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Museum Development Fund Recipients Announced

Today Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) announces that five museums and galleries have been awarded funding from the Scottish Government supported Museum Development Fund to continue welcoming visitors to engage with Scotland’s history.

In Glasgow, the popular Tall Ship has been awarded £35K to reimagine the visitor experience onboard, including creating an immersive sensory journey of the ship’s past through sounds and aromas. Visitors are welcome to jump aboard The Tall Ship all year round and they run regular events and activities for all ages.

In 2020 funding from MGS enabled Glasgow Life Museums to appoint a Curator of Legacies of Slavery and Empire. Through the Curator’s work it became apparent that visitors want a much more in-depth treatment of this subject within Glasgow Museums displays. £60K has now been awarded to support Glasgow Life Museums to work with visitors to explore the legacies of slavery and empire, and to understand how Kelvingrove itself is a lasting symbol of the British Empire. Currently visitors are invited to explore interventions at Kelvingrove which reveal more about the history of some objects on display and highlight untold stories behind the collections.

South Lanarkshire’s Sir Harry Lauder collection has recently been officially recognised as one of Scotland’s Nationally Significant Collections. The importance of the Sir Harry Lauder collection to Scotland’s cultural heritage will be celebrated in an exhibition at Low Parks Museum, which has been awarded £36K. It will tell Sir Harry’s story both as a key figure in Lanarkshire’s history and as a successful global superstar. Prior to the exhibition opening visitors can see items from the Sir Harry Lauder collection in a special display case at Low Parks Museum, including a contemporary interpretation by artist Sophie Rowan.

Making football accessible for all is a top priority for the Scottish Football Museum. They have been awarded £50K towards their ‘Football for All! Celebrating 600 years of football in Scotland’ project, which includes celebrating significant anniversaries surrounding football in Scotland. Highlights include the story of Andrew Watson, the first black international footballer, who won the Scottish Cup three times, and the story of Marion Wotherspoon, who embroidered the iconic 1872 Scotland shirt badge.

In the Highlands the much-loved Glencoe Folk Museum has been awarded over £45K to continue their successful work engaging with local schools, communities, and tourists through a series of events and activities to connect people with the history and environment of the Glencoe area. Whilst the museum is closed for an exciting redevelopment in Spring 2023 their team will be out and about facilitating access to the collection, including a pop-up museum.

Culture Minister Neil Gray said:

“The diversity of our cultural heritage is reflected in the five museums that are receiving a share of the £226,000 in funding from the Scottish Government supported Museum Development Fund.

“Engaging the public with our rich and vibrant history is at the heart of our museum services across the country.”