Stirling Art Collection boosted by new funding

The University of Stirling’s Art Collection will receive a share of £3.6million set aside to support internationally important collections at university museums.

Announced by Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, the funding will see £1.2m shared among Scottish universities for three academic years, beginning 2018-19.

Jane Cameron, Art Curator at the University of Stirling, welcomed the pledge. She said: 'The grant three years ago was transformational for the Art Collection and allowed us to develop an outreach programme engaging with students, staff and the wider community.'

University museums look after over two million items, which account for around 18 per cent of Scotland’s national collection.

Jane Cameron said the Scottish Government grant is 'transformational'.

Speaking during a visit to Glasgow School of Art, Ms Somerville said: 'Scotland’s university collections represent a resource of outstanding scholarly, educational and cultural importance. This investment recognises the national importance of our university museums, as well as the vital role they have within their institutions.'

'Hearing from students at the Glasgow School of Art, it is clear that the collections play an important part in their day-to-day learning as well as providing a service to the wider research community. Our funding will support projects across nine Scottish universities to enhance the public accessibility of their museums and galleries and help build on existing community engagement and outreach work.'

Stirling and the Glasgow School of Art will share the grant – managed by the Scottish Funding Council – with Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, Robert Gordon and St Andrews universities.

John Kemp, interim chief executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: 'Scottish university museums are an important educational and cultural resource for the nation. This funding is a significant investment in the valuable work that goes on there and will also support the museums’ ambition for the future in areas such as digital technology.'

Jacky MacBeath, Convenor of University Museums in Scotland, said: 'This is fantastic news for university museums in Scotland. This grant will support innovative work in university museums, from local inclusion programmes to international engagement projects.'