Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology - After dark at the Petrie with Egyptomania!

Get closer to the Petrie collection with artists, performers and researchers at our new UCL Culture Lates. We're kicking things off on Thursday 26 September with Egyptomania: a night exploring the European obsession with all things ancient Egypt in the 19th century, and its powerful influence on the psyche of Sigmund Freud himself. Born just three years apart, Flinders Petrie pioneered new systematic methods in his excavations of some of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt; while the founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud considered himself an archaeologist of the human mind. Drop-in during the evening for a gin cocktail and have your dreams analysed by Art Macabre, with music from Auntie Maureen and illuminations by visual artist Sal Pittman from Klanghaus. There will also be pop-up talks by experts from UCL and the Freud Museum, including curator Anna Garnett, Egyptologist John J Johnson and researcher Professor Miriam Leonard. Tickets for UCL Culture Late: Egyptomania in the Time of Freud and Petrie are £8 (£5 concessions). Book early to avoid disappointment.

Explore the Petrie

From Gurob to the Getty Free exhibition until 26 Oct Discover one of the most important artefacts in the Petrie museum: a ship-cart model from a tomb at Gurob.

Free family workshops Sat 5 & 12 Oct Find out more about the moon in ancient Egyptian culture in our interactive museum trail. Ages 7+

Transforming the Petrie Read about our plans for redesigning the museum's entrance gallery with support from DCMS and the Wolfson Foundation in our blog.

Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology - Book now: Creative writing at the Petrie Museum

Book now for a creative writing workshop at the Petrie Museum and be inspired by ideas of movement and migration Join author and writing mentor Dr Sarah Walton for Migrating Words, a workshop drawing on the stories of people migrations across continents - from antiquity to the present day. You'll have the chance to work through short creative writing exercises using the Petrie Museum's world-class collection of objects spanning 7,000 years of history. Everyone welcome. No previous experience required. Migrating Words is at the Petrie Museum on Tue 19 March, 18:00. Tickets £5. Book here

Free events and exhibitions

Moving Objects Free exhibition in the Octagon Gallery Discover the stories of people, animals and objects in exile: from ancient treasures to communities and endangered species being driven from their homes today. Until 6 Oct

Divided Free performance starting at the UCL portico steps An original perfomance by young dancers from The Place, inspired by UCL museums. Booking essential in case of wet weather and change of venue. Thu 28 Mar, 18:00

Central Saint Martins Free exhibition at the Petrie Museum Students from the world-renowned arts and design college respond to the theme of migration and movement of people, ideas, materials and trade. Coming soon 30 Apr - 1 Jun

See the full programme on our website.

Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology - Halloween and other treats at the Petrie Museum

Something strange is happening at the Petrie Museum this Halloween… 200 years after English novelist Mary Shelley published Frankenstein in 1818, her blood-curdling monster still haunts how we think of death today. To mark this spooky anniversary, Egyptologist and cultural historian John J Johnston and curator Subhadra Das are bringing the creature back to life through their whistle-stop tour of the pop culture that keeps us up at night. Halloween at the Petrie Museum, Wednesday 31 October, 18:30. £5 tickets will be available to buy on the night and include a glass of wine. Dressing up strongly encouraged!

What's coming up

Listen to Her! Open until 22 Dec Our current exhibition about ordinary Egyptian women, guest curated by Heba Abd el Gawad.

Bloomsbury Festival 20 Oct Drop-in for a free workshop, get creative or take part in a performance with artists, activists and researchers.

Bodies of Knowledge 8 & 28 Nov Stories from the Petrie Museum with artist Laura Durward.

See the full programme on our website.

Behind the scenes

Get closer to the collection through the UCL Museums & Collections blog. Here's the latest:

A child's toy pig Alice Williams, our Curatorial & Collections Assistant, reveals the secrets behind this tiny mud figure from the 12th Dynasty.

Communicating with cartouches Last month, volunteer Lambert welcomed a group of young adults with hearing loss to the museum.

A Sudanese tulip What gives this tulip-beaker its beautiful black rim?  Curator Anna Garnett describes the craft of the potters who made it.