Fonn's Duthchas - Land and Legacy Exhibition and re-opening of Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
Issued by Highland 2007
Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson will officially open the newly refurbished Inverness Museum and Art Gallery and launch the Fonn ’s Duthchas – Land and Legacy exhibition on Friday 12 January prior to the Highland 2007 Launch and Lifescan Monster Street Party.
Ms Ferguson said: “This exhibition will provide an excellent platform from which to showcase The Highlands of Scotland’s distinctive rich cultural heritage. I am delighted that Scotland’s national collections have worked so positively with Highland 2007 organisers, The Highland Council and its partners, to put together such a striking exhibition.
“Highland 2007 celebrates the areas cultural pedigree and reinforces its place as a vibrant, modern centre for culture and a great place to visit and to live.”
The Museum and Art gallery and Fonn ’s Duthchas will open to the public at 10am on Saturday 13 January with the first 100 people to attend each receiving a goody bag.
Fonn ’s Duthchas is a special exhibition brought together to celebrate Highland 2007, Scotland’s year of Highland culture. Drawn from the collections of the National Museums Scotland, National Library of Scotland and National Galleries of Scotland, the exhibition uses iconic objects, paintings and manuscripts to highlight the richness and diversity of Highland culture.
Highlights include a Lewis Chess piece dating back to the 12th century, a quaich gifted to Flora MacDonald by Bonnie Prince Charlie and a sporran with concealed pistols which would be fired to ward off attackers. The latter item was viewed by Sir Walter Scott and inspired him to allocate such an exploding sporran to his hero Rob Roy.
As part of the £1.3 million refurbishment of the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, the galleries have been completely redesigned to tell the story of the Highlands and to present the museum’s magnificent collections in an innovative and fresh way. The new graphics and display cases have allowed both the range of subjects covered and the number of objects on display to increase.
The temporary exhibitions spaces have been refurbished and redesigned to help visitor flow. They will house a constantly changing programme of exhibitions, beginning with ‘Fonn ’s Duthchas: Land and Legacy’ with future exhibitions ‘Anatomy Acts’ from the Royal College of Surgeons, and ‘Energy: Portraits of North Sea Oil’ by Fionna Carlisle planned.
Fonn ’s Duthchas will remain on display in the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery until 17 March before touring venues across Scotland, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow from 6 April.
Dr Gordon Rintoul, Director of National Museums Scotland and chair of the Fonn ’s Duthchas exhibition steering group, commented: “National Museums Scotland is very pleased to be working in partnership with the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Library of Scotland to create this fascinating and revealing exhibition. Fonn ’s Duthchas draws on iconic objects from all of the national institutions to offer people across Scotland and beyond a valuable insight into the past, present and future of Highland culture.”
Alison Magee, convener of The Highland Council and chair of Highland 2007, said: “I am delighted that the first project within our Highland 2007 capital programme has come to fruition at the start of the year. The re-opening of the newly refurbished Inverness Museum and Art Gallery will enable residents and visitors to enjoy its upgraded displays and facilities throughout the year.
“As we move through 2007, more than 100 capital projects will be completed, ensuring that the £23.4 million invested by The Highland Council in this strand of the programme will contribute significantly to the lasting legacy of Highland 2007.”
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery is open from Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is free. Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Castle Wynd, Inverness IV2 3EB. Tel 01463 237114.
For more information about Highland 2007 please visit www.highland2007.com
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