£70,301 to develop an exhibition explaining the young Charles Darwin's work as a . . . Geologist!
The Sedgwick Museum is to benefit from Designation Challenge Funding to enhance its internationally important collections
The MLA (Museums, Libraries and Archives Council), as a strategic funder of museums, is making the award (as part of a package of 34 to museums around the country) to ensure that outstanding collections can be enjoyed and appreciated by as many people as possible.
The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences jointly with the University Museum of Zoology will receive a total of £141,272 to collaborate on the development of new permanent exhibitions of Charles Darwin's geological and zoological specimens from the museums' collections.
Rocks, minerals and fossils collected by Darwin on his voyage on HMS Beagle (1832 - 1836) and the experimental equipment he used to study them and how this led him toward new theories about the Earth, are the focus of the Sedgwick's exhibition. The emphasis will be to show how a young and enthusiastic collector developed the skills of observation and interpretation that would lead him on to become one of the greatest scientists of his generation.
These grants are part of the MLA's Renaissance Programme to transform England's regional museums. This latter funding scheme has also allowed the creation of a new post, the University Museums Development Officer (Dr Liz Hide - eah12@cam.ac.uk), who will contribute to raising the profile of the University's museums and develop the aim of making their collections accessible to as many people as possible.
Chris Batt, Chief Executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council explains: "MLA's vision for the future of England's museums is of places where everyone can be inspired to learn and to enjoy these fantastic collections. Our role is to encourage museums to exploit fully the possibilities for these collections, exploring innovative ways to reach audiences whether in the local community or beyond. I am delighted that MLA can continue to give direct financial support to England's museums through Renaissance."
Dr David Norman, Museum Director, said "We are delighted to receive this MLA funding to enable us to develop the displays in the museum's gallery. We look forward to enabling visitors to enjoy seeing and understanding Charles Darwin's original geological material, collected while he was the naturalist aboard HMS Beagle, during its epic circumnavigation of the globe"
11 April 2006
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