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Ghanaian Fancy Dress Parade masks: ‘Fine Lady’ and ‘Ugly Man’ by Donatus Archibald Acquandoh

Stories of the World so far

National Museums Scotland is the Scottish partner in the Stories of the World Cultural Olympiad.

What is Stories of the World?

Stories of the World is a unique and innovative UK-wide programme led by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) in partnership with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

The programme puts young people at the heart of the curatorial process to present exciting new museum exhibitions across the UK. It will connect museums’ objects and collections with relevant communities in the UK and abroad responding to the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad’s aim of “welcoming the world”.

Sounds Global

A National Museums Scotland’s project we're working with young people to create responses to the new Performance and Lives gallery which is a multi-sensory experience looking at musical instruments, performance and ceremony around the world.

The young people's installation will be displayed in the National Museum of Scotland from July to September 2012. They will also plan a public programme of events and activities during the summer months.

Our Stories of the World Ambassadors

In March 2011, Charlotte and Shannon met up with other young people from across the UK, taking part in this project at a UK Youth Steering Group in Birmingham.

Charlotte and Shannon

Here’s what they’ve been doing so far:

  • Meeting curators to find out about the gallery
  • Getting behind-the-scenes to see objects and some of the new gallery spaces
  • Working with Visitor Operations staff and other young people to get to know each other better, improve relationships, make the museum a friendlier place.
  • Researching the objects that will go in the Performance & Lives gallery – thinking about how these can be used in the Sounds Global project
  • Planning a Murder Mystery event for young people at the museum.

Want to be part of Sounds Global?

We are looking for more volunteers to take an active role in the Stories of the World project. If you are interested, find out more here or contact Christine McLean, Community Engagement Manager (c.mclean@nms.ac.uk; tel: 0131 247 4199) or Laura Bennison, Community Engagement Officer (l.bennison@nms.ac.uk; tel: 0131 247 4435).

Launch Weekend July 2010

Tigerstyle DJ set © Jenni Sophia FuchsWe took part in the UK Open Weekend 24-25 July 2010 to launch our Stories of the World: Sounds Global project and begin the two year countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

We kicked off Sounds Global with a lot of noise and two days of rhythms from around the world from Tigerstyle, a Bhangra hip hop DJ set with live Punjabi percussion by one of the biggest names in Bhangra and Pete the Beat from the Baobab Gateway.

Tigerstyle DJ set © Jenni Sophia Fuchs

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What are these links?

Games and fun

Try your hand at creating your own piece of music with our

  • World Music Composer
World Music Composer

Charlotte's favourite objects

Bosun's Silver Call Pipe

Bosun’s silver whistle dated, 1660.

Crocodile headdress and costume

Mask of a crocodile's head with open mouth, part of a fancy dress masquerade costume from Ghana.Tartul by Victor Gamma

Tartul, the tarantula by musical instrument maker Victor Gama.

Find out more about Victor Gama's involvement
  • Find out more about Victor Gama's work with our Communities team

The Feast Bowl

  • Stories of the World blog posts

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National Museums Scotland, Scottish Charity, No. SC 011130