Perth Museum unveils new autumn exhibition highlighting climate emergency

A museum is to unveil a new autumn exhibition highlighting the climate emergency.

Perth Museum has announced the next exhibition to follow Unicorn will be Waters Rising, an exploration of how flooding and climate breakdown have impacted Perth and Kinross, Scotland, and the world.

The exhibition will trace stories and objects connected to flooding from Scotland and abroad, from biblical accounts to Ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian and North American myths, as well as ones closer to home.

It will explore the growing threat of the global climate emergency and examine the impact of flooding and extreme weather events on communities, businesses, and infrastructure in Perth and Kinross, including photos, memories, and oral histories from residents.

Putting the local experience in a global context, Waters Rising will also feature an Egyptian sarcophagus with Nile flood damage, a rare illuminated bible from the 13th century, ceremonial brass bowls commemorating the Hindu flood myth of Vasudeva and Krishna, 18th and 19th-century etchings and mezzotints of the Great Flood, and more contemporary works from renowned indigenous Canadian artist Norval Morisseau, and Scottish artists Will Maclean and Alan Kilpatrick.

The exhibition will also encourage climate action by highlighting COP26 and significant climate protests with a selection of objects on loan from the National Museum Scotland.

Helen Smout, chief executive officer at Culture Perth and Kinross said “We hope this exhibition reflect the strength and resilience of the people of Perth and Kinross in the face of the wetter, warmer weather patterns we now experience. The exhibition has been designed to inspire visitors from far and wide to take action in the climate crisis that impacts us all.”

Councillor Richard Watters, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee added: “The ‘Waters Rising’ exhibition will a powerful reminder of the urgent need to address the climate emergency.

Image of man in flooding in Perthshire, December 1946 Culture Perth and Kinross

“By highlighting the impact of flooding and extreme weather events on our local community and connecting it to global stories, this exhibition will not only educate but is a call to all of us to take meaningful steps towards a sustainable future.”

Personal items such as letters and photos are often listed as the most missed items following floods. As part of the exhibition, Perth Museum are inviting the public to submit photographs of flooding in their local area.

Photos can be emailed to collections@culturepk.org.uk and will create part of a central display displaying the community’s lived experiences.

Alongside this, Perth Museum are also inviting the public to share memories, handwritten onto postcards created by the museum.

These blank postcards are available to write and submit at designated points in Perth Museum, Perth Art Gallery and Culture Perth and Kinross Libraries.

This community sourced collection will act as a new physical archive of flood memories, both past and present.

Tickets for Waters Rising are available to book in advance now through Perthshire Box Office, using a Pay What You Choose model to make the exhibition more accessible.

Visitors will also be able to purchase tickets at the Museum on the day of their visit, but advance booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. Contributors to the exhibition and members of the Culture Perth and Kinross Supporters Scheme receive free entry.

To date Perth Museum has welcomed over 151,000 visitors, more than 85% of the annual target in the first five months of opening. The museum is open seven days a week, from 10am to 5pm, with extended hours until 7pm on Thursdays until October 31.

From November 1 until March 31, Perth Museum will be open Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday 11am – 4pm. Admission to the Museum permanent galleries and the Stone of Destiny exhibit are free.