MUSA
The Museum of the University of St Andrews(MUSA), which opened in October 2008, puts on display to the public for the first time some of the real treasures amongst the University’s collection of over 112,000 artefacts.The museum has four galleries, a ‘Learning Loft’ and a viewing terrace with panoramic views over St Andrews Bay. This page details further information on events and activities at MUSA.
MUSA is free to the public.
Opening hours:
Summer (1 April-31 October) Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12-4pm
Winter (1 November-30 March) Thursday-Sunday 12-4pm (closed Monday-Wednesday)
Activities and Events at MUSA
MUSA is a great place for visits for people of all ages, with fascinating displays and hands on activities in each gallery, and a Viewing Terrace offering views over St Andrews Bay.
We also run a varied programme of activities in the Learning Loft and galleries - keep an eye out on this page for details of these activities, which range from gallery talks to family art and science sessions, and from storytelling to film nights.
Some current opportunities:
Fancy meeting Mary Queen of Scots?
You can this summer at MUSA! On Wednesday 20th July the infamous queen herself will be giving tours of some of the sites she visited when she stayed in St Andrews.
Not only that, but we also have an exciting array of other activities for children, families and adults! Does geology rock your world? You can journey with a geologist to explore the cliffs around St Andrews. Do you dig archaeology? You can find out about ancient socities and get hands on with some incredibly old artefacts. Or would your beady eye be more attracted by some sedate jewellery making? Well, we've got that too.
All the activities are free, but many need to be booked. You can find out more details of the MUSA Summer Programme 2011 (PDF, 235 KB) by clicking the link.
Inspired by MUSA
A series of lunchtime talks inspired by the University’s collections
MUSA displays artefacts from across the University’s rich and unique collections. These talks provide a chance for you to come and examine parts of those collections in more detail, or to find out about related developments. Invited speakers will introduce their chosen objects or artworks, sharing their knowledge about and enthusiasm for them. We hope you will join us to be inspired. Time for questions will be included.
The 2011 winners of the MUSA Young Artist Award:
The MUSA Young Artist Award is an annual art competition encouraging pupils from Fife to get creative. This year's competition was on the theme of Making Faces and asked budding Wilkies to respond to the University's collection of portraits with one of their own.
Follow this link for more details on the MUSA Young Artist Award and to see the 2011 winning entries.
Fun Filled Activies at MUSA
We've all sorts of exciting activities for young visitors to MUSA. You can explore the museum with your very own student gown and backpack with our A Few of Our Favourite Things activity. We also have a vast array of themed trails around the museum for you to explore. Just ask at reception for either of these.
Want to get creative? The MUSA Art Cart is also regularly available in Gallery 4 for arts and crafts based responses to some of the things you can find in MUSA.
New Family Focus Group
MUSA has just created a new Family Focus Group. The group meets around three times a year to help shape and to evaluate the Family Programme. If you are interested in being on the waiting list to join this group, please let us know by completing the form below and returning it to:
Rhona Ramsay, Learning & Access Curator, Museum Collections Unit, University of St Andrews, 87 North Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AE
MUSA Family Focus Group membership enquiry (PDF, 89 KB)
If you would like to join our Family Activities mailing list and be first to hear about new workshops and events please email your details to museumlearning@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Projects
MUSA Intergenerational Memories Project
In conjunction with Museums Galleries Scotland and Scotland's Center for Intergenarational Practice, MUSA is currently running an oral history project. This will involve children from local Secondary Schools and residents of St Andrews willing to share their memories of the town and the University. The aims of the project are to challenge preconceptions existing between the elderly and the younger generations of the local area, investigate memories and perceptions of the town and University of St Andrews and redefine an interactive exhibit in MUSA.
External links
Social Media
- Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA) on Facebook
- Follow us on Twitter
- Read our Museum Collections Blog