Four recipients awarded under the IMT-IMA research and development grant

We are pleased to announce the recipients of our small Research and Development Grant, funded by the Irish Museums Trust (IMT) and administered in partnership with the IMA.

The intention of these awards is to support museum professionals and researchers who wish to investigate a subject relevant to the understanding, management or development of museum practice across the island.

The four grant recipients, each receiving awards of €1,000, are:

• Margaret McCabe, PhD student at University College Cork: 'Repatriation and Restitution Claims to the National Museum of Ireland: An in depth look at museum practice'. For research travel to NMI to assist with investigations into the realities of the repatriation process by examining case studies of individual claims and how this process has evolved over time.
• Anne Hodge, Curator at National Gallery of Ireland: 'Are 'sustainable' exhibitions sustainable?'. For research travel to further exploration of environmental sustainability in the museum exhibition-making process, by benchmarking against existing best practice in the UK and France.
• Helen Johnson, PhD student at Ulster University: 'Through the eye of a needle: the classification, interpretation, display, and socio-cultural significance of Orange Order regalia collections'. To assist with the production of an exhibition and workshops based on research of the collections of textile regalia of the Orange and other Loyal Orders held at National Museums NI.
  
• Shauna Lee Allen, PhD student, University College Cork: 'Community Climate Action – Museums & Climate Change Project'. To assist with developing a climate change pop-up exhibition and programming in partnership with Barrington Museums, Canada, designed to engage community members in everyday climate action and campaigning for climate justice.

Following the announcement of the award recipients, Gina O'Kelly from the IMA, said:

"Through these awards we hope to encourage members of the museum community to pursue research they are passionate about, that look towards the future of museums and the role they play within our society and communities."

"As we celebrate International Museums Day and it’s 2022 theme ‘The Power of Museums’ today, 18 May, we reflect on how museums influence and inform public conversation; making, or encouraging others to make, a positive change by enhancing our understanding of the past and informing its future development. It is therefore particularly appropriate that the range of projects in this round, awarded by the expert selection panel, aim to further research into museum collections and programming that address societal issues, community engagement, and environmental concerns and attitudes."

The IMA and IMT offer two competitive grant cycles per year, awarding up to €1,000 each. For more information, see https://irishmuseumstrust.com / https://irishmuseums.org/text-...