Publicerad: 2012-10-30
ISBN:
ISSN: 1650-3686 (tryckt), 1650-3740 (online)
Since devolution in 1997 Scotland has been a nation increasingly conscious of its national brand. The Scottish government has undertaken several international partnerships in the fields of culture; education and commerce; and through its rhetoric and policy the government appears to be encouraging a global perception of Scotland as a nation in the throes of a ‘New Enlightenment.’ The National Museum of Scotland (and former Royal Museum) has benefited from this alleged cultural renaissance; having reopened July 2011 following its second renovation in less than 15 years. Comprised of two separate buildings; the former Royal Museum (1854) and the Museum of Scotland (1998); the National Museum of Scotland’s most recent construction program restored and modernised the Royal Museum structure; which had originally been built as an Industrial Museum before receiving Royal status in 1904.
Given the fact that the Royal Museum’s origins were in part a testament to Scotland’s position in the United Kingdom and British Empire; the current Museum’s new form communicates much about the evolution of Scotland’s national identity and its relationship with the world Scotland’s evolution from 19th century industrial powerhouse of the British Empire to the increasingly independent ‘Enlightened’ nation of today has been echoed by the ever-changing form of its national Museum. This paper will explore the evolution of the National Museum of Scotland from its origins as an Industrial Museum to its modern conception and will ultimately seek to show that the National Museum of Scotland fulfils an alternate role as an historic artefact in and of itself; as much a victim of Scotland’s evolving identity as the historic relics it houses.
Building (1997); ‘On Site – Museum of Scotland – Hard Craft;’ 23 May 1997.
Christie; Lucy (2011) ‘Refurbished Museum to open in July’ Press Association Newswire Scotland; 10 February 2011.
Cooke; Steven & McLean; Fiona (1999a) ‘Conceptualising Private and Public National Identities: the Case of the Museum of Scotland’ in Bernard Dubois et al European Advances in Consumer Research vol 4; Provo; UT; Association for Consumer Research.
Cooke; Steven & McLean; Fiona (1999b) ‘Narratives of Scotland – the production and consumption of national identity in the Museum of Scotland;’ paper presented at the Critical Management Studies Conference; University of Waikato; Waikato; New Zealand; July 14–16.
Cornwell; Tim (2011) ‘Nothing stands still for our museums’ The Scotsman; 29 July 2011.
Devine; Tom (2008) ‘The Stories of our Past’ in Royal Museum Project Making a World of Difference: the Royal Museum Project Issue 3.
Fassey; Wayne & McIntosh; Stewart (2008) The New Scottish Enlightenment; Southend on Sea; Times Group.
Ferguson; Brian (2011) ‘Behind the scenes at the museum… a sneak preview’ The Scotsman; 22 June 2010.
Ferguson; Brian (2011) ‘Thanks a million – museum appeal smashes GBP13m target’ The Scotsman; 18 May 2011.
Historic Scotland (1970) 44 Chambers Street; the Royal Museum of Scotland – Listed Building Report; Edinburgh; Historic Scotland.
Jamieson; Teddy (2011) ‘National Treasure’ Sunday Herald Scotland; 24 July 2011.
Lawrence; Sandra (2011) ‘National Museum of Scotland’ British Heritage Issue 32; Number 3; July 2011.
MacMillan; Duncan (2009) ‘A voyage of discovery’ The Scotsman; 22 September 2009.
McLean; Fiona (1998) ‘Museums and the construction of national identity: a review’ International Journal of Heritage Studies Issue 3; Number 4.
McLean; Fiona and Cooke; Steven (2003a) ‘Constructing the identity of a nation: the tourist gaze at the Museum of Scotland’ Tourism; Culture and Communication Issue 4; 2003.
McLean; Fiona and Cooke; Steven (2003b) ‘The National Museum of Scotland: A Symbol for a New Scotland’ Scottish Affairs Issue 45; autumn 2003.
Miller; Phil (2011) ‘Revamped museum is hailed as a new symbol of a nation’ The Herald; 28 July 2011.
Milne; Meg (2008) ‘Give Scots back their Chess Men’ The Express on Sunday; 27 January 2008.
National Museum of Scotland (2011a) ‘Press Release: Architectural and Design Innovations Transform National Museum of Scotland;’ Edinburgh; National Museums Scotland; July 2011.
National Museum of Scotland (2011b) ‘Funding Target Exceeded;’ Edinburgh; National Museums Scotland; 18 May 2011.
National Museum of Scotland (2011c) ‘Press Release: National Museum of Scotland Unveils Dramatic Transformation;’ Edinburgh; National Museums Scotland; 28 July 2011.
National Museum of Scotland (2011d) ‘Press Release: National Museums of Scotland Unveils Dramatic Transformation;’ Edinburgh; National Museums Scotland; 28 July 2011.
National Museum of Scotland (2011e) ‘Window on the World;’ National Museum Scotland Online. Available http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/national_museum/explore_the_galleries /window_on_the_world.aspx (accessed 12 September 2011).
Prest; John (1972) Lord John Russell; South Carolina; University of South Carolina Press. Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (2011) ‘History of the Society’ Online. Available http://www.socantscot.org/content.asp?Page=251&Menu=237 (accessed 12 September 2011).
Summerhayes; Linda (2008) ‘It’s a moving experience at the Museum;’ Evening News Scotland; 18 February 2008.
