Latest News
McManus Connections Reaches Out!
McManus Connections Reaches Out!
What a lovely visit! Kids loved experimenting with all the crafts on offer. Great interacting with all the staff. Thank you all! (participant)
The Creative Learning Team are passionate about learning and using art and creativity to work with Dundee communities. Our team frequently sees the power of art to support improvements to health and wellbeing outcomes; to foster increased confidence; and to nurture strengthening of personal connections and relationships, within family groups, community and participant groups. McManus Connections aims to position The McManus as an open, positive and welcoming destination that narrates stories of Dundee’s rich heritage and history for a broader and more diverse range of…
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The McManus: The People’s Story Banner
The Creative Learning Team at The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum have been working this year with the local community to produce a unique banner for the museum’s 150th anniversary. The banner is part of an ambitious learning and engagement programme called ‘The People’s Story’ where visitors and participants have told stories of their own journeys, memories and experiences as they explored the museum.
The team have now created a special woven warp using a rigid-heddle loom and worked with over 8000 participants from schools, families and community groups to co-produce ‘The People’s Story Birthday Banner’ creating a woven weft. Warp and weft are terms for the two basic components used in weaving to turn yarn into fabric. The warp yarns are held stationary in tension…
Heritage Awareness Day
The McManus 168 group are celebrating Scotland's first ever Heritage Awareness Day with a fresh appeal for volunteers to get involved in their research project.
Launched in June this project to research the original 261 subscribers who contributed to The Albert Institute, now known as The McManus: Dundee's Art Gallery & Museum, is well under way. The Heritage Lottery funded project is part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the museum which was established in 1867. More volunteers are needed to find out about the men and women who made the founding of this iconic building possible.
Working with a team including historians Professors Jim Tomlinson and Chris Whatley, city archivists and other experts, the volunteer researchers have the opportunity to delve into…
Largest Sea Sturgeon back on display at The McManus
An eight and a half foot long European Sea Sturgeon, the largest and last sturgeon to be caught on the River Tay, has gone back on display at The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum as part of their Dundee Preserves Exhibition. The sturgeon was originally part of the show when it opened in June. Curators wanted visitors to see that it was in need of repair before expert work was undertaken to improve its condition. It has now had the necessary repairs carried out by a taxidermist and is back on display, underlining the importance of a sustained programme of collections care.
It was donated to the museum in 1888. It was kept in storage and suffered deterioration around the gills, head and body with large openings around the body. The sturgeon was then recently sent…
Free events at The McManus Collections Unit
The McManus Collections Unit on Barrack Street, Dundee has two free events coming up next week. Both events can be booked by calling 01382 307200.
Crime and Punishment Tour
Wednesday 11 October, 12.30-1.30pm.
Explore some of the objects from Dundee’s darker history stored at the Collections Unit including highlights from the phrenology collection and William H Bury’s gravestone.
Terra Nova: A Tale of Discovery
Thursday 12 October, Doors open at 6.15pm, with talk 6.30 - 7.30pm.
Guest speaker Eric McVicar will explore Terra Nova's incredible sixty-year career. Famous as the ship that took Captain Scott on his ill-fated mission to Antarctica, what few realise is this is only part of her story. Discover a career that began in…
Invitation to join in 150th Anniversary Celebrations at The McManus
The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum has invited everyone to join them in celebrating their official 150th Anniversary during the afternoon of Tuesday 12 September. This will be a birthday party to remember with the chance to chat, enjoy and learn about Dundee’s favourite building with friendly staff at the museum.
The attraction’s choir in residence, Loadsweeminsingin’, will launch proceedings with a dazzling rendition of Happy Birthday. Lord Provost Ian Borthwick and Managing Director of Leisure & Culture Dundee, Stewart Murdoch will then open the doors to an exclusive programme of memorable moments to enjoy throughout the afternoon.
Visitors will be welcomed at reception where they will be encouraged to explore the galleries and discover 150 years of…
Invitation to join in 150th Anniversary Celebrations at The McManus
The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum has invited everyone to join them in celebrating their official 150th Anniversary during the afternoon of Tuesday 12 September. This will be a birthday party to remember with the chance to chat, enjoy and learn about Dundee’s favourite building with friendly staff at the museum.
The attraction’s choir in residence, Loadsweeminsingin’, will launch proceedings with a dazzling rendition of Happy Birthday. Lord Provost Ian Borthwick and Managing Director of Leisure & Culture Dundee, Stewart Murdoch will then open the doors to an exclusive programme of memorable moments to enjoy throughout the afternoon.
Visitors will be welcomed at reception where they will be encouraged to explore the galleries and discover 150 years of…
Quest to find out more about museum benefactors
Today, the McManus 168 supporters group officially launched a project that aims to collect information on the original 168 subscribers who contributed to The Albert Institute, now known as The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum. The project is part of the celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the museum being established in 1867 and is funded by Heritage Lottery. Working with two of Scotland’s most prominent historians Professors Jim Tomlinson and Chris Whatley, the project team comprises a number of specialists and archivists alongside those with no previous experience but plenty of enthusiasm.
Research has already uncovered that funding for the Albert Institute came from the community. The list includes nautical instrument makers, grocers, hecklers,…
New exhibition highlights museum’s care for collections
A new exhibition ‘Dundee Preserves: Caring for the City’s Collections’ opens at The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum on Saturday June 10. For 150 years The McManus has collected, preserved, interpreted and displayed the City’s collection for the benefit of its visitors. As the museum celebrates its special 150th anniversary in 2017, this new show provides a glimpse into how curators and conservators care for, research, store, document and conserve the City’s collections, revealing the day to day activity that often takes place behind closed doors.
Over the last ten years, staff have worked hard to become a fully accredited museum service. This is a rigorous procedure, overseen by the national body Museums Galleries Scotland, which ensures that museums follow best…
The McManus getting ready for biggest day of the year
The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum is getting ready to host their biggest day of the year on Saturday 20 May as part of this year’s Festival of Museums, where they will be celebrating 150 years at the museum by telling ‘The People’s Story’. There is a packed programme of entertainment planned where event goers can join museum staff and partners for an exciting day and evening of activities and experiences.
Highlights include Pop Up Performances from ZeroThree15 Theatre Company where the galleries’ paintings and sculptures will come to life. Look out for the ‘Twa Auld Wifies’, ‘The Highlander’ and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert aka ‘Vic & Bert’. There will also be the chance to find out more about the current learning and engagement project, ‘The People’s Story…
Ship Models go on permanent display at The McManus
Today, a new exhibition has gone on permanent display at The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum as part of their 150th anniversary celebrations. The Maritime Quarter, tells the story of Dundee’s rich maritime heritage and the city’s links to the wider world. Located in the Dundee & the World gallery, a new bespoke case houses over 30 models from the city’s collections. Alongside a range of model sailing ships, war ships and half hulls, the exhibition also features Dundee Perth and London (DP&L) models acquired by the museum.
The display has been inspired by the purchase of eight DP&L Shipping Company models in 2015. Leisure & Culture Dundee campaigned to raise the money and with support from the National Fund for Acquisition alongside seven other public…
