Sun Tavern!

Have a go at making hanging ornaments, gansey patterned cards, or learn some simple finger knitting techniques (no needles required!).

For more information, please contact kathy@scotfishmuseum.org or visit our Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1223110104865484

We can’t wait to see you there!

_Following the postponement of this event due to Storm Dudley, we’re happy to announce that this workshop has been rescheduled for the 26th of March in the Sun Tavern!

In this workshop, children will learn about composition, colour, texture, and design and how to make a book filled with sea creatures and marine life that can be taken away at the end of the session.

This event is part of “When it Rains, We Harvest/Cuando Llueve, Cosechamos”, a student exhibition by the University of St Andrews opening on 11th of March 2022!

This workshop is suitable for children aged 8-12. Children must be accompanied by adults.

Book a place via Eventbrite: https://buff.ly/3rA8Y9Z

After school drop-in event - no booking required!

Join us at the Scottish Fisheries Museum for our first crafts session of the year! With Valentine’s Day coming up, we’ll be taking inspiration from some traditional gansey patterns!

Come along, grab a free hot chocolate, and have a go at making:

Valentine’s Cards, Woven Bracelets, and Threaded Hearts

Check out our events page on Facebook: https://buff.ly/3giXsuF

We can’t wait to see you there!

This is a family event, so parents must accompany children at all times. Please visit the Visit Safely page on our website for information related to the museum and COVID-19: https://www.scotfishmuseum.org/visit-safely.php

If you have any questions about the event, please get in touch at kathy@scotfishmuseum.org

The Scottish Fisheries Museum is excited to present “Guts Galore: Celebrating the Role of Women in Scotland’s Fishing Trade” for Women’s History Month!

Join us on Wednesday, 9th March for an afternoon of talks from guest speakers in arts and academia, who’ll share their work on different aspects of the historic role of women in the Scottish fishing industry.

This conference will be held over Zoom so that anyone can attend. A Q&A will follow each presentation, with a further opportunity to ask more questions and develop discussion towards the end.

Register today via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/guts-galore-celebrating-the-role-of-women-in-scotlands-fishing-trade-tickets-251991622727

General admission is free, but we do ask that you consider supporting us by adding a donation. All proceeds will go towards paying our speakers!

No booking required! Please dress warmly!

We’ll be kicking off the Easter holidays with the return of BioBlitz!

Join us on the 4th of April and work with scientists from the Sediment Ecology Research Group (SERG) of the Scottish Oceans Institute to survey the tidal margins of the Dreel Burn. Come explore how ecosystems such as these are responding to climate change and how you can play your part in protecting them!

This event is running in partnership with the Anstruther Improvements Association and the University of St Andrews’ Sediment Ecology Research Group (SERG).

Part of the Loving Earth Project exhibition events programme (18.03.22 - 15.05.22).

Location: Sun Tavern | Time: 10 - 11am and 12 - 1pm

One of the many jobs of a geologist is to understand the make up of the rock layers below the Earth’s surface. In this interactive workshop, children will reimagine core sampling techniques to explore the layers in cupcakes (and eat them afterwards!).

Free, but spaces are limited - to view allergy information and book a place, click here: https://scottish-fisheries-museum.eventbrite.co.uk/

This workshop is suitable for children aged 6-10 years, and an ideal parent-child activity.

Parents and guardians must accompany children for the duration of the workshop.

This workshop is part of the engagement programme for the When It Rains, We Harvest/Cuando Llueve, Cosechamos exhibition, organised by students from the University of St Andrews. On display in the Scottish Fisheries Museum until the 19th of June.

Location: Education Centre | Time: 11am- 12:30pm and 2pm - 3:30pm

Be inspired by the Loving Earth Project panels in the Zulu Gallery and join us as we weave away our waste!

In this workshop we’ll learn how to weave together old plastic bags and found material to make some useful and new. Each participant will have a new skill and an upcycled coaster to take away at the end (all craft materials will be provided!).

Free, but spaces are limited - book your place via Eventbrite: https://scottish-fisheries-museum.eventbrite.co.uk/

This workshop is suitable for anyone aged 8+

Parents must accompany children for the duration of the workshop.

This workshop is part of the events programming for the Loving Earth Project, exhibiting in the Zulu Gallery from the 18th of March until the 15th of May.

Join us for our first in-person talk of the year!

As part of our Snapshots of Memory exhibition in the Merchant’s Room, Kevin Dunion, Vice-Chair of the Museum and Chair of the Kilrenny and Anstruther Burgh Collection, will present: “Tracing everyday life in Anstruther and Cellardyke - what have we kept, what have we lost”.

The talk will last approximately 40 minutes, after which there will be refreshments with time for discussion and to view the exhibition.

Free, with donation for teas and coffees. Booking is preferred, but arrivals on the night are welcome! Reserve a ticket here: https://scottish-fisheries-museum.eventbrite.co.uk/

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Abstract:

Over the past 100 years most aspects of everyday life in our community - including work, leisure, education, religion and transport - have changed. But what memories have we kept and what evidence have we recorded to mark the transformation, whether gradual or sudden? Family photos and memoirs provide important insights into real life experience. Drawing on items and documents held by the Kilrenny and Anstruther Burgh Collection, Kevin Dunion shows how things we might overlook, such as school magazines and prizes, tourist postcards, advertising material for businesses and events are stepping stones to the past. In which case what should we collect about our recent life here in the East Neuk to pass on to future generations?

Kevin Dunion is Honorary Professor in the School of Social Sciences , University of Dundee. He is Vice-Chair of the Scottish Fisheries Museum Trust and Chair of the Kilrenny and Anstruther Burgh Collection.

The REAPER Crew at the Scottish Fisheries Museum are holding a Jumble Sale in aid of Ukraine.

Saturday 16th April, 10am - 2pm

Outside the Museum’s Boat Yard – just opposite the car park on the shore.

Lots of games, toys, kitchen & glassware with mirrors, art, jewels & trinkets. Come along for a rummage.

All proceeds to support Ukraine - we look forward to seeing you!

Drop-in event - No booking required

Join us for our next after school arts and crafts session in the Sun Tavern!

Inspired by the Loving Earth Project, we’ll be creating a giant, eco-themed frieze. Come along explore the environmental themes important to protecting marine life and let your creative juices flow!

All arts and crafts materials will be provided, as well as free hot chocolate, squash and biscuits! Donations are welcome to help top up our snacks fund!

This event is open to all children. Adults/guardians must accompany children to the event.

What’s in Space? And what does it do up there?

Join Astronomer Dr Anne-Marie Weijmans of the University of St Andrews in this interactive talk to look at planets, stars, satellites and all the other things that we can find in space. We’ll start with describing our favourite objects in space, and will then spend some time learning more about them. At the end of the session there will be time to ask all your space-related questions, and Anne-Marie will do her best to answer them all!

Pre-booking is not essential, however spaces may be limited - please contact us if you are interested in coming along to avoid disappointment.

This event is suitable for ages 8-12 and will be held in the Sun Tavern.

Doors open at 5:45PM

Free, but spaces are limited - book your place now!

Join us on Monday, 20th of June, where we’ll be joined by Professor Nina Laurie and Dr Tania Mendo from the University of St Andrews to explore fishing harvests and fishing communities in the Sechura Desert of Peru.

This exciting talk is part of the exhibition programming for “When It Rains, We Harvest/Cuando Llueve, Cosechamos”, exhibiting in the Scottish Fisheries Museum until the 20th of June. This exhibition and event are being organised by students from the Museum and Galleries Studies programme at the University of St Andrews. Following the talk, there will be an opportunity for a last chance viewing of the exhibition!

Further information and tickets are available through Eventbrite here!

Abstract:

“For millennia people living in the northern desert of Peru have taken advantage of the periodic but unpredictable rains known as the El Niño Phenomenon which come every few years to coastal Peru. Temporary lagoons provide abundant fishing opportunities at moments when catches from the sea cannot be relied upon. What lessons can this corner of Peru offer about how to make fishing communities more resilient in the context of climate change?”

The Model Boats Club will be hosting their annual exhibition as part of this year’s Anstruther Harbour Festival!

Take a look at the best of what the Club has been working on this year!

3rd-5th of June 2022

10am - 4pm every day in the Sun Tavern and Workshop

We look forward to seeing you there!

Please note that entry to these venues is external to the Museum.

Join the Boats Club members on our flagship Reaper!

Celebrate Anstruther Harbour Festival and the recent refit of the Reaper by coming aboard. Experience this important piece of Scottish fishing history up close!

3rd - 5th of June 2022

10am - 4pm every day opposite the Scottish Fisheries Museum main entrance.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Our Boats Club will be making an appearance at the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire.

17th - 19th June

Portsoy Harbour, all day

Be sure to say hello to the Club’s volunteers if you’re there, and get a closer look at our vessel White Wing.

Our Boats Club will be making an appearance at the Cellardyke Sea Queen Festival.

Saturday, 25th of June

Cellardyke Harbour, all day

Be sure to say hello to the Club’s volunteers if you’re there, and get a closer look at our vessel White Wing.

For more information about the history and tradition of the Cellardyke Sea Queen Festival, click here: https://www.cellardyketrust.org/cellardyke-sea-queen-festival/.

Ever been curious about model boats as a hobby?

Our Model Boats Club will be meeting at the sailing pond in Craigtoun Country Park in St Andrews from 10am this Sunday.

Come and see a selection of model Radio Controlled boats owned and operated by members, who are always happy to chat and give others a go!

Ever been curious about model boats as a hobby?

Our Model Boats Club will be meeting at the sailing pond in Craigtoun Country Park in St Andrews from 10am.

Come and see a selection of model Radio Controlled boats owned and operated by members, who are always happy to chat and give others a go!

Join us for our first event of the summer holidays!

Inspired by the history of sea-salt making in the Forth being explored in our Positive Currents exhibition, we’ll be making our favourite (real or imaginary) sea creatures out of salt dough!

This workshop is £3 per child and suitable for ages 8+. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the workshop.

Reserve your ticket via Art Tickets here or contact us at the Museum! Spaces are limited, so book today - we can’t wait to see you there!

Why is Earth such a good place for life? How would that change if we lived on a planet with a different Sun, or without a moon?

Astronomer Anne-Marie Weijmans returns with another fun-filled workshop to explore what makes life possible on Earth and what life on other worlds could be like!

This workshop is free and suitable for children aged 8-12.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-booking for this event is not essential, however our Sun Tavern has limited space, so we encourage you to reserve a spot to avoid disappointment! Reserve your ticket via Art Tickets here or contact us at the Museum!

The East Neuk Family Learning Roadshow is back!

We’ve partnered with a hosted of other local charities to bring you a fun-filled afternoon of family learning activities!

Join us (for free!) at the Dreel Halls, Anstruther between 2-4PM on Wednesday, the 3rd of August.

Find us in the halls to craft your very own seabird glider and learn more about the incredible wildlife in the Firth of Forth. Part of our events programming for our Positive Currents exhibition.

Market Theme: Heritage

10am – 4pm, free entry

We’re delighted to have been invited to deliver activities at the hugely popular Bowhouse market weekend this August!

Inspired by our Positive Currents exhibition, we’ll be providing some hands on fun to explore the local shellfish. Do you know your clam from your cockle? And why should we love the “food of love”? Catch us at the market to find out!

Join us for the opportunity to meet artist Janette Kerr, whose installation, Confusing Shadow with Substance, is on show in the Zulu Gallery from 6th of August - 26th of September.

Come along to learn more about Janette’s project and her artistic process.

Admission is free, with donations for refreshments. Reserve your place on Art Tickets.

More information about the art project can be found on our website here.

Janette is also exhibiting at this year’s Pittenweem Arts Festival as an invited artist.

The Boats Club will be attending the Johnshaven Fish Festival, on the 13th of August!

Catch the White Wing sailing out of Anstruther harbour on Friday, the 12th and over the weekend in Johnshaven. This is a fabulous opportunity to see this beautiful historic vessel up close and have a nice chat with our friendly volunteers!

More information about the Johnshaven Fish Festival can be found here.

WDC Shorewatch is a network of volunteers, carrying out regular surveys of whales and dolphins along the Scottish coastline. Join us for this special hands on training day specially for young people (16-25 year olds)!

This training day is split into two sessions (please note that the tickets are only for the first session!):

11AM - 12:30PM - Coastline Community Church, Session St, Pittenweem, KY10 2QL

Learn how how to identify different species of whales and dolphins and how you can contribute towards the conservation of these incredible creatures in this informal introductory session.

Free, but booking is essential! Book this session on Art Tickets.

1:30PM - 3:30PM - West Braes, Pittenweem, KY10 2PT

Apply your newfound knowledge and try surveying out on the shore at West Braes! All equipment will be provided.

You can alternatively attend this second session on a drop-in basis - just come find us at the site!

Free refreshments will be available, courtesy of the West Braes Project.

We would be happy to subsidise the cost of travel to and from Pittenweem for anyone who might not otherwise be able to attend - please get in touch with us!

For any questions or more information, you can email kathy@scotfishmuseum.org or contact us on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook @scotfishmuseum.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Date: Saturday, 10th of September

Time: 2PM onwards (a second performance at 3PM, subject to demand)

Location: Historic Boatyard, the Scottish Fisheries Museum

In celebration of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 and the “Arctic Ventures: Forgotten Stories of Scottish Whaling” exhibition in our Scottish Whaling Gallery, we’re delighted to welcome folk musicians Pete Shepheard and Arthur Watson, who’ll be performing traditional whaling songs in our Historic Boatyard.

Advanced tickets: £5 (but will also be available on the door!)

Tickets available on Art Tickets - all are welcome!

A bar will also be available.

In celebration of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022, we’re delighted to welcome folk musicians Pete Shepheard and Arthur Watson, who’ll be performing traditional whaling songs in our Historic Boatyard.

Performance begins at 2pm - all are welcome!

Advanced tickets £5 to guarantee a seat! Available from Art Tickets.

Tickets will also likely be available on the door, so please do check! A second performance will commence at 3pm subject to demand.

Bar available.

Join us for the opportunity to meet renowned whaling artist, printmaker and handmade book-maker Caroline Hack from the 2 - 4 September.

We’re delighted to welcome Caroline, whose textile work will be on display in our Scottish Whaling Gallery from 2 September - 29 November, as part of our Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 project, “Arctic Ventures: Forgotten Stories of Scotland’s Whaling”. Caroline’s interest in the history of British Arctic whaling has taken her around the world, visiting whaling related sites, museums and collections to gather source material. For The Scottish Fisheries Museum, Caroline will help to bring aspects of the Scottish Whaling story to life through her textile art and handmade books, echoing the crafts and logs undertaken on long whaling voyages in the past.

Caroline will be available to meet and chat to throughout the weekend in the Scottish Whaling Gallery. Come along to learn more about her inspiration and artistic process.

More information about ‘Arctic Ventures: Forgotten Stories of Scottish Whaling’ can be found here.

Find out more about Caroline’s work on her website.

We’re excited to be joining forces with our friends at the Anstruther Improvements Association for our next evening talk!

Join us at Dreel Halls, Anstruther on Thursday, 15 September, for “WII Defences of Fife” presented by Archaeologist Steve Liscoe, 7:30 - 9PM.

Entry is £3 on the door or free to members of the AIA.

This talk is part of the AIA’s “Anster Nicht” winter talk series as well as our own “Landscapes of War” exhibition - coming soon!

Abstract:

Steve Liscoe of Fife Council’s Archaeological Unit will provide a brief introduction to the Unit followed by an illustrated talk, highlighting the wide range, and large number, of military sites documented in the Unit’s records that relate to the defence of Scotland during 1939-45, particularly those which fortified Fife against attack and invasion. The Archaeological Unit provides historical and archaeological advice and information to Fife Council and deals with archaeological and related enquiries from the public and external organisations. Steve has been part of the Unit since 2004 and is responsible for maintaining and developing the Fife Sites & Monuments Record, containing over 11,000 records of archaeological sites for Fife.

Join us at the Museum for this special event to celebrate the launch of “The Salt Roads: How Fish Made a Culture” by author John Goodlad.

6PM: A last opportunity to view the exhibition Confusing Shadow with Substance in the Zulu Gallery, a collaborative project between artists Janette Kerr and Jo Millett, exploring aspects of Shetland’s historic relationship with the sea.

7PM: Author John Goodlad will be in conversation with Kevin Dunion, local historian and Vice Chair of The Scottish Fisheries Museum Trust, and read from his new work. This will be followed by a book signing.

Refreshments will be served.

Entry free, but booking is essential. Reserve your place via Art Tickets here.

If you have any questions about the event, please get in touch at enquiries@scotfishmuseum.org.

We’re excited to bring you “Oyster Fest!” as part of the Family Learning Festival 2022!

Monday, 17th October | 12 - 3PM | Sun Tavern, Scottish Fisheries Museum

Join us in the Sun Tavern, where we’ll have stalls from the Museum, Restoration Forth and more exploring citizen science, sustainability and the history and heritage of native European oysters in the Firth of Forth.

We’ll also have an ecology-themed arts and crafts corner, suitable for kids and adults!

There’ll also be rock oyster* tasting sessions with Tobermory Oysters in our Education Centre - learn how to shuck and prepare oysters. You can book your session in advance via Art Tickets or on the door at the event.

This event is free - simply drop by and say hi! Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Find out more about the Family Learning Festival here.

This event is part of the Cry of the Forth project, which produced the Positive Currents exhibition in partnership with the Scottish Seabird Centre. You can now catch the exhibition at in North Berwick until the 20th November.

*Please note that these are sustainably farmed oysters. More information is available here.

We’re thrilled to be taking part in Maths Week Scotland 2022!

We’ll be launching “Kipper the Cat’s Maths Trail” to use in the galleries. Join Kipper as he embarks on his first fishing trip, solving puzzles along the way and explore the different ways in which fishermen use maths both in the past and today. Children will get a free Maths Week Scotland pencil and badge for taking part and letting us know what they think! Suitable for ages 8-12.

Available from 26th September until stocks last!

We’ll also be taking part in Maths Week Scotland’s #ShowYourWorking campaign on Twitter to highlight how maths is used in all jobs, including those in the Museums sector. Follow the hashtag to inspire maths-themed curiosity!

Annual Service of Remembrance for fishermen and lifeboatmen lost at sea.

Saturday 29th October

Scottish Fisheries Museum, Memorial Room

If you would like to attend to commemorate a family member or friend lost to the sea, please contact the museum on 01333 310628 or enquiries@scotfishmuseum.org for further details.

Come celebrate the October holidays with an afternoon of family learning activities at the next East Neuk Family Learning Roadshow!

We’ll be joining a host of local organisations including the East Neuk Centre Trust, Anstruther Improvements Association and East Neuk Lighthouse at St Monans Town Hall on Wednesday, 19th October from 2:30-4:30PM!

This event is free for the whole family, with arts and crafts, games, storytelling and more! We can’t wait to see you there.

Our informal, online get-together for all things woolly and wonderful returns!

Celebrate International Gansey Day with us. Join us on Zoom for a friendly get together to share your knitting projects, ask questions and enjoy a gansey gaggle!

Make a cup of tea, pull up a chair and join us on Thursday, the 24th of November at 7pm (GMT).

Contact jen@scotfishmuseum.org for more information and the Zoom details to join. Already on our mailing list? The link will arrive in your inbox soon!

More information on knitting and fishing at https://scottishgansey.org.uk/. Knitters of all abilities welcome.

We look forward to seeing you!

SFM are on the road again to Dreel Friends!

Join us at the Dreel Halls on Saturday, 19th November, 10am - 11:30am.

We’ll be providing book-themed craft activities to celebrate Book Week Scotland, inspired by the Artic Ventures exhibition in our Scottish Whaling Gallery.

Entry: £2.50 per adult, £1 per child, including teas and coffees, sweet treats and games for children.

For more information about Dreel Friends, please see the Facebook page.

Artic Ventures: Forgotten Stories of Scottish Whaling is on display at the Museum until the 27th November.

Join us for our next evening talk!

We’re delighted to be welcoming Ron Morris to the Museum, who’ll take us on what he describes as a whistlestop tour of the Forth’s coastal defences, and discuss their significance in the context of Scotland’s military and naval history.

Following this talk, there’ll be an opportunity to ask questions, as well as to privately view our “Landscapes of War” exhibition in the Exhibition Gallery.

This talk is free, with donations for teas and coffees. Please reserve your ticket on Eventbrite.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Ron Morris is a local historian and co-author of co-author of The Fortification of the Firth of Forth 1880-1977: ‘the Most Powerful Naval Fortress in the British Empire’.

Landscapes of War is on display until the 12th December. Entry is free with Museum admission.

If you have any questions about this event, please get in touch with us on social media or via kathy@scotfishmuseum.org.

Join us for this special event on Wednesday, 7th December to celebrate Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022!

6.30PM: Private (last chance!) viewing of Arctic Ventures: Forgotten Stories of Scottish Whaling in our Scottish Whaling Gallery.

A final chance to see Caroline Hack’s textile art interpreting this brutal industry played out against the beautiful land and seascapes of the Arctic Circle.

7 - 8.30PM: Talk by Matt Ylitalo (University of St Andrews), followed by conversation with Matt and Caroline and time for Q&A.

Matt explores the fascinating people, journeys and experiences of Scottish whaling endeavors, drawing inspiration from the museum’s own historic collection.

Free entry but donations welcome. Reserve your ticket on Eventbrite.

Looking for a relaxing after school activity in the run up to Christmas?

Join us in the Sun Tavern on Monday, 12th December for our last event of the year!

Drop in any time between 3:30-4:30pm, where we’ll be kicking back and making some Christmas cards!

This is a free event, with hot chocolate for kids - we hope to see you there!

Join us for our first evening talk of the year!

We’re delighted to welcome Astronomer Dr. Anne-Marie Weijmans (School of Physics and Astronomy, the University of St Andrews), who’ll take us on a starry night journey through science and history.

This talk has been developed to compliment the newly fitted star plates as part of our ongoing lighting project in the Zulu Gallery, which takes inspiration from SDS Surveys and the Apache Point Observatory.

This talk is free to attend, with donations for teas and coffees.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Book online at: https://the-scottish-fisheries-museum.arttickets.org.uk/the-scottish-fisheries-museum/2023-02-02-stars-constellations-and-how-not-to-get-lost

or on the door on the night.

Abstract:

On a clear, dark night there are more than a thousand stars out there that we can see, without even having to use a telescope! To help us recognise and make sense of all these stars, we made patterns out of them on the sky: constellations. But what are these constellations, and how do they change over the course of a year? Does everyone on Earth see the same constellations? And how have for centuries the stars helped those at sea to navigate safely back home? That are some of the questions we will answer this evening.

Image: Ursa Major, Urania’s Mirror, c. 1825

Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February 11.30 am and 2.30pm both days

As the shadows start to shorten, join us as we mark National Storytelling Week with book readings for children from our atmospheric fishermen’s loft on the theme of winter losing its grip!

Free with family admission ticket to museum

Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February 11.30 am and 2.30pm both days

As the shadows start to shorten, join us as we mark National Storytelling Week with book readings for children from our atmospheric fishermen’s loft on the theme of winter losing its grip!

Free with family admission ticket to museum

Join us for a simple sea-themed after-school art activity and make cute, coastline-inspired cards to send loving wishes to your friends and family this February.

Monday 13th February 3.30pm – 4.30pm

Free for kids but donations towards cost of materials and refreshments always welcome.

Our informal, online get-together for all things woolly and wonderful returns for a second winter session!

Join us on Zoom for a friendly get together to share your knitting projects, ask questions and enjoy a gansey gaggle!

Make a cup of tea, pull up a chair and join us on Thursday, the 23rd of February at 7pm (GMT).

Contact jen@scotfishmuseum.org for more information and the Zoom details to join. Already on our mailing list? The link will arrive in your inbox soon!

More information on knitting and fishing at https://scottishgansey.org.uk/. Knitters of all abilities welcome.

We look forward to seeing you!

20 - 26 February is World Gaelic week and we are pleased to be working with our partner Gaelic in Fife to make Gaelic more audible in the Kingdom.

As part of a week-long programme of activities, the Waves Cafe at the Scottish Fisheries Museum will host a Sing-along and Srùpag where you can celebrate seachdain na Gàidhlig with a song and a scone (and a cup of tea)!

Friday 24th February, at 10.30am

See the full programme online at: https://seachdainnagaidhlig.scot/

A Short Programme of four linked workshops to develop writing informed by the sea and coastline and to explore found objects through art.

The programme is FREE, all we ask is that you can attend all four dates. Participants will generate original content that will form part of a themed exhibition within the Scottish Fisheries Museum.

Weds 15th, 22nd, 29th March & 5th April 2023

10.30am – 12 noon

Please contact Linda Fitzpatrick on 01333 310628 or linda@scotfishmuseum.org to reserve your place.

No previous experience needed; all materials provided.

The Scottish Fisheries Museum invites you to a weekend of activities exploring Maritime Heritage in a Contemporary Context

Under the umbrella of National Historic Ships UK, Shipshape Scotland brings together traditional skills, services and facilities across the nation’s 32 council areas. The Scottish Fisheries Museum is the Shipshape Scotland Hub and offers a range of activities and services available to local historic vessel owners, skilled craftsmen, businesses, heritage organisations, training bodies and maritime enthusiasts

Our first Shipshape Hub event will be held at the Museum in Anstruther over two days: on Saturday 11th March there will be a programme of talks and presentations with lunch, tea, and coffee provided, and the option to join us for dinner in the evening. On Sunday 12th, we have a morning of tours and demonstrations in the Boatyard, on board the Reaper, to see the Manx Beauty, and a special sound installation by Gail McGarva within the museum.

Conference Fee: £12 covers all presentations, lunch, refreshments, and tours.

Optional Saturday dinner from £24.50 (£10 deposit payable at time of booking).

Please see the full programme and book online at: Eventbrite

Georgie McDonald | An Audio Portrait

by Gail McGarva

A celebration of the stories of working boats, their people and their shores. All boats have a story to tell… and here is the story of just one of them; the story of Georgie McDonald…

Meet the artist:

Sunday 12th March, 11 am - 1 pm

Historic Boatyard Display, Scottish Fisheries Museum

This audio portrait of Georgie McDonald is part of an audio collection ‘All boats have a story to tell’. The collection seeks to shine a light on endangered working boats and their special place in our maritime heritage. The creator of the collection is Gail McGarva, a traditional wooden boat builder with a particular passion for working boats. Gail specialising in building replicas or she prefers to call them ‘daughterboats’ breathing life into a new generation of traditional craft.

Entry included in General Admission fee

Join artist Gail McGregor for this family fun workshop!

Using items found on Anstruther beach, we will create a home to protect a seabird chick that is the last of its kind! Discover what types of items the tide leaves on local beaches and if these are safe for birds to use to make their nests.

This workshop includes beach combing so please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. If adverse weather is forecast the workshop will go ahead indoors. Children must be over 8 years of age and accompanied by an adult.

Saturday 1st April 2.30pm - 4.00pm

Free, but booking essential.

Please contact Julia Branch on 01333 310628 or julia@scotfishmuseum.org to book your place. We will meet at the Sun Tavern.

This workshop is inspired by our temporary exhibition ‘Plastic Tide’ opening 1st April.

Join us at the East Neuk Family Roadshow

The Scottish Fisheries Museum hits the road this April and joins up with lots of other local organisations for a fun activity day in Crail Community Hall, to inspire families to get Active in the East Neuk. We’ll be encouraging visitors to our stall to head beach-wards over the Easter Holidays and look for both beautiful seabirds and not so beautiful plastic. Find out how you can help remove plastic from our shorelines to improve the habitat for local wildlife and humans alike!

Wednesday 5th April 2.00pm - 4.00pm at Crail Community Hall

The activities are inspired by our temporary exhibition ‘Plastic Tide’ opening Saturday 1st April.

Free Family Easter Crafts

Let’s get crafty this Easter! Join us for some fun Easter themed crafts over the Easter Holidays. Free fun activities for all the family.

Monday 10th & Wednesday 12th April, 1.30pm - 3.30pm

Free with general museum admission but donations towards materials always welcome.

Stories to take us into Spring

Join us for some seasonal book readings for children with a salty twist from the atmospheric attic of our Fishermen’s Cottage.

Sunday 16th April 2.00pm - 2.30pm

Drop-in event. No need to book. Free with general museum admission

How many Easter chicks you can find?

Some naughty Spring chickens have escaped the nest and are roaming the museum galleries! Help us track them down in this fun free trail over the school holidays. Running during museum opening hours.

Saturday 1st April - Sunday 16th April

Free with general museum admissions.

Free Crafts Drop-In Session

Join us for some fun celebration themed crafts that you will be royally proud of! Free fun activities for all the family.

Monday 8th May Time TBC

Free with general museum admission but donations towards materials always welcome.

Join us for this fun workshop!

Be inspired by the weaving in the sculpture ‘Climate Change: The Plastic Age’ by Gail McGregor and upcycle your waste into a coaster or two!

All materials provided. Open to all ages.

Saturday 27th May 11.00am - 12.30pm and 2.00pm - 3.30pm

Free but booking essential

Please contact Julia Branch on 01333 310628 or julia@scotfishmuseum.org to book your place.

Free Storytelling Session

Seasonal book readings for children with a salty twist from the atmospheric attic of our Fishermen’s Cottage!

Sunday 28th May 2.00pm - 2.30pm

Free with general museum admission.

Join marine biologist Sean Flinn from Climate Action Fife’s Youth Engagement Project!

This free interactive workshop explores climate change, the ocean, plastic and its effect on marine life. Discuss with your peers what you can do to reduce your waste and impact on the climate.

All materials provided. Aimed at young people but open to all ages and families welcome.

Sunday 18th June 2.00pm - 3.30pm

Free but booking essential

Please contact Julia Branch on 01333 310628 or julia@scotfishmuseum.org to book your place.

Join us for this relaxed adults only workshop!

Most of us have big brand cleaning products in our homes, but have you ever thought about making your own? Come along and have some fun making an eco-friendly product for your home and take home some recipes to try yourself. Inspired by our current exhibition ‘Plastic Tide’.

All materials provided.

Friday 23rd June 7.00pm - 8.30pm

Tickets £5 and include materials and refreshments.

Please contact Julia Branch on 01333 310628 or julia@scotfishmuseum.org to book your place.

Grab a bag and join us for a beach clean!

We are partnering with Youth 1st and Climate Action Fife for a beach clean at Castle Street Beach. We will have litter pickers, bags and clipboards but if you have your own please bring them as numbers will be limited.

Unlike other litter picks you might have done we will be collecting a survey of the litter collected. These surveys are the most important part of the day other than having some fun on the beach with like minded people.

The survey data will be collated by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). MCS have has been running beach cleans and their flagship event, Great British Beach Clean, for 25 years. Every year, staff and volunteers head to beaches up and down the coast to collect litter and record data about what they find, contributing to citizen science. So far 319 tonnes of litter at the Great British Beach Clean events have been collected. This informs various projects MCS are involved with, and is shared with the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) contributing to a worldwide report on litter levels. All this data has helped inform new policies to tackle beach litter and plastic pollution in the UK such as the plastic bag charge, a ban on microplastics in personal care products and better wet wipe labelling.

Saturday 8th July 12.00pm - 2.00pm

Meet at the museum

What to bring: We’d recommend you pack a rucksack with a few essentials like sunscreen, waterproofs, hand sanitiser, and perhaps some snacks and a drink (in a reusable bottle, of course).

What to wear: If you’re picking up litter with your hands it’s worth wearing a strong pair of gloves - like gardening gloves - just to make sure you’re protected. Sturdy shoes are a must for protection too.

Under 16s: Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult

Join the Museum for three days of festivities at Anstruther Harbour.

Visit our Model Boat Club displays in the former Sun Tavern, and climb aboard our historic Herring Drifter ‘Reaper’ in the Harbour.

Inside the Museum, we’ll have a programme of music and dance performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fisherlass and Fisherlad ceremony and Art Competition Prize-giving - 4pm, Saturday, in the small marquee.

Outside, across the weekend, there will be food, drink, craft and charity stalls lining the folly, yachts mustering in the water, children’s entertainers and live bands with closing headliners the Red Hot Chilli Pipers rounding off the festival on a big stage on the pier.

See the full programme at: “Anstruther Harbour Festival”:https://www.anstrutherharbourfestival.org/

Join us for this fun activity!

Are you beach-ready for the holidays??!
Come and decorate your own Victorian swimsuit to get you in the mood for sun, sea and sand this summer! Discover what people used to wear for going for a dip in the sea and design your own colourful costume or just have some arty fun!

All materials provided. Open to all ages.

Thursday 13th July 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Free but please reserve a place to guarantee a space. Some places will be available on the day

Please contact Julia Branch on 01333 310628 or julia@scotfishmuseum.org for more information.

Join us for this fun activity!

Are you beach-ready for the holidays??!
Another chance to come and decorate your own Victorian swimsuit to get you in the mood for sun, sea and sand this summer! Discover what people used to wear for going for a dip in the sea and design your own colourful costume or just have some arty fun!

All materials provided. Open to all ages.

Thursday 3rd August 1.30pm - 3.30pm

Free but please reserve a place to guarantee a space. Some places will be available on the day.

Please contact Julia Branch on 01333 310628 or julia@scotfishmuseum.org for more information.

Free Storytelling Session

Join our friendly cat Kipper for some seasonal book readings for children with a salty twist!

Thursday 20th July 12.00 - 12.30

Free with general museum admission.

Free Colourful Craft Fun

Let’s get crafty this Summer! Join us and create some colourful sea creatures in clay, and put them central stage in our ‘Under the Sea’ theatre’. A relaxing and fun activities for all the family.

Thursday 20th July 1.30pm - 3.30pm

Free but donations towards materials always welcome.

Join us for this fun workshop!

Be inspired by the colours used by artists featured in our art exhibition to express your mood in a medium of your choice! Comfortable and relaxed atmosphere with other ASN families. NO pressure, NO expectations, NO judgement just a warm welcome and space to have some arty fun.

All materials provided. Open to all ages.

Tuesday 25th July 1.30pm start

Free but booking essential

Please contact Julia Branch on 01333 310628 or julia@scotfishmuseum.org to book your place.

Join us for this fun workshop!

Be inspired by the colours used by artists featured in our art exhibition to express your mood in a medium of your choice! Create your own museum masterpiece to take home or just have some arty fun.

All materials provided. Open to all ages. Are you an ASN family? If so a more relaxed version of this event is on Tuesday 25th July. See our events page for more details.

Thursday 27th July 1.30pm - 3.00pm

Free but booking essential

Please contact Julia Branch on 01333 310628 or julia@scotfishmuseum.org to book your place.

Free Summer Craft Activities

Let’s get crafty this Summer! Join us and have some relaxing fun at our pop-up arts and crafts table in the Zulu Gallery.

Saturday 5th August

Free but donations towards materials always welcome.

The museum, shop and Waves Café will be closed today for a private function

We apologise for any inconvenience but look forward to seeing you when we re-open on Wednesday

Join us for the launch of the chapbook ring-net by award-winning Scottish poet Garry MacKenzie.

ring-net is a sequence of poems charting the rise and fall of the fishing industry in the Firth of Forth. It explores the natural history of the Forth and the culture of its fishing communities, as well as reflecting upon how the decline of Scottish fisheries relates to wider contemporary environmental issues.

Garry will be reading from ring-net and talking about the ideas and influences behind the poems. After the reading he will be signing copies of the limited-edition chapbook.

3pm on Saturday 16th September

Zulu Gallery, Scottish Fisheries Museum

Commenting on ring-net, poet Andrew McNeillie writes:

In this little collection, Garry MacKenzie nets his poems before our eyes, and shoots his metaphors into the deep, with rare and miraculous-seeming precision. He is a moving metaphysician, a meditative net-maker. But his poems are firmly tethered too in the material reality of history. The poems may be read as oblique environmental commentary, regarding the decline of our fisheries. Primarily they are works of verbal art, of exciting virtuosity and striking imagery.

Copies will be for sale at the reading and afterwards in the Scottish Fisheries Museum shop. You can also buy ring-net at: www.clutagpress.com/product/no-6-ring-net-by-garry-mackenzie/.