Towards a National Collection

"We write as the united museums, galleries, libraries and archives of the UK.

From famous international institutions to small, local collections, we areproud of our diverse and unique identities, that reflect the differentcommunities whose stories we tell.But times like this, when digital access to culture is all we have, remind usthat our separate collections are also one, single, national collection: yourcollection.Earlier this year the Arts and Humanities Research Council, part of UKResearch & Innovation (UKRI), began a five-year programme called 'Towards aNational Collection', whose goal is to help us, working with UK universities, tobring our collections together digitally in new and exciting ways. When thenational lockdown began that ambition overnight became even more urgentand important – unlocking the power of our collections not only as a vitalresource for research, but to bring beauty, education, inspiration and solaceinto all of our lives.Starting today, for the remainder of the lockdown and, we hope, far into thefuture, we are committing to work together online as never before tocelebrate the connections between us, to bring our treasures together infresh and surprising ways, and to shine a spotlight on some of the little-known wonders of our shared national collection...."