Aladdin’s cave of human history bolstered through community grant
Published 25 November 2021
Moreton Bay Regional Council has helped secure the future of a collection of priceless international artefacts.
Caboolture’s Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology (AMAA) has been awarded a $200,000 Community Operational Support Grant to assist with its continued operation in 2022, including its extensive calendar of community and cultural programs.
AMAA has been significantly impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including pausing of programs and the cancellation of its renowned Abbey Medieval Festival in 2020 and 2021. The Festival is a major annual fundraiser and supports a range of other AMAA programs.
Opened in 1986, the Abbey Museum is unique in Australia due to its collections of fine art, antiquities and artefacts that cover eras such as the prehistoric Europe, the Bronze and Iron Ages, the Roman Empire and Medieval Europe.
The non-profit organisation also offers research support, education programs for primary and secondary students, and work experience placements and internships, including those for people with injuries who are retraining or returning to full-time work.
Mayor Peter Flannery said the preservation of the iconic collection was vital for future generations.
“The Abbey Museum is a veritable treasure trove of international history, placing it in a rare category, and making it a highly valuable cultural asset for the Moreton Bay Region,” he said.
“The antiquities, artefacts and art works have major national significance, and are in high demand from other institutions to loan for their collections. From Pharaoh’s Egypt to stunning stained glass and even bling through the ages, there’s something for everyone to explore.’
Division 1 Councillor Brooke Savige said the Abbey Medieval Festival is also the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
“It’s one of the biggest annual events on our region’s calendar since it started back in 1989,” Cr Savige said.
“More than 30,000 people participated in and attended the last Festival back in 2019, many of them from interstate and overseas, pouring over $2 million into our region’s economy.
“After a tough couple of years, this Community Operational Support Grant will help the AMAA continue to thrive for the benefit of our residents and visitors.”
The Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology’s Director, Edith Cuffe, also welcomed the grant as a significant step forward.
“This funding is highly significant to the Museum, particularly coming on the back of two years where we haven’t been able to hold the Medieval Festival,” Ms Cuffe said.
“The Museum has been struggling, and this has the capacity to help us turn things around and move more positively into the future.”
For more information on Council’s community grants programs, visit https://moretonbay.qld.gov.au/Services/Community-Support/Grants-and-Funding/Community-Grants
ENDS