The Hunterian Museum and Gallery is one of three Recognised Collections of National Significance awarded capital funding by the Scottish Government.

The University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, Provost Skene’s House in Aberdeen and Dundee’s Discovery Point will share funding of over £220,000.

Funding of £115,000 will enable the Hunterian to install ‘behind-the-scenes’ storage for its collection of some half a million zoological specimens.  The modern high-quality collection management system will increase access to the museum’s artefacts.

Susan Ferguson, Head of Marketing and Development at The Hunterian said: “As the first museum in Scotland to become a Recognised Collection of National Significance, The Hunterian is delighted to receive this generous funding from the Scottish Government. It will allow us to further increase access to the University's world class collections for local, national and international audiences.

“The Recognised Collections of the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery include over half a million zoological specimens which are used in teaching, research and exhibition. We are undertaking a ‘behind the scenes’ reorganisation to increase and widen access to these collections for all users. To make the most of the collections, we will re-configure limited storage space, install a high-quality modern collections management system and transform the study and handling facilities available to visitors.”

Culture Minister Fiona Hyslop said: “Through our funding scheme for Recognised Collections of National Significance, managed by Museums Galleries Scotland, we are supporting some of Scotland’s most important collections and improving access to our diverse heritage.
 
“This funding, and all our support for museums and galleries, recognises a wonderful educational resource that brings Scotland’s culture and heritage to life.  This funding will help increase access to some of the attractions which collectively tell Scotland’s story to an estimated 25.3 million visitors every year, contributing more that £800 million to the economy.”

Chief Executive Officer of Museums Galleries Scotland, Joanne Orr, said: “It is great news that this capital funding has been made available from the Scottish Government to invest in improving visitor experience to three of Scotland’s 37 Recognised Collections of National Significance.

“Our museums and galleries are a huge asset to Scotland’s tourism and education offer.  The recent announcement following the discussions by the Museums Think Tank recognised the need for a national development body and a national strategy.  We look forward to working with partners across the country to support and develop a sustainable sector for Scotland’s museums and galleries.”

The A-listed Provost Skene’s House in Aberdeen will benefit from support of £64,651 to create a new exhibition space, allowing visitors more opportunities to interact with the collection.

At Discovery Point in Dundee, funding of £44,350 will allow improvements to visitor facilities including automated entrance gates to improve disabled access to the building.

The Scottish Government’s Recognition Scheme – managed by Museums Galleries Scotland – makes capital funding available to museums and galleries which house collections of national significance.

There are currently 37 Recognised collections across Scotland: http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/the-programmes/recognition/

Museums Galleries Scotland represents more than 350 museums and galleries across Scotland.

Further information:
Harriet Gaston, Museum and Art Gallery Communications Manager
Telephone: 0141 330 3310
Email: Harriet.Gaston@glasgow.ac.uk

First published: 12 January 2011

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