Ten collections from museums and galleries across Scotland have been awarded Recognition status owing to their national significance.

The recently launched Recognition Scheme – which aims to identify, protect and promote national collections to a wider audience – is managed by the Scottish Museums Council with funding from the Scottish Executive.

Douglas Connell, chair of the Recognition committee, said: “To achieve Recognition status, the applicants had to demonstrate the uniqueness, authenticity, comprehensiveness and national value of their collection.”

The Recognised venues will receive specially designed display plaques and certificates. They will also be able to bid for a share of the £1m earmarked for the scheme over the next two years by the Executive in order to improve the care and increase accessibility to their collections.

The ten collections are held at the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery in Glasgow; Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther; Museum of Scottish Lighthouses in Fraserburgh; Pier Arts Centre in Stromness; Surgeons’ Hall Museum in Edinburgh; Historic Musical Instruments cared for by the University of Edinburgh; The Archaeology Collection cared for by the Dumfries and Galloway Museum Service; Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine; Burns Monument Trust in Alloway and Scottish the Railway Preservation Society in Bo’ness.

Non-Recognised museums and galleries can now apply to the second round of awards, with a third round opening in December. Details: www.scotland.gov.uk