Argyll and Bute’s past goes under the spotlight at Campbeltown Museum
Argyll and Bute’s past is to be revealed – in a series of new exhibitions coming up at Campbeltown Museum this year.
The continuation of an agreement between Argyll and Bute Council and Kilmartin Museum will see a new look for existing artefacts and fresh displays of both archaeology and social history collections.
The agreement has brought together the skills of an archaeologist with those of a social historian and fine art curator. They are responsible for caring for the collections; the collection and management of documents; arranging exhibitions; and developing the museum to highlight both archaeology and natural history collections.
Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Community and Culture, Councillor Robin Currie, said, “The rich social and archaeological history of Argyll and Bute is worth preserving. It is good news that flood damaged objects are being returned now to the museum for display again. This broadens our scope for a series of exhibitions running throughout the year which of course will all be free, and of interest to locals, the wider community in Argyll and Bute and our visitors, too.”
Campbeltown Museum suffered a severe flood in the collection store in 2010 and flood damaged items have been at the Scottish Conservation Studio, South Queensferry, having remedial conservation and cleaning. The items are now being returned, with one of the first a portrait by Archibald MacKinnon (creator of the famous Cave Painting, Davaar Island, in Campbeltown loch) of a wayfarer named James 'Jamie' Morrison.
Friends of Campbeltown Museum requested that another painting be cleaned - one by William Bright Morris of James Stewart who was associated with the Scotia Distillery. The painting has been sent to a conservator for an estimate of cleaning.
Information about up and coming exhibitions will be publicised, including one exploring the rich social history of Campbeltown which will look at the town’s relationship with the Navy and boom periods of herring fishing and the development of the coal mining and whisky industries.