What's the Point? Documenting and recontextualising Pacific arrows

Five metal arrowheads with wooden shafts attached. Each arrowhead has a different appearance including elongated points and circular shapes with holes in the centre.

The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) is delighted to announce it has been awarded £46,021 from Art Fund, the national charity for museums and galleries, for the project ‘What’s the point? Documenting and recontextualising Pacific arrows’.

Dr Eve Haddow, MAA's Senior Curator in Anthropology, explains the impact the funding will have; "Thanks to a generous grant from the Art Fund, we'll be conducting innovative research to increase our understanding and care of over 2,000 Pacific arrows in the MAA collection. Arrows are often overlooked and under-documented in museums but we know they have significance to many different people and communities. We are really excited to use collaborative research to highlight these stories and increase access."

The wooden shafts of a collection of arrows which have been carved and painted using red, white, and black pigments.
Arrows, Vanuatu, Melanesia. Collector: Walter Coote. MAA 1941.31.1-8

Jenny Waldman, Director, Art Fund, said: “At the core of Art Fund’s purpose is supporting museums to develop, care for and share the collections that enrich people’s lives. I'm delighted we've been able to support the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology through our final round of Reimagine funding, enabling museums to explore their collections, connect with communities and ensure that works of art, objects and their stories are shared and preserved for future generations.” 

The funding is part of a total of £1.3m awarded through the latest round of Art Fund’s Reimagine programme, supporting innovative collections projects in museums and galleries across the UK. Launched in 2020 in response to the pandemic, Reimagine was developed with museums to address the sector’s most urgent challenges. This latest round focuses on collections – a cornerstone of Art Fund’s mission and one of the areas of museum practice with the greatest demand for funding. The UK is home to some of the world’s most remarkable collections, yet the resources required to care for and interpret them are increasingly strained. Art Fund’s Museum Directors Survey in 2024 found that 56% of museums cite a lack of funding for collections as a major barrier to essential work such as digitisation, collections reviews and acquisitions. This funding has been made possible thanks to support from The Kirby Laing Foundation, Art Fund members and supporters of Art Fund's Expanding Horizons appeal.

About the Art Fund

Art Fund is the national charity for museums and galleries. For over 120 years, it has helped institutions across the UK to develop and share their collections, invest in people and expertise, grow their audiences and inspire the next generation.

Art Fund connects museums and people with great art and culture through funding, advocacy and initiatives, because access to art is vital for a healthy society. It champions the sector through the prestigious Art Fund Museum of the Year award - the world’s largest museum prize - and supports museum professionals through dedicated training and grant programmes.

Independent and people-powered, Art Fund is supported by 142,000 members who buy a National Art Pass, as well as generous contributions from individuals, trusts and foundations. The National Art Pass offers free or discounted entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places in the UK, 50% off major exhibitions, a subscription to Art Quarterly magazine and Art In Your Inbox newsletter.

Cover image: Arrows, ?Solomon Islands, Melanesia. Donor: Capt. Henry Laver. MAA 1926.411