Museum Development

The overall aim of the redevelopment is to provide a permanent home for the museum and archive of The Black Watch in Perth, the historic centre of the regimental recruiting area. We wish to add to, conserve and display our collection so as to honour in perpetuity the memory of the regiment and the countless men who have served in it.

The Redevelopment Project will involve a major redevelopment of the existing museum building and galleries. We possess a fine collection of artefacts spanning the whole history of The Black Watch. Through this we tell the story of the regiment and the part it has played in the history of our nation.

The Museum collection is the definitive way of illustrating the significance of the Black Watch story, an important part of both the heritage of Scotland, the United Kingdom and of the British Army. The new exhibitions will offer non-expert audiences unique insights into the nature of military service and the current and historic role of the armed forces. This is particularly important at time when only a small, and diminishing, percentage of the population have personal experience of military service. This gives the museum another unique selling point.

Character

It is key that the design of the galleries and displays should continue to reflect the character of the topic and be sympathetic with the nature of the building. The project stakeholders feel very strongly that we want to retain the existing style to the Museum, with a large number of objects, prints and paintings on display.

Audiences

The Museum aims to reach new and diverse audiences through displays and related activities within the redeveloped museum. Throughout the building the emphasis will be on flexibility, accessibility, and inspirational design to ensure the museum attracts and engages different audience groups.

Accessibility

Displays will be accessible, both physically and intellectually, and seek to widen access to the Museum. Displays will be designed to allow full access for wheelchair users and good practice guidelines for the height of displays will be followed. The design of panels, images, text etc will also follow good practice access guidelines.

Consultation

The layout and design of the proposed redeveloped Museum has been developed by existing Museum staff with our Project Curator – Allan Carswell – and exhibition design consultant – Studio MB. The Museum Committee – made up of ex-servicemen, volunteers and former staff – has been consulted throughout on the content, layout and design.