The ground floor main hall display is being revamped with changed displays thanks to £50,000 of funding secured through Museums Galleries Scotland.
The museum team wants to change the focus of the gallery, uniting the displays of taxidermy, mineralogy and archaeology by looking at the landscape of Dumfries and Galloway. Local artists, creators of digital media and specialists such as ornithologists will work with them to add new touches to older displays and create fresh ways of looking at the material.
A new colour scheme and carpets are also planned.
The museum is now closed and work will start this week.
And the museum team are looking for young people to help reimagine the gallery. They will learn a lot about the history of the area, get to explore some of its most significant sites and work with experts to create new displays focused on the environment and the impact of human beings upon it.
Commenting on the project, Cllr Andy Ferguson said: “The museum is a well loved part of the town and an important resource for tourism, education and enjoyment. We’re so pleased that its main hall is going to be given a new lease of life.”
And Cllr John Martin added: “We’re pleased that young people will be central to this project. They’ll learn something new about their local area while gaining important skills and I’m looking forward to seeing what come up with.”
Meanwhile, Lucy Casot, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland, said: “We are delighted to support the team at Dumfries Museum with their ambitious re-display of the main hall.
“Through working with young people and the community, this project will make a big difference to redefining how the collections communicate the history of the area, and important issues impacting it today such as the climate emergency.”
The museum will reopen on April 1 at 10 am.
