Aberdeen uni given £40k grant for Pacific collections

Aberdeen University has been awarded almost £40,000 improve and develop its collections on the life and culture of people from around the Pacific ocean.

The grant from Museums Galleries Scotland will improve the storage, documentation and the care of more than 4,000 objects from Australia, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.

Demand to study the resources has surged in recent months but current storage has made it difficult for people to access them.

The university is one of 20 to receive a share of a £640,000 pot from the Recognition Scheme run by the national development body for Scotland’s museums and galleries.

Previous awards have resulted in improvements to the zoology and scientific instrument collections and the displays at King’s museum.

Neil Curtis, head of museums at the university, said: “The total given to Aberdeen reflected the importance of its collections as well as a particular strength in this area.

“The grant would enable further improvement and collaboration to make these important Pacific collections more widely available.”