Looking for ways to escape the weather this July? Otago Museum is overflowing with exhibitions, talks, kids’ activities and immersive shows. Here’s a round-up of just some of the events taking place this month.
School holiday fun
Banish boredom over the school holidays by bringing the kids to Otago Museum! We’ve got lots of ways to keep them entertained, from daily science shows to gallery trails. Pull on your PJs for an after-dark exploration of the galleries by torchlight (expect plenty of surprises along the way), or join us for storytelling and caterpillar crafts in the Tropical Forest.
Busy parents might like to take advantage of our Explorers’ Club, which offers whole or half day themed sessions, arts and crafts, and time in the Tūhura Otago Community Trust Science Centre.
Thought-provoking speakers
This month we’re delving into supervolcanoes, Matariki beliefs and customs, and science and nature photography. Nigel Latta will be discussing how science and technology could affect the careers of today's young people, and Siân Cleaver will be talking about her role as Principal Mission Systems Engineer at Airbus UK and addressing the issue of gender balance in STEM sectors.
Mind-blowing theatricality
Electronic and traditional instrumentalism, a surreal sense of storytelling and physical movement - Anthonie Tonnon will be bringing all this and more to the Perpetual Guardian Planetarium this month. Due to popular demand, we’ve added an extra date to the programme: 9pm on Thursday 12 July.
Sky gazing from the comfort of the Perpetual Guardian Planetarium
There’s lots happening in the sky throughout July. Come and learn about Māori myths and legends relating to the southern night sky in our planetarium show Mārama ā-Whetū: Light of the Stars. We’ve got daily shows at 1.30pm from Monday 16 July to Sunday 22 July, an evening screening at 7pm on 18 July, and a te reo Māori screening at 7pm on 22 July.
Dive into the mysteries of Mars, which this month will be the closest it’s been to Earth since 2003. Invaders of Mars will be showing daily at 11.30am from Saturday 7 July to Sunday 22 July.
Check out the rest of our planetarium shows on the website.
And if you’re a music fan, don’t forget to swing by our exhibition about Martin Phillipps and The Chills – it’s open from 10am-4pm in the H D Skinner Annex until 15 July.