The Royal Museum, Edinburgh, and adjacent new Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street will run the annual festive Art Competition from December 27-30, when children aged six to 16 can paint or draw anything on display and win the chance to have their work made into a postcard. The Discovery Centre will feature a “Dr What” game. Closed Boxing Day only (tel 0131 225 7534).
At Provost Skene’s House, Aberdeen, a “tribute to the 20th century” looks at changes in women’s fashions over the past 100 years, including the mini skirt, utility clothes and power dressing. The exhibition runs until February 12. Closed December 25-January 4, except December 29 and 30 (tel 01224 523700).
Summerlee Heritage Park, Coatbridge, Scotland’s noisiest museum, is staging a special “Space Station” participation exhibition over the holidays featuring a mock-up rocket, science lab and control centre with aliens and other costumes for children to dress up in. Arrive early to see the underground mine and workers’ cottages. Closed December 25, 26, January 1 and 2 (tel 01236 431261).
Callendar House, Falkirk, marks the new millennium with a family-style exhibition with interactive displays. “As Time Goes By” examines ways we have reckoned and measured time in the past and looks at traditional customs connected with Hogmanay. Free, closed Sundays and December 25-January 4 (tel 01324 503770).
Stranraer Museum has a smaller version of the “Uncut Cloth” exhibition staged at Paisley Museum earlier this year. The “Precious Paisleys” show features 16 historic Paisley shawls, a dressing-up box and “design your own shawl” activity. Closed December 25-January 4, except December 29 and 30 (tel 01776 705088).
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery is in full festive mood with Christmas decorations and special millennium tartan bows. A giant millennium advent calendar features 31 pieces from the collections and visitors are invited to contribute their thoughts to a wall of millennium writings. Closed Sundays and December 25, 26, January 1, 2 (tel 01463 237114).
Three new exhibitions at Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery include “Out of the Ark”, curated by local P67 pupils, who chose animal paintings from the Fife Arts collections and produced their own paintings. Runs until February 6, closed December 24-January 4, except December 29 and 30 (tel 01592 412860).
In Glasgow (where the council-run museums and galleries are closed on December 25, 26, 31 and January 1, 2) the Burrell Collection has “Designs of Desire” until January 10, with a competition for 15 to 18-year-olds showing how rich and powerful people used to flaunt their wealth in the old days (tel 0141 287 2550).
