Hidden Treasure: bings o chatterie in Scottish museums

Citation

Ramsay R (2017) Hidden Treasure: bings o chatterie in Scottish museums [Loads of stuff: the material culture of Gypsy/Travellers (hidden) in Scottish museums]. Hidden Treasures: a celebration of Gypsy art - traditional and contemporary - in its many forms, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, 11.06.2017-11.06.2017.

Abstract
When I first started to research the material culture of Gypsy/Travellers in Scottish museums the project I had in mind was very straightforward: I was going to find the objects related to Gypsy/Traveller heritage and culture that were within museums in Scotland. Except it is, of course, not that straightforward. This paper will outline some of what I have found out so far about what is out there, how it got there, how it is used (or not), and some of the possible ways forward. I will give an idea of: what is currently on display what is hidden in plain sight (contested and unacknowledged items) what is hidden away in museum stores across the country (the unused and unseen majority of objects) This will be followed by some examples of creative approaches that a few museums have taken to tackle the invisibility of Gypsy/Traveller culture within Scottish museums. The paper will close with a look to the future – asking how we can develop a future where Gypsy/Traveller culture has greater visibility within Scottish museums.

People

Mrs Rhona Ramsay

PhD Researcher, History and Politics - Division