The New Perth Museum | Gift Horse or Trojan Unicorn?

Artists Commissioned to Share History in New Ways

The Museum Committee commissioned 6 artists to tell moments in local history in the form of large hanging banners: a smart way of not just bringing community stories with the walls but caring about them.

The results are superb. It’s worth spending time with them.

(The making of each artwork also involved a community outreach element, find out about Laura Darling’s Walk and Talk Events).

Perth/Perthshire is Remarkable for Craft

I was glad to see a selection of local artists being represented in the museum shop, but I have concerns that Perth’s (and Perthshire’s) status as the UK’s only UNESCO City of Craft was under-celebrated.

This new museum could make more celebration of how contemporary crafters are using traditional methods and materials in modern practices.

It’s a rich, visual subject which could open the museum onto the region (and bring the region into the museum).

(It is something we share on our English conversation holidays when we take you to Meet the Makers.)

The Trojan Unicorn

It’s safe to say the local community is not 100% in favour of this £27 million investment (which really does include a ‘Trojan unicorn’ called Destiny!).

There has been grumbling across social media for months, listing the issues Perth (like most cities) is dealing with (rocketing rents, poor public transport, emptying high street, out-of-date swimming pool, underused potential as a port) and comparing how much of X,Y & Z the same money could buy.

Investing in Culture

The city of Perth needs strategic investment, but throwing money at a failing high street doesn’t work in the long term (and unfairly benefits only a few commercial property owners).

And it while it is true that overspending on a poor-quality museum would not work either, I have seen city economies transformed by investments like this new museum (our neighbouring city of Dundee in particular).

They can be an egalitarian way of lifting a town’s economy.

But they have to be good!

The ‘Fair City’

Attracting new visitors can benefit that same high street – and well beyond – particularly if the city is willing to mould to a new identity.

But it’s not guaranteed.

Cultural investments don’t work when they’re half-baked, poor quality, made without intelligent design, or lack infrastructure – or community goodwill.

Invest in the right architects, curators and coordinate with city planners and the community – and you may have a viable and sustainable way of lifting a local economy.

Gift Horse (Not Trojan Unicorn)

I think that it’s fantastic that we’ve had this leap of faith put into our local city, and I was impressed by the visitor experience.

It’s a great addition to Perth.

However, with such a big part of the community grumbling about the cost to any visitors newly attracted to the city, I am concerned there are a few too many people who’d rather be proved right than be wrong in the mix.

Whatever your initial objections, the new museum is here, it’s open and it’s everyone’s.

Surely it’s time to be delighted, to see where this new museum can take our ‘Fair City’ (including high street transformation and better public transport links). 

I’ll be promoting it and taking my holiday guests to explore the collection, for sure!

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

Naysayers, haud yer wheeest and give it a fair chance, or it will fail.