Sovereign Hill’s Gold Museum has received a $38,800 grant from the Copeland Foundation to go towards the cost of the conservation of the Chinese processional dragon, Loong, one of the oldest dragons to exist in the world.
Alexander Ewart Copland was an avid collector with a special interest in historic houses and their contents. When Alex died, several significant pieces from his collection were gifted to museums and other public collections, while the bulk of the estate was sold. The Copland Foundation was established with the proceeds of these sales and today, the grants assist to fund projects throughout Australia that focus on the study, management, conservation, acquisition, and interpretation of collections.
The grant, alongside the Community Heritage Grant and funds raised through the Awaken the Dragon appeal, will allow the Gold Museum to progress the conservation of both the dragon and the lion in 2019.
“The Gold Museum houses one of the most important and significant Chinese processional collections in Australia, and we’re thrilled to be able to continue our important conservation work,” says Sara Quon, Sovereign Hill Chief Executive Officer.
“It’s only with the assistance of organisations like the Copeland Foundation that we can work on the preservation of such important pieces of Australian Chinese history”.
During the Gold Museum’s Chinese New Year celebrations (Sunday 10 & 17 February), visitors will be able to attend a special floor talk, focusing on elements of the Museum’s Chinese collections, as well as back-of-house tours, which will feature Loong and other material from the processional collection.
A special lecture will be held at 2pm on Sunday 17 February in the Gold Museum Theatrette to present the conservation work done thus far on the Guardian Lion. Attendees will have the chance to meet Jacinta Brown, Textile and Object Conservator from The Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation. Jacinta is one of the conservators who is currently working on the Guardian Lion, and will work on the dragon Loong later in the year.
When: 2pm, Sunday 17 February 2019
Where: Theatrette, Gold Museum, Bradshaw Street, Ballarat
Cost: Free with Gold Museum or Sovereign Hill ticket
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