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Three University projects celebrate state-of-the-art equipment and facilities through AHRC CapCo funding

9 October 2024
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Ushaw Power of Images

A number of project teams across the University were successful in securing awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Capability for Collections Fund (CapCo), part of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) World Class Laboratories Funding.

The funds were awarded to research institutes and universities to help renew and improve facilities for collections-led research, focusing on conservation and heritage science facilities, digital capture equipment and specialist study spaces; ensuring UK researchers and innovators have use of world class laboratories, equipment and digital resources.

As the World Class Laboratories Project draws to a close this Autumn, we reflect on our projects and their successes.

Team Pigment: Illuminating Medieval Manuscripts

An inter-disciplinary research team, led by Chemistry Professor Andy Beeby and Historian Professor Richard Gameson, has been applying cutting-edge scientific tools to analyse different types of ink used to decorate medieval illuminated books.

The team secured nearly £400,000 in two separate bids for CapCo funding in 2020 and 2021, in collaboration with University Library & Collections. The funds have been used to purchase state-of-the-art equipment, enabling them to reveal unprecedented levels of detail through their research.

This new knowledge sheds light not only on how individual manuscripts were produced, but also on the availability of the materials used to paint them and therefore the evolution of international trade networks. The work is invaluable to historians exploring cultural, social and economic development between the 7th and 15th centuries. 

‘The Pigments of British Medieval Illuminators: a scientific and cultural study’ was published last year and includes analysis of over 400 medieval books, including some of the most historically significant in the UK.

Oriental Museum: Safeguarding our Collections for the Future

The Oriental Museum secured two tranches of CapCo funding. The initial tranche, awarded in 2020, was used to refurbish and expand the Oriental Museum’s secure storage for collections and associated research study spaces. The new storage facilities included specialist sections for human remains, also lacquer and ivory, textiles, works on paper, metalwork and other items from the Museum’s designated collections, which require particular care or special conditions.  

A second tranche of funding in 2021 supported the process of making our collections more accessible to researchers through a project entitled ‘Sharing the Pleasure: Developing digital engagement using the Malcolm MacDonald Collection of Chinese ceramics’, The project focused on creating both new photography and 3D printing:

  • A total of 408 high resolution full colour images of pieces in the MacDonald collection of Chinese ceramics were captured using the new equipment. These images were used to support the creation of an online exhibition Beauty and Diplomacy: the Malcolm MacDonald Collections.
  • Key pieces were also 3D scanned using new equipment. The first batch of 3D printed models further developed the successful  The Street Museum project, which took place in April 2021 in Blackhall village, East Durham. Local people were encouraged to curate their own exhibition and turn the windows of their homes into an art gallery that could be viewed from the street. The project was very successful from a participant point of view and went on to win Best Arts and Education Partnership in the North East Culture Awards 2022. The MacDonald collection scans were used to gain further valuable insights into how community members engage with digital surrogates.

Collections: The Power of Image: Versailles and The Sun King

Part of the AHRC CapCo funding secured by our Library & Collections team in collaboration with academic colleagues in 2020, enabled us to renew and upgrade cameras and related equipment for digital photography. This led to the Team  supporting a major exhibition The Power of Image: Versailles and The Sun King at Ushaw Historic House and Gardens.

Ushaw holds a set of the etchings and engravings from fifteen large volumes, produced from 1670 onwards, which brought to life the royal collections, achievements and tastes of Louise XIV of France in exquisite detail.

Using CapCo funded equipment the Collections Team were able to create enlarged high-resolution digital images of material from these volumes, enabling wider audiences to enjoy the entire images and all their small details.

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