Annual Academic Lecture 2009 - Friday 26th June 2009

The first talk in the 2009 Groam House lecture series will be the Annual Academic Lecture. Entitled “Pict Apart: Unity and Division among the Picts, 650-850” the talk will be given on Friday 26th June 2009 by Dr. James Fraser, Lecturer in Early Scottish History and Culture at The University of Edinburgh. As usual the talk will take place at Fortrose Community Theatre (01381 621252) at 7.30pm. Admission £3.00 (Members £1.50).

Dr. Fraser’s book “From Caledonia to Pictland- Scotland to 795” has recently been published as the first volume in The New Edinburgh History of Scotland and so we should benefit greatly from hearing the latest research and thinking on the last two centuries of the Pictish period from an acknowledged expert in his field.  This book is available from the Museum shop.

It is hoped that, as usual, this year’s academic lecture will be published later as a new booklet in the Museum’s acclaimed series.

For more information and to purchase booklets in print please click here. To download copies of booklets no longer in print please click here.
 

Designed to mark Scotland’s Year of Homecoming, Groam House Museum’s new Annual Exhibition, George Bain – Games and Gatherings, opened on the 1st May 2009 and runs until the 11th April 2010.

Whilst Bain (1881 – 1968) was primarily famous as the ‘father of modern Celtic Art’, the exhibition includes a number of drawings of contemporary events. Some of the most interesting and charming of these are his well-observed sketches of the varied activities to be found at Highland Games, such as dancing, piping and tossing the caber, and these form the focus of the exhibition. There are also a number of items on display that relate to associated commissions for Celtic Art that Bain carried out, e.g. for piping certificates.

For more information about George Bain and our Collection of his work please click here.

To purchase a copy of our booklet about George Bain please click here.
 

Highlands and Islands Museums take part in Show Scotland 2009

The Highlands and Islands Museums Forum (HIMF) worked in partnership with the Highland Council to organise ‘The Past Presents’ on May 4th at the Highland Folk Museum Newtonmore especially for Show Scotland 2009 weekend. The event, which was free and open to all, officially launched HIMF’s new directory. The booklet contains information from over 25 museums and archives in the Highland region. It has been produced to promote museum collections, exhibitions and activities during this The Year of Homecoming. The project has been supported by The Highland Council and Museums and Galleries Scotland.

Groam House was represented on the day together with other Highland Museums based at Mallaig, Skye, Ullapool, Dornoch, Tain, Helmsdale, Inverness, Newtonmore and Tarbat ; all of whom provided exhibitions including printed material, films and hands-on activities. The old style games and toys supplied by The Highland Museum of Childhood, delighted both children and adults. Inverness Museum brought along a stuffed badger, which after some gentle encouragement from the Curator, attracted many little hands to give ‘Eric’ a tentative stroke. The other museums presented a plethora of information on current exhibitions and activities, Museum staff and volunteers were on hand to discuss their collections with the many people who filtered in and out of the Leanach Church.

Even more activities and entertainment were provided by Arthur Dutch, Tinsmith and Bob Pegg, Storyteller, both of whose activities were supported by their extensive collection of accoutrements, utilised throughout the day to great effect. It was deemed a very successful by all, despite the squally showers. It is hoped that there will be future such events. Please keep in touch with HIMF activities by checking the blog at http://himf.wordpress.com

Grioam House, HIMF and The Highland Council hope that the new directory will succeed in aiding and encouraging many visitors to explore and access the wealth of resources to be found in museums across the region. The Directory is available in local museums and other distribution points in the Highland Region. If you would like to have copies to distribute please contact HIMF to discuss at himf@hotmail.co.uk or contact Lorna Cruickshank, Highland Council Independent Museums Support Officer 01349863441 lorna.cruickshank@highland.gov.uk
Please also see http://himf.wordpress.com/news to download a copy electronically.

The Making of Time Team

We are delighted to confirm that Professor Mick Aston of TV Channel 4's popular archaeology programme, Time Team, will give the last of this year's Groam House lectures in the Fortrose Community Theatre, Fortrose Academy on Tuesday 27th October at 7:30 p.m.

Mick Aston, pictured above in his trade-mark stripey pullover, is a highly popular and entertaining speaker and our museum is very fortunate to have succeeded in persuading him to come to talk to us about The Making of Time Team.  Mick will describe how Time Team came about, how sites for excavation are identified and how all this becomes a fascinating television programme.  The current Time Team series is being shown on Channel 4 at present, usually early on Sunday evenings.  The programmes we are viewing this year were filmed last year, but when Mick comes to talk to us in October he will include pictures and advance information about some of the excavations that have been carried out in 2009.

Groam House Museum is hosting the lecture as a fund raising event for the museum.  Mick's lecture will be advertised widely and demand for tickets is expected to be high.  Tickets will be priced at £6 each for non-member adults and £4 each for members and children.  Information about the commencement of the sale and availability of tickets will be posted here on the web site in due course so please 'watch this space' !  We hope to be able to sell tickets on-line but that will be confirmed when they become available.