Provost Skene’s House is a well-known landmark within Aberdeen city centre. Although it has been a museum through the decades it was reopened in 2021 in its current format of celebrating people of Aberdeen through the years. As with many of the venues run by Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums it is free to enter.
The actual exhibition is segmented into different types of people such as: sports stars, authors, musicians, scientists. The categories are allocated different areas through the gorgeous rooms, with their original features, of the Provost’s house. Unfortunately this museum is not accessible to less able bodied people, as you do have to go up and down a very old concrete spiral staircase. They get round this by having a screen on the ground floor that has electronic versions of some of the materials, next to appropriate books to fill some of the knowledge that the rest of us can get from climbing the stairs.
There are several interactive elements, some of the activities are obviously based aimed at children such as a map of Scotland with the birds you can find in different areas, we can take brass rubbings of the birds and press buttons to hear what the song of the bird sound like. In another area there's a puppet theatre, then in the fashion section you can choose different materials and make up outfits. In the science section you can build things with magnetic plates. I must admit I tried them all even though I did not have any children with me!
The most stunning original feature is a gorgeous painted gallery. Unusually in a museum that door is kept shut so that it can be environmentally protected. Somehow this adds to the amazing “unveiling” as you open that door, it is very hard not to catch your breath at the beauty within. I had recently seen such a ceiling in St Mary's Church, down in Grandtully but had no idea that such a glory existed right in the middle of Aberdeen! A really lovely touch is that Provost Skene’s House is also equipped with mirrors and torches so you can see all the amazing details, without straining your neck. There are also benches down the middle of the room, as I was lucky enough to get the room to myself I spent a while lying on my back along each bench enjoying the vision above me.
The final room gives some options for future additions to the exhibitions, some people of Aberdeen not yet included, and there is a touch screen where you can vote for your favourite. The whole museum is welcoming, engaging and informative. It has been well thought out and is well worth a visit, my only regret is that I had not been in previously! I will definitely be going back.
Further information: https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/AAGM/plan-your-visit/provost-skenes-house
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Maria Robertson is an academic librarian by day and a concert reviewer by night, she also loves spending time with her family and they all enjoy visiting museums. Reviews published at: https://www.5d-blog.com/?s=maria+robertson