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Collections Development

Scotland’s collections are powerful representations of culture, identity and history which everyone is entitled to engage with, learn from, contribute to and enjoy.

Museums Galleries Scotland believes that the capacity to develop, care for and manage these collections is fundamental to museums as the basis of the many other services they provide and as their legacy for future generations.

A National Collections Development Strategy for Scotland’s Museums

 

There are more than 12 million items in collections in Scotland. Incredibly diverse in scale, content, needs and significance, they do however share one quality: the potential to stimulate or inspire us as few other cultural resources can.

As their guardians, Scotland’s museums hold a privileged position but also bear a great responsibility.  Fundamentally committed to preserving collections as evidence of the past, they are equally duty bound to develop them in the present if people are to continue to find them relevant.  To achieve this, an increasingly creative approach to collections is required.

A National Collections Development Strategy for Scotland’s Museums offers people managing and working in Scotland’s museums a new framework through which to consider collections afresh.

See our collections development strategy and action plan to find out more or to download a copy.

 

Supporting Collections Development in Scotland

We provide support and information to members on many collections issues, working with them to promote and improve the management of museum collections and the quality of collecting in Scotland:

Engaging People: click on the link for more on

• Interpreting Collections
• Creative Community Involvement
• Promoting Collections Information

Improving Knowledge: click on the link for more on

• Capturing Collections Knowledge - Documentation
• Increasing Collections Knowledge - Research
• Safeguarding Collections Knowledge - Succession Planning

Shaping Collections: click on the link for more on

• Creating and Sharing Collections Policies
• Active Collecting and Funding for Acquisition
• Disposal

Supporting Stewardship: For more on Collections Care, Conservation, Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust, and funding information.

Working Together: For more on Collections Networks, Loans.

Other Collections Development Resources

Grants – Collections Development projects are a funding priority for Museums Galleries Scotland .  Guidelines and application forms for our Grants Programmes are available here.

Training Courses – Museums Galleries Scotland offers a varied training programme which regularly features sessions on collections care, documentation and interpretation subjects amongst others.

Case Studies – Whether looking for inspiration or ways to share news of your own successful project, glimpse at some of the exciting collections development work going on in Scotland’s museums here.

Collections Links – Links to useful sources of collections management information

Current News and Initiatives

Contact Us
For more information regarding any aspect of collections development or to discuss issues in your museum or a potential grant application, please contact Museums Galleries Scotland Collections Development Manager Sharon Paton.
T: 0131 550 4126

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