Museum’s new exhibition marks major gallery overhaul

A new exhibition at Derby Museums’ Museum and Art Gallery has prompted a major overhaul of how some of its collections are displayed.

The recently launched ‘Unearthed’ exhibition marks a complete redisplay of the museum’s archaeology and natural history exhibits –  and a significant refresh of some of the most popular spaces within the museum, some of which had not been overhauled in over 30 years.

The redisplay has been made possible thanks to a grant of £249,795 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Sadie Scott, project manager for the Unearthed galleries, said: “The galleries were long overdue an update, with Archaeology having last been redeveloped in the late 1980s, and the Nature Gallery last refurbished over 10 years ago.

“Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we have been able to bring these two much loved collections together into a brand-new gallery.”

‘Unearthed’ combines objects from the museums’ archaeology and natural sciences collections, which together span millions of years of history.

It tells the story of people arriving and settling in Derby and Derbyshire and their relationship with the land and its nature.

Previously displayed in two separate galleries, the two collections explore the story of life in Derbyshire – how people have adapted to make this place their home, and how they have shaped the natural world to meet their needs.

Visitors can see some of the most exciting objects in Derby Museums’ collection, including many objects never displayed before.

Highlights include Bronze Age finds recovered from the wetlands of the River Trent, Ice Age material from Creswell Crags, finds from Roman Derby, and internationally significant Viking material from Repton.

The redisplay also sees the return of visitor favourite specimens from the ‘Notice Nature, Feel Joy’ Gallery, alongside newly featured animals.

Many were chosen in collaboration with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to represent current wildlife concerns and local nature recovery programmes, encouraging everyone to work towards a more nature-rich future.

Specimens such as hedgehogs, a peregrine falcon and black grouse tell stories of conservation, while a beaver skull speaks to current reintroduction projects in Derbyshire.

The new galleries are expected to welcome over 85,000 visitors annually, including thousands of schoolchildren.