Members of the public will now have greater access to the region’s museum collections, thanks to a funding boost.
Culture Perth and Kinross, the creative organisation behind the region’s museums, has secured a grant of £59,924 from Museums Galleries Scotland to introduce interactive digital engagement.
The grant will allow staff to work with experts from the University of Abertay in Dundee to develop new digital collections, including collections of natural history, archaeology and fine art.
Through this new project, members of the public can search through Culture Perth and Kinross’ museum collections online using a search portal, and then view items and save their favourites on a new ‘mymuseum’ platform, allowing individuals to create their own personal online museum.
The project will focus on objects destined for displays in the new Perth City Hall museum, as well as photographs and memorabilia crowd-sourced as part of the City Hall engagement programme.
This comes as Culture Perth and Kinross retained its full museum accreditation status for Perth Museum and Art Gallery, The Fergusson Gallery and Alyth Museum following a review.
The accreditation is given to museums and galleries that are going above and beyond to reach their communities and work to protect their collections for the future.
Gillian Findlay, interim head of museums and collections at Culture Perth and Kinross, said: “This funding from Museums Galleries Scotland enables the ‘mymuseum’ project to become a reality, and allows Culture Perth and Kinross a wonderful opportunity to open up the collection to a wider audience by taking a very creative approach.
“The project will use technology to create a series of engaging heritage experiences, allowing online visitors the chance to experience Perth and Kinross’ distinctive culture and heritage with cutting edge digital expertise.
“We’re also delighted that Perth Museum and Art Gallery, The Fergusson Gallery and Alyth Museum have retained their full museum accreditation as the museums and the collections they hold are of national significance.”
This comes as Culture Perth and Kinross plans to open an interactive digital exhibition on memories of Perth City Hall, which will tour across Perth and Kinross from 2020 until the new museum opens.
New material can be added to this digital exhibition throughout its tour.
As part of the Perth City Hall regeneration project, it is hoped the Stone of Destiny will be relocated from Edinburgh Castle to take centre stage in this new museum in the Fair City.
The PA’s ‘It is our Destiny’ campaign is calling for the Stone of Destiny to be returned home to Perth, and a consultation is currently being considered by the Commissioners for the Regalia and the Scottish Government.
The consultation can be found and commented on online at consult.gov.scot/commissioners-for-the-safeguarding-of-the-regalia/the-stone-of-destiny/
