National Museums Scotland has today announced that it has achieved its fundraising target of £1.98 million in order to acquire the Galloway Hoard on behalf of the nation.
A generous funding contribution of £1 million from The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), £150,000 from the Scottish Government and widespread public support have helped secure the future of the unique Hoard of Viking-age treasures.
Following the allocation of the Galloway Hoard in May 2017 to National Museums Scotland by the Queen’s Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer, National Museums had just six months in which to raise the necessary funds. Since then a wide-ranging campaign has been underway to raise funds from trusts and private sources.
The acquisition has been made possible by the generosity of funding from the NHMF, Art Fund, members of the public, the Scottish Government and trusts.
People have been incredibly generous in their response to the campaign with over 1500 donations from the public appeal enabling us to reach our target of £200,000.
Dr Gordon Rintoul, Director of National Museums Scotland said,
“I am hugely grateful to the National Heritage Memorial Fund for its generous Grant of £1 million. This contribution has provided the final step to reaching our target and enabled us to save the Hoard for the nation.
“In the last six months we have been overwhelmed by the response from the general public who have got behind our campaign to ‘Save the Hoard’. I am also grateful for the generosity of Art Fund, the Scottish Government, charitable trusts and individual donors.
“I would like to say a personal thank you to everyone who has generously donated to the Campaign, without them this incredible achievement would not have been possible.
“Now we look forward to starting the work on conserving and researching the Hoard to unlock its secrets”
John Glen, UK Government Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism said,
“The Galloway Hoard is an incredible collection that has given us a deeper understanding of the history of the Viking Age in Scotland. As an unparalleled find of global significance, I am thrilled that the National Heritage Memorial Fund has helped save it for the nation.”
Seona Reid, NHMF trustee, said,
“This is wonderful news. The Galloway Hoard is an exquisite collection of rare treasure with global significance. It provides important insight into Scotland and the UK’s relationship with Europe and the wider world during the Viking era and that is why the National Heritage Memorial Fund was committed to helping to save it for the nation.”
Dr Stephen Deuchar, Director of Art Fund said,
“Art Fund is honoured to have played a part in this incredible campaign, whose success means that this unique hoard of Viking-age treasure will be safely entrusted to National Museums Scotland. It can now remain on view to enthral countless visitors from Scotland, the rest of the UK and beyond, shining bright new light on the ancient history of our lands.”
Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs said
“The Galloway Hoard is one of the most important collections ever discovered in Scotland. It is important that the hoard is made available for the people of Scotland and our visitors from around the world to see. I am delighted that National Museums Scotland has been able to secure the necessary funding to acquire this collection for the nation and that the Scottish Government has been able to provide £150,000 of support.”
A selection of objects from the Hoard is currently on display at the National Museum of Scotland until 29 October. Visitors have a small window of opportunity in which to see it before it is taken away for vital conservation.
It is anticipated that the necessary conservation and research work will take around two years before the Hoard will once again be seen at the National Museum of Scotland prior to a national tour. Further details of the tour will be announced at a later date.
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