Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Communities Committee will meet on Tuesday 5 September, and will receive an update on the ongoing discussions between officers of our Council and National Museums Scotland (NMS) in relation to the Galloway Viking Hoard.
Over the last two years various committees within the Council have had the Hoard high on their agenda. Earlier this year, our Council was informed that the National Museum of Scotland would be the keeper of the Hoard that was found in Galloway in September 2014. Since this decision was made, representatives from our Council have been in regular dialogue with the national museum, with a view to agreeing a long-term lease of some of the treasure that was discovered.
D&G Council feels that the national and international historical context of the find, and the story of the actual find itself could prove to be the basis of a significant and popular display in the Kirkcudbright Gallery, which is set to open in April 2018.
At the latest stage in a long line of correspondence with the museum of Scotland, officers discussed display and security standards of the new Kirkcudbright Galleries, with NMS agreeing that the plans for the Gallery would be suitable to host a display such as the Galloway Viking Hoard.
As well as noting the work that our Council continues to undertake, members will also be asked to agree to receive a report on the proposed Kirkcudbright Art Gallery Project Board at the next meeting of Communities committee in October. The Board was set up some years ago and a report into its future direction, membership and purpose will be brought to Members at the meeting on 19 October, should they agree this is an acceptable course of action.
Speaking ahead of the meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Andy Ferguson, who chairs the Communities committee said;
“This report signals the continued efforts of our Council to secure some part of the Hoard here in the region on a long-term basis. I look forward to receiving the report at the October meeting on how the Gallery Project Board will move forward and assist us in achieving our goal of bringing a significant part of the Hoard ‘home’”Vice Chair, Cllr John Martin added;
“Andy and I visited the national museum a few weeks ago and held a productive meeting with reps from the Museum. We also had a chance to see part of the Hoard first hand, and you cannot help but be impressed. Hopefully we can reach agreement with NMS in the near future over bringing some of the Hoard back to Dumfries and Galloway.”
To see the full report that will be tabled at Committee on 5 September go to our website – www.dumgal.gov.uk
