Campaign to be launched to keep Staffordshire gold hoard in West Midlands
A PUBLIC fund-raising campaign will this week be launched in a bid to keep the Staffordshire Hoard in the West Midlands.
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, which is displaying the Anglo-Saxon treasure, is joining forces with the Stoke-on-Trent Potteries Museums on the campaign to buy the Hoard.
And the British Museum, which will value and auction the 1,500 pieces of buried treasure, is keen on the entire hoard remaining in the region.
The awe-inspiring treasure trove, found near Burntwood, Staffordshire, was unveiled to the world last Thursday. Crowds have flocked to see it at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, where it will remain on show until October 13.
Coun Martin Mullaney, in charge of Birmingham Museum, said that although the treasure had not yet been formally valued it was important to make preparations to bid now.
It is also known that a Heritage Lottery hand-out alone will not be enough to buy the treasure. Further donations, from charitable trusts, generous benefactors, the general public and sponsors would be needed.
Coun Mullaney (Lib Dem, Moseley and Kings Heath) said: “The British Museum has indicated support for the finds ultimately remaining in the Midlands once the value has been set, we will be looking to creative fund-raising opportunities to acquire the hoard for the region.”
He told Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet that he would be passing round the silver collection tray for donations.
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