Official opening of Angus Collections Centre
Angus Collections Centre, the new museum collections store, has officially opened at Brechin Business Park.
ANGUSalive Museums & Galleries are guardians of Angus Council’s vast and diverse collection that spans thousands of years, capturing the essence of a region that is not only the birthplace of Scotland, but one that has left its mark on the world. The collection comprises over 100,000 objects, covering social history, fine art, natural sciences and much more. The first objects were acquired in the early 1800s by the Montrose Natural History and Antiquarian Society, the Arbroath Museum Society and the former Town Councils, and we continue to add to the collection through strategic purchases and generous donations.
An award of £57,790 from Museums Galleries Scotland for Cabinet of Curiosities: The Inventory Project means that for the first time we will be able to welcome visitors into our collections store, and deliver exclusive tours and behind-the-scenes workshops.
The new store itself is fully accessible and will give visitors a look into the workings of a modern, accredited museum service. We’ll be establishing a new collections volunteer programme aimed at developing the young workforce, and will further strengthen partnerships with academic institutions. Through these collaborations, students and volunteers will gain hands-on skills in collections management, curation, and preventive conservation.
Emma Gilliland, Museums & Galleries Collections Lead, said: “We’re incredibly excited to welcome visitors to our new store and are looking forward to sharing our behind-the-scenes work with the people of Angus. We welcome any local Angus businesses, groups, or heritage organisations to get in touch if they’d like to collaborate on heritage skills’ development heritage, research projects, or would simply like to book an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour later in the year.”
Bruynzeel Storage Systems, who are world leaders in museum storage solutions, having supplied renowned institutions such as the V&A and the Louvre, won the contract to supply purpose-built conservation grade shelving and picture racking to protect the collection.
Angus Collections Centre will be open for bookable tours and events or for research visits by appointment. Please email collections@angusalive.scot to enquire. Tours will be advertised on the ANGUSalive website later this autumn and during 2027 there will be the opportunity to join a series of curator workshops.