National Galleries of Scotland

The National Galleries of Scotland looks after Scotland's national collection of works of fine art, including photography, and makes it available to the public at large. It is made up of five galleries based in Edinburgh: the National Gallery of Scotland, the Royal Scottish Academy Building; the Scottish National Portrait Gallery; the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art; and the Dean Gallery.

The National Galleries of Scotland also incorporates the Granton Centre for Art, a purpose-built storage facility on the outskirts of Edinburgh, and two partner galleries: Paxton House near Berwick-upon-Tweed, and Duff House at Banff.

Schools programme

The National Galleries of Scotland offers guided visits for school groups. The visits are led by experienced gallery educators, who actively encourage pupils to engage with selected works of art through discussion and investigation. These sessions are suitable for all stages of the curriculum, and are tailored to meet the needs of any group. Most guided visits are free of charge.

A visit to one of the Galleries can enhance and extend classroom learning. Pupils are encouraged to investigate art, linking what they see to their own experiences using transferable skills such as looking, describing, discussing, analyzing and making. Works of art can be used to explore all subject areas creatively, promoting cross-curricular learning and helping children develop the four capacities of the Curriculum for Excellence.

The schools programme also includes a range of hands-on workshops led by professional artists in fully equipped studios. Students can try different art-making techniques in an environment designed to stimulate and encourage their own creativity. Workshops can last from two hours to all day. There is a fee for these workshops - details are on the website.

Contact information

Jo Mawdsley is the Schools Education Officer at the National Galleries of Scotland overseeing the programmes for schools. She is available to help develop visits to suit any specific needs. You can contact Jo on 0131 624 6547 or email jmawdsley@nationalgalleries.org.

For more information on planning and booking a visit, and on available workshops, see the National Galleries website.