THE Scottish Government’s education department is “delighted” after learning that one of Holyrood’s baby boxes has arrived in the US, ready to be displayed as part of a design exhibition.
Every family in Scotland receives a baby box, packed full of clothes, bedding and other essentials, to welcome newborns to the world. The box can be used to provide a place to sleep, and even includes a poem from Scotland’s makar Jackie Kay.
Since the Finnish-inspired boxes started being rolled out in August 2017, more than 160,000 have been delivered to expectant parents.
The box will be displayed as part of the “first-of-its-kind” Designing Motherhood exhibition, which is curated by US-based Scot Michelle Millar Fisher and award-winning design historian Amber Winick.
Designing Motherhood is currently displaying at the Mutter Museum, Philadelphia, and will show at the city’s Center for Architecture and Design from September. The exhibition has won coverage in the likes of the New York Times and will be released in book form later this year.
Fisher was excited to reveal that the baby box had made its way over the ocean this week, thanking the team at the Scottish Government for sending the “beautiful” creation.
READ MORE: More than 40,000 Baby Boxes delivered across Scotland this year
“We will show this Scottish baby box, as well as a Finnish example where the concept originated,” she told followers. “The Scottish box was developed in 2017 and contains everything from baby clothes and a blanket to a thermometer and nursing pads. Billed as a design to give every child in Scotland an equal start in life, the box itself can be used as a crib, and its exterior can be colored in by older family members.
“Inside has plenty of helpful information, as well as a specially commissioned poem from the Scottish poet laureate, Jackie Kay.”
The curator said she would also be showing a Book Bug Bag from the Scottish Book Trust, which is given to new babies to “inspire them into a life of reading”.
“I am always proud to be from Scotland, but especially when I see such a good design!” she wrote.
To keep up with news from the exhibition, follow its Instagram page.
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