Collecting the Present is a new film series from National Museums Scotland which explores objects they have collected recently that document cultural, political and social change in Scotland.
These films take a look at the personal meanings of objects through the eyes of the people who are closest to them, then place them in their wider cultural context. They show how contemporary collecting is vital for documenting our present, but can also shine new light on our past and give a tantalising glimpse into the future.
In their latest short film Land Reform, they explore objects that document community buyouts in the islands of Eigg and Ulva. Land ownership has been a contested issue in Scotland for centuries. Today it is estimated that over half of the country’s privately owned land is in the hands of fewer than 500 individuals.
Community buyouts aim to redistribute Scotland’s land by putting it in the hands of the people who live and work in the local area.
You can see more films from the series at www.nms.ac.uk/collectingthepresent.