The Scottish Government has today (19 December) announced funding to enable National Museums Scotland to tour an exhibition of the Galloway Hoard to museums across Scotland.
An exhibition of the Galloway Hoard will be displayed at the National Museum of Scotland and will thereafter tour to Kirkcudbright Galleries, The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum and Aberdeen Art Gallery.
The Scottish Government has provided £150,000 towards the tour and a national programme. This includes the conservation work currently being undertaken on the Hoard to enable it to tour, the sharing of digital assets, research outcomes and new educational resources related to the Viking-age material.
Following the tour part of the Galloway Hoard will be on long-term display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh with a significant and representative portion of the Hoard also displayed long-term at Kirkcudbright Galleries.
The Galloway Hoard was discovered in 2014 at a site on Church of Scotland land in Galloway. Following its acquisition by National Museums Scotland in 2017 for the sum of £1.98 million, the Hoard is currently being conserved and researched at the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh.
The Hoard, which brings together the richest collection of rare and unique Viking-age objects ever found in Britain or Ireland, is of international significance and will transform our understanding of this period of Scottish history. Buried at the beginning of the tenth century, it comprises in excess of 100 gold, silver and other items, some of which are unique.
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop said,
"The Galloway Hoard is one of the most important collections ever discovered in Scotland and I am pleased that this tour will allow for the hoard to be made available for the people of Scotland and our visitors in the years to come.
"The Galloway Hoard opens a window on a significant period in the history of Scotland and shows the important role that our archaeological heritage plays in Scotland's culture. The Scottish Government has been working closely with National Museums Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Council and all partners involved to support the tour of the Hoard in 2020.
"I am delighted that we are now able to provide £150,000 towards this tour for the benefit of people all across Scotland."
Dr Gordon Rintoul, Director of National Museums Scotland said,
"We are extremely grateful to the Scottish Government for their support of the acquisition of the Galloway Hoard and now its conservation and the exhibition tour.
"The Galloway Hoard is an outstanding collection of Viking-age objects and our research into this find will transform current interpretation of Scottish history.
"I am delighted that thanks to generous funding from the Scottish Government we will be able to take the Galloway Hoard beyond our walls to museums across Scotland and ensure that the greatest possible number of people have the opportunity to enjoy this remarkable treasure."
Galloway Hoard exhibition tour dates:
- National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, May – November 2020
- Kirkcudbright Galleries, Kirkcudbright, December 2020 – September 2021
- Aberdeen Art Gallery, October 2021 – January 2022
- The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum, February – late August 2022
Further information and images from:
Bruce Blacklaw, National Museums Scotland Press Office on 0131 247 4165 or b.blacklaw@nms.ac.uk
Gillian Provan, Scottish Government Communications, 0131 244 2018 or Gillian.Provan@gov.scot
Notes to editors
About the Galloway Hoard
The Galloway Hoard brings together the richest collection of rare and unique Viking-age objects ever found in Britain or Ireland. It is of international significance and will transform our understanding of this period of Scottish history.
Uncovered by a metal detectorist in Dumfries and Galloway, the Galloway Hoard comprises in excess of 100 gold, silver and other items from the Viking Age. It was buried at the beginning of the tenth century, although some of the items within the Hoard date from an earlier period.
The bulk of the find is a rich Viking-age hoard of silver jewellery and ingots. However, it also contains an outstanding range of exceptional precious metal and jewelled items including a rare gold ingot, a gold bird-shaped pin and a decorated silver-gilt cup of Continental or Byzantine origin. The Galloway Hoard is unique in bringing together a remarkable variety of objects in one discovery, hinting at hitherto unknown connections between people across Europe and beyond.
Find out more about the Galloway Hoard
About National Museums Scotland
National Museums Scotland is one of the leading museum groups in the UK and Europe and it looks after collections of national and international importance. The organisation provides loans, partnerships, research and training in Scotland and internationally. Our individual museums are the National Museum of Scotland, the National Museum of Flight, the National Museum of Rural Life and the National War Museum. The National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh houses conservation and research facilities as well as collections not currently on display.
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The National Museum of Scotland is the most popular attraction in the country outside London (source: Association of Leading Visitor Attractions). The National Museum of Scotland was awarded ‘Gold’ Level Green Tourism Visitor Attraction status in 2016.
Bheireadh Oifis nam Meadhanan eadar-theangachadh Gàidhlig den bhrath-naidheachd seachad do bhuidhinn mheadhanan bharantaichte. Cuiribh fios do dh'Oifis nam Meadhanan airson bruidhinn air cinn-latha freagarrach.