Specific appeals might involve acquiring precious finds, conserving artefacts in the collections, or helping us preserve the museum building. Whatever the cause, when you donate to an appeal your money goes straight to where it’s needed most.
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Support an Appeal
Fundraising appeals raise vital funds, directly supporting our core work and special projects.
Treasure Appeal
Help us develop a designated fund for acquiring precious finds so more people can experience and enjoy Cornwall’s treasures.
Donate to the treasure appeal
What is the Treasure Appeal?
The Treasure Appeal aims to establish a ring-fenced fund or treasure chest, allowing the museum to bid for significant historical items, archaeological finds, or works of art which are discovered in Cornwall and hold intrinsic value for the region.
What will the museum use the money for?
When beautiful, intriguing, or unique items are found or rediscovered, the museum often gets an opportunity to acquire them. It could be an item of ancient gold jewellery or rare coins unearthed in a muddy field by detectorists, or a storied artefact rediscovered in the dark recesses of a loft.
Many of those who discover hidden treasure have a strong desire to see their precious finds cared for by a local museum where they can be enjoyed by all.
What will happen to acquisitions?
Depending on the type and condition of each object, they may need restoration or conservation, or to be stored in a specific way. The Treasure Appeal will allow us not only to buy precious finds for posterity, but also care for them according to Museum Accreditation standards.
With all such acquisitions, our aim will be to display them as soon as possible in the museum, where they can be seen in the context of our wider collections.
The museum holds over one million artefacts and artworks. From school children to visiting academics, Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery is where people come to see the region’s treasures, and acquiring and caring for such treasures is part of our mission going back some 200 years.
Donate to the treasure appeal button
Your support in action: new treasures acquired thanks to the Treasure Appeal
New treasures have come into the care of the museum for all to enjoy thanks to the Treasure Appeal, with the purchase in 2025 of a Bronze Age gold terminal fragment found in St Levan and a gold momento mori ring dating to 1702 from St Enoder.
