Alumni Services

One last dance

Do you have special memories of St Cecilia’s Hall’s famed Excelsior Ballroom? Join us during the Festival of Museums in May for one last dance and re-live your glory days.

St Cecilia#2019s Hall

This May we will host a special range of events as part of The Festival of Museums, including a one off dance in St Cecilia’s Hall’s famed Excelsior Ballroom.

As part of the programme we are encouraging graduates with special memories of the ballroom to get in touch.

A rich heritage

Between 1938 and 1959 St Cecilia’s Hall was known as the Excelsior Ballroom, one of Edinburgh’s most popular dance halls.

If you were a student at the time and would like to share your experience of the Excelsior your story could be part of an exhibition unveiled during the Festival.

To contribute your memory of the Ballroom please contact Serena Fredrick on 0131 511438 or via the email address below by Friday 18th April 2014.

serena.fredrick@ed.ac.uk

The Festival of Museums

The Festival of Museums takes the form of a series of events across Scotland, in association with Museums Galleries Scotland, that enables museums to showcase hidden treasures, host innovative events and ultimately broaden the appeal of museums and galleries in Scotland.

Library and University Collections is responsible for the University of Edinburgh’s digital and physical collections and will be taking part in the Festival with a packed weekend of 1940s themed events.

The weekend includes thought-provoking talks on teaching and research at the University during the era, specifically in the areas of Genetics, Geology and Natural History.

Seminars on the developments being made in Edinburgh in the medical and technology fields will run alongside sessions in publishing, art techniques and musical instrument development.

1940s fashion

We will be running craft workshops where visitors will have the opportunity to make iconic fashion items from the 1940s including jewellery and textiles as well as hearing more about the culture of making do with what they had at the time.

Events will take place in locations across the University’s campus at venues including the Main Library, Edinburgh College of Art, as well as St Cecilia’s Hall Musical Instrument Museum.

Students will be getting involved in the Festival, including helping research the history of the dance hall.

Further information

The Festival of Museums runs from Friday, 16 May to Sunday, 18 May 2014. Find out more by following @FestofMuseums on Twitter or by liking the Festival of Museums Facebook page.

Festival of Museums Facebook page