Throughout the year, Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland are invited to exclusive online and in-person events. They are one of the benefits of Fellowship and provide opportunities to network, meet other Fellows, and learn and discuss areas of shared interests related to Scotland’s past.

Online Fellows’ Meetings

These monthly events take place via Zoom and offer Fellows from all over the world a chance to meet and learn about and discuss a range of topics relating to Scotland’s past.

These consist of a 30–40-minute talk by an expert in their field, followed by a Q&A session and a chance to speak with Fellows and members of Society staff. The online meetings are themed around a range of history, archaeology and heritage topics, career stages, countries and regions. For example:

• ‘The Historic Environment as an agent of change in the climate emergency: A Community Centred Approach’ with Dr Audrey Scardina FSAScot, AHRC Early Career Research Fellow at Historic Environment Scotland
• ‘Kilmartin’s Prehistory’ with Dr Sharon Webb FSAScot, Director and Curator of Archaeology at Kilmartin Museum, Argyll
• ‘Historic Scottish Churches: The European Connection’ with Prof Adam Cumming FSAScot
• ‘Passage Tomb People project’ with Dr Jessica Smyth, Associate Prof in the School of Archaeology at University College Dublin
• ‘Centuries of Connection: from the Caribbean to Edinburgh’ with Lisa Williams, Founder of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association
• ‘The Darien Colony and its place in Scottish and Spanish Colonial history’ with Dr Stewart Redwood FSAScot, Geologist
• ‘Neighbours, Neighbourliness, and Networks in Early Modern Edinburgh’ with Cathryn Spence, Associate Professor, History, University of Guelph
• ‘Settling the North Atlantic: Viking Age migrations to Scotland and Iceland’ with Dr Rachel Cartwright FSAScot, Teaching Fellow in Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh

There are also annual online grants surgeries with our Head of Research to answer questions Fellows might have when considering or preparing to submit applications for funding from the Society grants scheme, and occasional online writing retreats to create a supportive space for Fellows.

Online Fellows’ Meetings usually take place on a Thursday and most start at 4pm or 5pm (UK time), although the online meetings for Fellows in Australia begin at 8am or 9am (UK time).

Private Tours

These in-person, small group events are arranged for Fellows throughout the year at a range of locations with links to Scottish history, heritage and archaeology. Attendees are guided through the venue by a member of their staff and, on occasion, are shown objects or documents which are not usually on display. These are usually free to Fellows with donations to the venue encouraged.

Previous small group tours have included the Court of Lord Lyon and the Historic Environment Scotland Archives and Library in Edinburgh, Dunkeld Community Archive and Chapter House Museum in Perth & Kinross, and Broomhall House in Fife.

If you are a Fellow of the Society, please keep an eye on your inbox for an email or e-newsletter advertising the next exclusive Fellows event.

If you are not a Fellow and would like to support our work as a charity while enjoying the many benefits of Fellowship, find out how to join or subscribe to our public e-newsletter.