Edinburgh's Royal Museum has lost its regal name in an overall rebranding of the city's museums. The Royal Museum and its neighbour, the Museum of Scotland, will become the National Museum of Scotland.
'It's nothing to do with the monarchy' said Catherine Holden, the director of marketing and development, 'The Royal didn't do what it said on the tin.' She said many visitors assumed the museum was about kings and queens.
The Queen was asked to approve the change and Holden confirmed that the Queen looked through the plans herself and in some depth. Edinburgh's Royal Museum is scheduled to close in 2008 for refurbishment. It has gained a stage one Heritage Lottery Fund pass of £15.8m.
Holden said the Heritage Lottery Fund's recommendation for a more cohesive identity was an 'influencing factor' in the rebranding.
The renaming and new logo, which cost just under £100,000, comes after a year-long consultation with visitors, staff and stakeholders. 'We are reinventing ourselves as a new nation,' said Holden.
The new logo links to the Scottish flag, but Holden said it was open to individual interpretation: 'We do not want to be prescriptive.'
The five other museums in the group now come under the new name of the National Museums Scotland. The Museum of Flight becomes the National Museum of Flight; The Museum of Scottish Country Life is now the National Museum of Rural Life; Shambellie House Museum of Costume is now the National Museum of Costume; the National War Museum of Scotland is the National War Museum; and the Granton Centre is the National Museums Collection Centre.
Kenneth Reedie, the curator of Canterbury City Museums, which includes the Royal Museum and Art Gallery, said they had never considered dropping the royal from their name, but he could see arguments when the museum is part of a group. 'There could be some benefits in clarifying a single name.'
Felicity Heywood
'It's nothing to do with the monarchy' said Catherine Holden, the director of marketing and development, 'The Royal didn't do what it said on the tin.' She said many visitors assumed the museum was about kings and queens.
The Queen was asked to approve the change and Holden confirmed that the Queen looked through the plans herself and in some depth. Edinburgh's Royal Museum is scheduled to close in 2008 for refurbishment. It has gained a stage one Heritage Lottery Fund pass of £15.8m.
Holden said the Heritage Lottery Fund's recommendation for a more cohesive identity was an 'influencing factor' in the rebranding.
The renaming and new logo, which cost just under £100,000, comes after a year-long consultation with visitors, staff and stakeholders. 'We are reinventing ourselves as a new nation,' said Holden.
The new logo links to the Scottish flag, but Holden said it was open to individual interpretation: 'We do not want to be prescriptive.'
The five other museums in the group now come under the new name of the National Museums Scotland. The Museum of Flight becomes the National Museum of Flight; The Museum of Scottish Country Life is now the National Museum of Rural Life; Shambellie House Museum of Costume is now the National Museum of Costume; the National War Museum of Scotland is the National War Museum; and the Granton Centre is the National Museums Collection Centre.
Kenneth Reedie, the curator of Canterbury City Museums, which includes the Royal Museum and Art Gallery, said they had never considered dropping the royal from their name, but he could see arguments when the museum is part of a group. 'There could be some benefits in clarifying a single name.'
Felicity Heywood
