Booking a Visit
The Bell Pettigrew Museum has a vast and varied collection of natural history specimens, including insects, birds, land mammals, marine life, shells and fossils. It is a wonderful place to learn about the diversity and evolution of life and to let loose the imagination.
To help schools develop artwork for the competition, teachers may book a free class visit to the Bell Pettigrew Museum. During the visit, pupils will study real specimens and experiment with a range of different art techniques with help from the University’s Learning & Access staff.
Visiting times
School workshops will be held at the Bell Pettigrew Museum from Tuesday 7 February to Friday 23 March at the following times:
- Tuesday and Thursday (mornings and afternoons)
- Wednesday (afternoons only)
- Friday (mornings only)
Dates and times may be negotiated, but please contact the Learning and Access team as soon as possible to secure your booking. Please note that visits to the Bell Pettigrew Museum are by appointment only.
Sessions will last approximately 1.5 hours. Maximum group size 33. Pupils must be accompanied by their teacher and at least one other adult.
Secondary Schools
This year we will also be holding a free Study Day for Secondary School pupils on Wednesday 29 February in Parliament Hall and the Bell Pettigrew Museum. This will include talks and demonstrations by professional artists and opportunities to develop observation and drawing skills, working from the collections.
Enquiries and bookings to:
Rebecca Berger
Learning & Access Trainee
Museum Collections Unit, University of St Andrews
Tel: 01334 461663
Email: rjb54@st-andrews.ac.uk
Location & facilities
The Bell Pettigrew Museum is located within the University’s Bute Building on South Street, St Andrews. Entry is via the archway to St Mary’s Quad on South Street. You will be met at the entrance of the Bute Building (Door C). Buses may drop off pupils on South Street or in the University car park on the south side of the Bute Building, off Queen’s Terrace.
View map (pdf)
The Bell Pettigrew Museum is fully wheelchair accessible. For further information on facilities and health and safety issues download a risk assessment here (pdf).
Support for travel to MUSA
We would like to encourage as many schools as possible to visit the Bell Pettigrew Museum to prepare for the Young Artist Award and understand that travel costs can make this difficult. Some transport funding is therefore available on a first-come, first-served basis. To find out more, please ask at the time of booking.
You may also wish to combine your trip to the Bell Pettigrew Museum with a self-guided visit to MUSA. MUSA is located at 7A The Scores and is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 12pm-4pm during the winter. Packed lunches may be eaten in the Learning Loft (education room) by prior arrangement.