MGS main grant funding announced

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MGS grants this year include an £19,562 award to the Scottish Football Museum in Glasgow for the development of a fantastic project that will see the museum work with care centres to provide reminiscence therapy to people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The sport of football will be used to help stimulate the minds and memories of those who suffer from this degenerative illness. As part of the project the museum will digitise some 600 images from their collection which can then be accessed by the care centres to use as part of the therapy.

Robert Craig, Chairman of the Scottish Football Museum, said:
“Sadly, there are 63,500 people with dementia across the country and 7,000 people are diagnosed with the illness every year. We hope that this significant outreach project will bring therapeutic benefits to one of society’s most excluded groups and will open up the museum’s collections.”

A grant of £14,000 will allow Culture and Sport Glasgow to augment the visitor experience to the Burrell Collection’s important tapestry collection, which is also part of Glasgow Museum’s Recognised Collection of National Significance. The project will help to better engage visitors to the Burrell Collection and the tapestries which were collected by William Burrell himself. The project will also provide visitors with a ‘behind the scenes’ look at the museum’s work.

Bailie Liz Cameron, Chair of Culture and Sport Glasgow said:
“We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this grant. It gives us a great opportunity to show even more people the unique and internationally important tapestry collection that Sir William Burrell gave the city of Glasgow.”

Joanne Orr, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland, said:
“We are delighted to have been able to fund some really exciting projects this year. Not only are these projects helping to foster significant new partnerships but they are also contributing to important health and education agendas and will have a beneficial impact on the lives of many people across Scotland.”

MGS is the lead body for funding, development and advocacy of over 340 museums and galleries in Scotland and MGS grants are an important source of funding allowing museums and galleries to undertake projects that benefit the sector and beyond.

In addition to the ten new projects MGS awarded a further £50,000 for the continuation of six projects already being progressed by organisations across the country.

The full list of MGS main grant recipients are:

Dundee City Council – £12,475
The funding will be used to bring a trainee conservator on board for a period of one year who to provide valuable assistance with preparations for the exciting stages of the McManus Galleries and Museum £11m redevelopment project.

Culture Sport Glasgow – £14,000
As per main release text.

Gordon Highlanders Regimental Trust – £20,000
The museum will work with local and regional education providers to develop an interactive, child-focussed, identity project. Strengthening the unique heritage and educational experience offered by the museum, the project will allow for greater engagement with and understanding of regional and national heritage amongst the younger generation through the development of a range of learning tools which they may easily identify with.

Highland Museum of Childhood Trust – £11,537
This funding will be used for a wonderful new extension to the museum building. The additional space will greatly increase capacity for learning and education opportunities as well as improve collections care at the museum.

Kilmartin House Trust – £9,390
A partnership project between Kilmartin House Museum, Auchindrain Museum and Campbeltown Museum has been awarded funding to employ an Education and Outreach Officer who will develop educational and volunteer opportunities for the three museums. This funding of this position will enhance the enjoyment and understanding of the Argyll’s unique heritage and help to engage new audiences.

Perth & Kinross Council – £14,728
The grant will be used to preserve the substantial Margaret Morris Collection which was gifted to the Council. This outstanding collection will greatly enhance the Recognised Fergusson Gallery Collection, strengthening and enriching the opportunities for display, research and learning. The additional collection has fantastic potential to attract international audiences which will help raise the profile of the Fergusson Gallery. It also has the potential new and exciting theatre and dance partnerships.

Scottish Fisheries Museum Trust – £19,280
The funding will be used to recruit a new Learning & Access Officer who will enhance the learning and access opportunities presented by the museum and their Recognised Collection of National Significance. Educational facilities and activities will be improved and the museum will work in partnership with other museums and agencies to reach families, tourists, school children of all ages and community groups.

Scottish Fisheries Museum Trust – £20,000
The museum has also been awarded a second grant to conserve key specimens of an internationally important Victorian collection of fish casts, created by Frank Buckland, the UK’s first Inspector of Fisheries. The museum will make the collection accessible and relevant through an exhibition and events which explore the environmental issues central to the Scottish fishing industry today.

Scottish Football Association Museum Trust – £19,562
As per main release text.

University of St Andrews – £15,000
A new collections management system will greatly help to increase access to the University museum’s collection. The database will allow items from the collection to be searched by members of the public, either on a visit to the new Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA) or online through the University’s website.

PRESS CONTACT:
Eithne Ní Chonghaile
Communications Manager (PR & Events)
Museums Galleries Scotland
Email: eithnenc@museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk
Phone: 0131 550 4123

Published
29th Jun 2009

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