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Image: Bob Powell, Principal Museums Officer Highland Folk Museum, Lorna Cruickshank Highland Council Independent Museums Support Officer, Paul Basu and Rachel Skene HIMF Chair
HIMF launches new MUSEUM DIRECTORY MAY4TH 2009
Please click on this link to download copy : himf-directory
Highlands and Islands Museums take part in Show Scotland 2009
The Highlands and Islands Museums Forum (HIMF) worked in partnership with the Highland Council to organise ‘The Past Presents’ on May 4th at the Highland Folk Museum Newtonmore especially for Show Scotland 2009 weekend. The event, which was free and open to all, officially launched HIMF’s new directory. The booklet contains information from over 25 museums and archives in the Highland region. It has been produced to promote museum collections, exhibitions and activities during this The Year of Homecoming. The project has been supported by The Highland Council and Museums and Galleries Scotland.
‘The Past Presents’
The day began with a lecture by Paul Basu, anthropologist and author of ‘Highland Homecomings’, published by Routledge, which discusses genealogy and heritage tourism in the Scottish Diaspora.Paul gave an insightful and stimulating talk. He explored the relationship between those who return to Scotland seeking out their ancestral connections and the more commercial aspects of this part of the tourism industry in Scotland.
It was suggested that these ‘Homecomers’ do not consider themselves to be tourists at all. A more appropriate moniker may be that of ‘pilgrims’, defined as such by the very personal journey, full of symbolic and real actions, these people make when returning to their homeland.These pilgrims seek out to make connections with the past, their own past. In endeavouring to do so, many hours of research may have been undertaken to establish who their ancestors were , who lived where, where that place is, how to find it etc before they embark on their travels.
But not all can be accessed remotely. On reaching ancestral lands, these pilgrims can benefit enormously from the support provided by local history museums. This is where Highland museums can make a real difference to the experiences these people have and the memories they go away with. Museums act as the conduits, the connectors and the museum staff and volunteers can help to fill in the last pieces of the puzzle by providing an opportunity to share and exchange information.
As museums strive to survive and develop in 2009 and onwards, they will continue to support these pilgrims. Everyone should be encouraged to make their own journey of discovery and experience being part of the learning, sharing community found at the heart of all local museums. There is a space in this community for every person who visits, wherever they may be from and whatever clan or tribe they may associate themselves with in the 21st Century.
Highland Musuems were represented on the day by Mallaig, Skye, Ullapool, Dornoch, Tain, Helmsdale, Inverness, Newtonmore, Rosemarkie and Tarbat ; all of whom provided exhibitions including printed material, films and hands-on activities. The old style games and toys supplied by The Highland Museum of Childhood, delighted both children and adults. Inverness Museum brought along a stuffed badger, which after some gentle encouragement from the Curator, attracted many little hands to give ‘Eric’ a tentative stroke. The other museums presented a plethora of information on current exhibitions and activities, Museum staff and volunteers were on hand to discuss their collections with the many people who filtered in and out of the Leanach Church.
Even more activities and entertainment were provided by Arthur Dutch, Tinsmith and Bob Pegg, Storyteller, both of whose activities were supported by their extensive collection of accoutrements, utilised throughout the day to great effect. It was deemed a very successful by all, despite the squally showers.
HIMF and The Highland Council hopes that the new directory will succeed in aiding and encourage many visitors to explore and access the wealth of resources to be found in museums across the region. The Directory is available in local museums and other distribution points in the Highland Region. If you would like to have copies to distribute please contact us to discuss at himf@hotmail.co.uk or contact Lorna Cruickshank Highland Council Independent Museums Support Officer 01349863441 lorna.cruickshank@highland.gov.uk
Archival info
As part of The Year of Homecoming 2009 HIMF has undertaken to produce a booklet guide about the museums in the Highland region. The booklet will contain information about events and activities happening in 2009 as part of Homecoming as well as more general collection information.
HIMF will also be taking part in Show Scotland initiative on May the 4th with a day at The Highland Folk Museum Kingussue .’The Past Presents’ will be a lively mixture of storytelling, presentations and historical renenactment. HIMF is particularly pleased that Paul Basu will deliver a talk ‘ Highland Homecoming’.
Everyone is welcome to this free event.
THE PAST
PRESENTS
TAIGHEAN-TASGAIDH
NA GAIDHEALTACHD
WHAT DO HIGHLAND MUSEUMS
HAVE TO OFFER YOU?
LOADS AND LOADS!
COME AND FIND OUT AT LEANACH CHURCH
THE HIGHLAND FOLK MUSEUM NEWTONMORE MAY 4TH
11 AM EXHIBITION OPENS
12 NOON HIGHLAND HOMECOMING
LECTURE PAUL BASU
1PM-5 PM -LIVELY PROGRAMME WITH MUSEUMS FROM ALL OVER THE HIGHLANDS: STORYTELLING; TINSMITHING; CRAFT ACTIVITIES; GAMES; EXHIBITIONS AND MORE
Aultlarie Croft Kingussie Rd, Newtonmore, PH20 1AY
01540 673551
