Herefordshire Museum Service has been awarded a prestigious grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund for its innovative project, ‘Revealing Our Roots: Unearthing Common Ground.’
The Revealing our Roots project aims to reinterpret the Herefordshire Hoard, a significant Viking-era treasure, through engaging activities with communities across the county.
The Herefordshire Hoard, discovered near Leominster, includes coins, jewellery and a silver ingot, providing unprecedented evidence of Viking activity in the region. Its reinterpretation through this project will help uncover the interconnected histories of local communities and the Viking Great Army.
Community groups, including cultural and community organisations, primary schools and local creatives, will be invited to take part in workshops and hands-on sessions, where they will help produce exhibitions, installations, digital media and other creative pieces.
These will initially be showcased in non-museum settings and later featured in the redeveloped Hereford Museum & Art Gallery.
Councillor Harry Bramer, Cabinet Member Community Services and Assets, said:
"This grant is significant for our museum service. Not only will it help us to reinterpret the Herefordshire Hoard in a way that includes diverse community input, but it will also initiate a new approach in our museum service which encourages and embeds community participation into our day-to-day work. This will reconnect the service with local schools and communities, and strengthen our role as a countywide service that is inclusive and reflective of Herefordshire's rich cultural tapestry."
Revealing Our Roots is timely, addressing the growing demand for access to high-quality cultural activities and fostering a sense of pride and belonging among participants. The project will focus on inclusivity and accessibility, reaching out to people living in rural areas, low-income families and ethnic minorities. Through reinterpreting the
Herefordshire Hoard, the project will create opportunities to discuss identity and heritage and share different perspectives, promoting cultural integration and understanding.
Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund
The Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, administered by the Museums Association, supports projects that develop collections to achieve social impact. Since its inception in 2011, the fund has awarded 178 grants totalling over £12.9 million.
This latest grant of £99,000 will enable the Herefordshire Museum Service to enhance community connections, broaden public access, and deepen the understanding of the Herefordshire Hoard.
The Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund is run by the Museums Association, funding projects that develop collections to achieve social impact. For more information, visit the Museum Association website.