Dr Simon Jackson, Collections and Learning Curator (Natural Sciences) at Colchester and Ipswich Museums explains the story:
“Ipswich Museums’ Post-Cretaceous Geology Collection, which includes our outstanding ice age collection, has been awarded Designated status by Arts Council England.”
“The Designation scheme is administered by Arts Council England and identifies the pre-eminent collections of national importance held in England’s non-national museums, libraries and archives, based on their quality and significance. The award is a mark of distinction that recognises collections of outstanding quality and which are essential research resources, making a significant contribution to the public understanding of the subject. You can read more about the scheme here: Designation Scheme | Arts Council England.“
“A bit more info about what’s been Designated: the Ipswich Post-Cretaceous Geology Collection includes those specimens more recent than the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs, 66 million years ago. The greatest strength of the collection includes Suffolk Plio-Pleistocene fossils, the remains of animals which lived during the ice age (which started 2.5 million years ago), and the warmer Pliocene before it. Suffolk has an outstanding Plio-Pleistocene record, with the only exposures of the Coralline Crag (Middle Pliocene) and extensive exposures of the Red Crag (the only exposed British deposit to document the transition into the ice age). The county’s deposits also document the dramatically changing environments of the ice age between warmer, wetter episodes (interglacials) and colder, drier episodes (glacials). With pre-eminent collections covering this period, the collections now attract international research.”
“This news is very timely indeed as we are shape our new museum at Ipswich. It is the optimal opportunity to build in the international significance of this collection in the new displays, in a way that the public can be proud of this outstanding collection, which is on their doorstep.”
“We are organising a Designation celebration event on Thursday, 21 September at Christchurch Mansion for a range of stakeholders including museum curators and relevant researchers. If you would like to come then please contact Suffolk Museums at museums@suffolk.gov.uk.”