Glenmorangie renews its groundbreaking partnership with National Museums Scotland to research Early Historic Scotland ---
The Glenmorangie Company has re-signed a three-year sponsorship deal with National Museums Scotland to support the study and understanding of the Early Historic people of Scotland, it was announced today (Monday 21 March).
This innovative partnership began in 2008 with the creation of an archaeological post at the National Museum of Scotland: the Glenmorangie Research Officer. During this first phase the past was brought to life with the recreation of artefacts from AD 300-900, the period after the Romans and before the Vikings, including the first Pictish throne to be built in a thousand years.
The second phase of the collaboration will run until the end of 2013 and shed more light on Early Historic Scotland. The research will dispel popular myths that cast Scotland during this time as the archetypal Dark Age.
The Glenmorangie Company’s six-year partnership with National Museums Scotland represents a major long term investment in what is a challenging economic climate.
The partnership is regarded as a model for how business can support culture and last year won an Arts and Business Scotland Award in recognition of its work.
Barclay Price, Director of Arts & Business Scotland said, “It’s terrific to see this inspired support of Scottish culture continue. The Glenmorangie Research Project is an innovative partnership that breaks new ground in sponsorship activity and shows how such private-public collaborations can enrich the cultural life of the nation.”
A landmark book “A Jewel of Gold…Placed in a Silver Dish: the Glenmorangie project on Early Historic Scotland”, will provide a fascinating insight into what archaeology can tell us about how Early Historic people lived when it is published this summer.
The findings will challenge misconceptions about the period and reveal that Early Historic Scotland was a vibrant, creative and sophisticated time when some of our national treasures, such as the Monymusk Reliquary, were produced.
Paul Neep, Chief Executive of The Glenmorangie Company, said: “We are delighted to renew our unique partnership with National Museums Scotland. We can expect more exciting discoveries to be made about Early Historic people in this formative period of Scotland’s past.
“In the current economic climate we are very proud to be making a real and lasting contribution to the arts. We now have a six-year partnership with National Museums Scotland which takes us up to 2013.
“At Glenmorangie, heritage is very important. Many of our products take their names from the Gaelic language and our emblem was inspired by the Pictish Hilton of Cadboll Stone.”
Alice Blackwell, The Glenmorangie Research Officer, said: “The Early Historic period was a creative melting pot, and is a fascinating period to study. Glenmorangie’s support means we can continue to shed more light onto what is a formative period of Scotland’s past.
“The exciting programme of artistic recreations of historic objects means we can bring more of the past to life. A new book we are publishing this summer will also take a fresh look at how these people lived.
“This is a great opportunity to dispel popular myths that cast Scotland during this time as the archetypal Dark Age. We hope instead to show people how vibrant and sophisticated Early Historic Scotland really was.”
National Museums Scotland collections include the eighth-century Hilton of Cadboll Stone, which was discovered near Glenmorangie House in Ross-shire, and is the inspiration for the brand icon that adorns Glenmorangie's range of single malt whiskies.
