John Muir’s Birthplace is open as usual!

You might have noticed our building looks a bit different at the moment! This is because we are having work done to repair and draft proof our windows. This is to prolong their life and improve thermal performance, hopefully resulting in a greener, more energy efficient building.

John Muir’s Birthplace is owned by the John Muir Birthplace Trust and is run in partnership with East Lothian Council. It has a very visible presence on Dunbar’s High Street and the Trust is keen to ensure the building is attractive and well maintained. We are grateful to the Dunbar Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme, BeGreen Dunbar and East Lothian Council for support with funding for this work, which is being carried out by Newtown Renovations Ltd.

We hope also to install secondary glazing and paint the exterior of the building in the not too distant future. Watch this space!

April at John Muir’s Birthplace

We’ve got an exciting programme of events lined up to celebrate John Muir’s birthday month.

Firstly, there will be a new exhibition from East Lothian Climate Hub opening on Wednesday 23rd April.

East Lothian Vision 2040: Climate Creativity is an exhibition of inspiring artwork, stories and poems on climate and nature by secondary school students.
🌿 Wednesday 23rd April – Sunday 1st June
🌻 Wednesday – Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm
🌾 Free entry
As part of this exhibition there will be a spoken word event on Saturday 26th April with students doing live readings of their stories and poetry.
🍄 Saturday 26th April
🐝 2.30-3.30pm
🪺 Free entry
Finally, Friends of John Muir’s Birthplace are gathering at St. Anne’s Dunbar for a rehearsed reading of ‘The John Muir Way,’ a new play about the women in John Muir’s life. Written by the award winning Rebekah King and performed by Battery Theatre Company, we can’t think of a better way to celebrate John Muir’s birthday!
🌱 Monday 21st April
🌳 7.30-9pm
🌲 St Anne’s, Dunbar
Refreshments provided. Free entry with cash donations welcome on the night.

A Stitch in Time

 

We’ve got a gorgeous new exhibition installed at John Muir’s Birthplace. It’s family friendly and explores creatively reusing and recycling materials. It features a mixture of stained glass, hoops, paintings and craft ideas from Hannah and Pamela Foster. Free to visit as always!
🦅 Saturday 1st February – Sunday 9th March
🌊 Wed-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm
☀️ John Muir’s Birthplace
You can find Hannah on Instagram, Facebook and Etsy.

Building closure Friday 24th January – red weather warning

Due to the red weather warning issued by the Met Office for Friday 24th January 2025, John Muir’s Birthplace will be closed on essential safety grounds.

Please contact 01620 827827 if you have an urgent enquiry.

We will reopen at 10am on Saturday 25th January (weather permitting). Take care out there everyone!

For further information/latest updates on local impacts, see the East Lothian Council website: https://orlo.uk/c0xy0.

We are hiring!

East Lothian Council Museums Service are looking for seasonal Museum Assistants to support the service across a range of museums (including here at John Muir’s Birthplace).
 
We are looking for people with with:
  • enthusiasm
  • flexibility
  • great communication skills
  • great organisation skills
  • and a passion for delivering excellent customer service
If you think you have the skills to help visitors get the most from their visit take a look at the full job advert on MyJobScotland at Seasonal Museum Assistants – Various Positions/Locations – EAL10768 | East Lothian Council | myjobscotland.
 
The deadline for applications is 26th January 2025.

The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry: East Lothian Safari

10th Anniversary Celebration!

The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry’s world premiere exhibition was held in Prestonpans ten years ago this June.

To celebrate this milestone, they have partnered with East Lothian Council’s museums and libraries to present a special multi-venue exhibition which embeds the tapestry into the communities of its home county.

Selections of panels, in country groupings, will be displayed at 17 venues around East Lothian, including John Muir’s Birthplace.

Where the Light Enters You

Where The Light Enters You: exploring loss and longing in local landscape, with words and images by Vicky Allen
✨ Wednesday 1st May – Sunday 2nd June
???? Wed-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm
☀️ John Muir’s Birthplace
This exhibition is a search for hope amidst the lament around our changing climate and how it is impacting us. From contemplating a changing landscape to noticing the small beauties found all around us, art and words combine to invite us to be attentive to our shared environment with a particular and very local focus.
The title of the exhibition is drawn from Rumi’s famous poem:
“I said: what about my eyes?
He said: Keep them on the road.
I said: What about my passion?
He said: Keep it burning.
I said: What about my heart?
He said: Tell me what you hold inside it?
I said: Pain and sorrow.
He said: Stay with it. The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
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