ACE Grant for Pacific Collections at RAMM
A new grant from the Designation Development Fund will allow RAMM to develop its Pacific collections for the benefit of its audiences including families, students and academics.
Called Discovering Worlds, the ambitious project encompasses new research, conservation, documentation and reinterpretation.
Rosie Denham, Exeter’s Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, summed up the city’s delight: “It is wonderful to receive this grant allowing us to develop our Pacific collections. Much of this material dates back to the earliest contact between Europeans and Pacific communities and the grant will allow us to showcase our long links with the region. By coincidence, the Tongan national team will be playing in Exeter during the Rugby World Cup in 2015, giving us an extra opportunity to renew these links and share the collections with a wider global audience”.
The Designation Scheme identifies the pre-eminent collections of national and international importance held in England's non-national museums, libraries and archives, based on their quality and significance. These inspiring collections represent a vital part of the nation’s cultural and artistic heritage. RAMM’s ethnographic collection received Designation status in 1998. The voyage-related Pacific material and particularly holdings from the voyages of Captains Cook, Bligh and Vancouver in the 18th century form an important part of this collection.
Phil Gibby, Area Director, South West, Arts Council England, said: “The South West has a wealth of museums delivering ambitious programmes and housing world class collections; now, through these initiatives, we are delighted that resilience and sustainability will sit at the heart of these institutions.
“Through the sharing of expertise and knowledge the Renaissance Strategic support and Designation development funds will drive excellence and deliver long term change in museums in England, with the aim of attracting more visitors to museums and enabling people to experience them in new and innovative ways.”
The Designation Development Fund is administered by Arts Council England. The current round of Designation Development Funding will support 18 projects, including £89,990 for RAMM’s Discovering Worlds project.
