The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Mr. Jimmy Deenihan TD, today (23rd May 2013) announced details of the successful applicants in the Local and Regional Museums Scheme administered by his Department.
Over the past six years the Department has operated a Scheme of funding support for small and medium sized museums across all of the regions. This year, the eligibility criteria of the Scheme were expanded with a view to making it accessible to a far broader range of institutions located throughout the country.
Applications for funding under the 2013 Scheme were invited from local and regional museums and/or organisations and institutions that operate as not for profit institutions whose primary role is to collect, safeguard, hold in trust, research, develop and interpret collections of original objects and original objects on loan, for the public benefit with the aim of:
· Enhancing the primary cultural product or related ancillary services offered by the Museum;
· Encouraging greater access to the Museum by a larger segment of society;
· Promoting cultural tourism in general and having particular regard to the fact that 2013 is the year of the Gathering;
· Encouraging the establishment or expansion of volunteer initiatives;
· Promoting co-operation and joint initiatives between eligible museums and cultural organisations.
23 projects have been awarded funding on foot of an assessment process carried out by the Department in conjunction with the Heritage Council of Ireland.
The successful projects represent a wide geographical spread and are diverse and innovative. Minister Deenihan commented:
"A visit to a local museum gives us the opportunity to take a step back and to understand better where we have come from and how our lives have changed. Local and regional museums play an important educational role, therefore, but are also the custodians and guardians of much of our important heritage. The aim of this funding is to help them enhance displays, improve access and promote cultural tourism. I would strongly encourage people to visit their local museum to see at first-hand the local historical artefacts they contain as well as to view the changing exhibits which this funding will assist with."
A full list of successful applicants and the amount of funding allocated is attached below for information – please note that whilst the offers of funding have been made, they have yet to be formally accepted by the applicants in question.
Organisation Summary of Project Amount County
The Model Sligo Jack B Yeats - The Circus €12,000 Sligo
Kerry County Museum 20:20 Kerry - online exhibition, educational materials €6,000 Kerry
Donegal County Museum Donegal Museum Detectives Backpack €12,000 Donegal
South Tipperary County Museum "The River Suir - Gathering Pace" - a temporary panelled travelling exhibition €12,000 Tipperary
Waterford Museum of Treasures Website development, with online booking facility and translation €7,000 Waterford
Foynes Aviation & Maritime Museum Ltd Marketing and Promotion of Museum €13,000 Limerick
Cavan County Museum Story of Emigration from County Cavan €12,000 Cavan
The Seanchaí Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre Production of exhibition brochure/catalogue €1,500 Kerry
Curragh Military Museum Development of Sir Alfred Chester Beatty Room, Conserve, Display and Interpret collection €15,000 Kildare
Galway County Council Museum Promote the Battle of Aughrim Centre, via a national trail, Gathering Event and improved facilities €12,000 Galway
National Print & Others Family Cultural Trail €12,000 Dublin
National Print Museum Production of guide books in various languages and English flyers €10,000 Dublin
Rothe House & Gardens Workshops €7,000 Kilkenny
Athy Heritage Centre Museum Explore, Experience & Educate Programme €6,000 Kildare
Monaghan County Museum Audio Visual Exhibition on the Leslie Family €8,000 Monaghan
Músaem Chorca Dhuibhne Multimedia presentation on the Irish language €4,000 Kerry
Clare Museum Festival of Poland €8,000 Clare
Limerick City Gallery of Art Audio experience of 100 works from the collection €10,000 Limerick
Dundalk County Museum Irish Polar Heritage Trail €10,000 Louth
Glasnevin Cemetery Museum Historical Re-enactments €10,000 Dublin
Irish Jewish Museum Conservation of 10 Paintings €3,000 Dublin
Maritime Institute of Ireland (Maritime Museum) Seminar& book binding €2,500 Dublin
Frank McCourt Museum Improved signage €5,000 Limerick
Total €198,000