Dundee’s proposed £45 million V&A could be the first Scottish museum to host artefacts from last week’s Scottish independence referendum.
A new ‘rapid response collecting initiative’ at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum has been set up, which allows the museum to buy contemporary objects that make an impact on modern society.
Now staff are setting their sights on items like posters, badges, “Yes” and “No, Thanks” stickers and even referendum cakes and are to ask the public to make suggestions about which paraphernalia would be the best objects to collect to mark the historic vote.
Already staff have purchased an Ikea soft toy, a 3D-printed gun, a wrist computer and a piece of lift cable as part of the new strategy.
It’s already been suggested that the items could end up being displayed at the V&A in Dundee after it opens in 2016.
Corinna Gardner, curator of contemporary product design at the museum, said: “This V&A’s rapid response collecting strategy helps the museum engage in a timely way with important events that shape, or are shaped by design, architecture and technology.
“As part of this strategy, the V&A is looking to acquire an object or objects that through their design reflect the Scottish referendum campaign, and would welcome suggestions from the public about what would best represent the historic vote.
“Newly acquired objects would be displayed in the rapid response collecting gallery at the V&A in South Kensington, which is the first gallery in the museum that can be responsive to global events, technological advances, political changes or pop cultural phenomena that have an impact on art, design and architecture,” she added.
Ms Gardner said these could involve the Yes and No badges, window posters or a referendum polling card, or even the Yes and No cupcakes supplied by an Edinburgh bakery in the run-up to the vote.
Ms Gardner added that the museum would be looking for suggestions for purchases or donations to the collection.