Three Recognised Collections announced

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Many trophies have been lifted at Hampden Park over the stadium’s long and illustrious history. National cups, International cups and European trophies have all been held high.

Today the Scottish Football Museum based within Hampden Park, has been awarded a prestigious award of its very own. Douglas Connell, chair of the Recognition Committee presented a plaque to Robert Craig, Chairman of the Scottish Football Museum, to recognise their achievement at gaining national, or Recognition, status for their collection.

Managed by Museums Galleries Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, the Recognition Scheme aims to identify, and subsequently support, collections of national significance held in Scotland’s museums and galleries.

Fans of the museum will not be surprised to hear that the collection has achieved Recognition status. Scotland was, after all, the first country in the world to establish a national football museum and the diverse collection reflects many of the pioneering influences that Scotland has brought to the modern game.

Also awarded in this round is the Charles Rennie Mackintosh collection of Glasgow School of Art. The collection boasts work by the School’s most celebrated alumnus and includes items of furniture, watercolours, drawings and other decorative art objects by Mackintosh. Together these provide outstanding and often unique examples of his achievements as an architect, designer and artist. Other important objects represent Mackintosh’s breadth of work as an interior and furniture designer including original designs for a number of his most important private buildings as well as an extensive range of items for the celebrated Glasgow tea rooms designed between 1897 and 1917.

Seona Reid, Director of The Glasgow School of Art said:
“We are delighted that the Mackintosh Collection at Glasgow School of Art has been awarded Recognition Status. It is particularly appropriate that this should happen in the centenary year of his wonderful Art School building. The Mackintosh Collection not only illustrates the breadth and quality of Rennie Mackintosh’s work as an architect, designer and artist but also includes major works by his close contemporaries like Margaret and Francis Macdonald and Herbert McNair. It is satisfying that its importance has been recognised with this Status.”

The Industrial and associated Social History collections of North Lanarkshire Council has also achieved Recognition status in this round of the scheme. These collections cover the main industries of Scotland with an emphasis on iron, steel, coal and engineering. The social history collections provide an important record of the impact of industrialisation on Scottish society. Key categories of material include objects relating to the Co-operative movement, friendly societies, political reform, education, leisure, culture and identity.

Councillor Jim Logue, Convener Learning and Leisure Services, North Lanarkshire Council, said:
“We are delighted to receive this award which confirms North Lanarkshire’s industrial history collection as among the most significant in the country.
Our museums are very popular and Summerlee Museum of Industrial Life recently celebrated welcoming over 200,000 visitors since it reopened last year after a £10million refurbishment.”

Joanne Orr, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland, said:
“The three latest collections to be awarded Recognition status highlight perfectly the marvellous diversity of important collections held and cared for by museums and galleries across Scotland. Significant chapters from Scotland’s history are celebrated through these collections – representing our architectural and industrial heritage along with one of our favourite national pastimes – football. These are part of our history that people continue to identify with today and it is fantastic to see these Collections named as being significant to the nation today.

Douglas Connell, Chair of the Recognition Committee, which oversees the Recognition of collections of national significance, said:
“To achieve Recognition status, applicants must demonstrate the uniqueness, authenticity, comprehensiveness, and national value of their collection. It is a marvellous accomplishment and I would like to congratulate those involved in attaining Recognition status for these collections”

This announcement brings the number of Recognised Collections of National Significance across Scotland to 36. Custodians of Recognised Collections will be presented with Recognition plaques to display at their venue.

Carers of Recognised Collections currently have the opportunity to bid for up to £40,000 of Recognition funding to undertake a project that will increase accessibility to their collections and improve how they are cared for.

NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS
• Museums Galleries Scotland is the lead body for the advocacy, funding and development of over 340 museums and galleries in Scotland.
• Managed by Museums Galleries Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, the Recognition Scheme aims to identify, and subsequently support, collections of national significance held in Scotland’s museums and galleries.
• For more information on the Recognition Scheme, including a list of the Recognised Collections, visit the Museums Galleries Scotland website.
• Images for all collections available on request

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

Published
13th Oct 2009

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