Musician Nick Cave has launched a virtual museum known as the Museum of Important Sh*t – a unique collection of ordinary objects with extraordinary significance.

Following the release of his semi-autobiographical documentary 20,000 Days On Earth, the former Bad Seeds frontman Cave teamed up with film directors Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard to present the online collection of objects, each of which is of deep and lasting meaning to one person, with the idea inspired by the documentary, the nature of personal memorabilia and the histories they preserve.

The first item stored in the database is a piece of gum chewed by Nina Simone (top right)

The project is backed by production company Film4 and content agency Somethin’ Else, and is being curated by Cave, Forsyth and Pollard.

Anyone can submit an item of “important sh*t” to the museum, with potential donors needing to log into the site via social media and like and share the best items they come across.

An array of items are included, which each hold deep sentimental value to an individual, with the background story included

The museum will also be run by a series of guest curators including actor and director Richard Ayoade, British Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman and author Jon Ronson among others, who will select and group their favourite objects according to categories and themes.

“It’s sh*t, but it’s important sh*t,” said Cave, speaking in 20,000 Days on Earth. “That’s what this Museum is all about. We might not all have the masticated detritus of a jazz legend tucked away, but we all accumulate objects that have little financial value, but they hold the stories of the things that make us who we are. The Museum will unlock these transformative moments that define our very being. We urge you to share them with us, with the Museum, with the world.”