GNMHattonfunding
Funding boost for Great North Museum: Hancock and Hatton Gallery
Published on: 12 April 2024
Newcastle University’s museum and art gallery have received funding to support their important work with researchers.
Leading edge research
Research England has awarded the Great North Museum: Hancock £235,000 and the Hatton Gallery £80,000 from its Higher Education Museums, Galleries and Collections Fund over the next five years.
Professor Vee Pollock, Dean of Culture and Creative Arts at Newcastle University said: “We are delighted at this award from Research England and grateful that it will enable us to continue to support leading edge research regionally, nationally and internationally, making it accessible to a wide range of audiences. University cultural venues are important spaces of collective endeavour that advance research and experimentation, respond to challenge and create transformative impact. We are looking forward to continuing to develop this work with researchers and communities.”
The museum and gallery are integral to Newcastle University in terms of teaching, research and wider engagement - working regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Internationally important
The Great North Museum: Hancock is a partnership led by the University with the Natural History Society of Northumbria (NHSN), the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne (SANT), and Tyne & Wear Archives & Museum (TWAM). It holds significant collections owned by the learned societies and the University including the largest and most diverse Natural Sciences collections in any non-national institution in Europe, and internationally important archaeology from the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site..
The Hatton Gallery, which dates back to 1912 has a significant history relating to the development of pioneering art education, the practice of exhibition-making, and the emergence of immersive installation. Amongst its collection are works by Francis Bacon, Richard Hamilton, Prunella Clough, as well as Kurt Schwitters’ Merz Barn wall - the last of his ‘merz’ pieces - which is on permanent display in a purpose-built installation space.
Keith Merrin, Director of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, said: "We're very happy to have secured this funding with our partner Newcastle University, to support important research using the wealth of collections at both the Great North Museum: Hancock and Hatton Gallery. It also means we can share the outcomes of that research with hundreds of thousands of visitors to our venues."
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