Hollywood director James Cameron has pledged his support to a multi-million dollar campaign to bring 5,500 Titanic artefacts back to Ireland.
Cameron, whose 1997 movie Titanic scooped 11 Oscars, says bringing the artefacts back to Belfast will honour the memory of the 1,503 people who died when the ship sank.
The artefacts, recovered by salvors between 1987 and 2004, are available after the current US owners filed for bankruptcy.
The Titanic Artefacts Collection campaign, which was launched in Belfast today, now aims to bring them across the Atlantic.
Legendary filmmaker, deep sea explorer and Avatar Alliance Foundation, James Cameron, director of the critically acclaimed movie, #Titanic, is backing our campaign to keep the #TitanicArtefacts together.
Find out more: https://t.co/ZgaAzXkTFd pic.twitter.com/IsY2NxZeF0
— Titanic Artefacts Collection (@TitanicArtefact) July 24, 2018
Cameron and his friend Dr Robert Ballard, who discovered the wreck in 1985, are backing the $20million (£15million) joint campaign by Royal Museums Greenwich, National Museums Northern Ireland, Titanic Belfast and Titanic Foundation Limited.
In a recorded message at today’s launch, Cameron said: “The story of the Titanic has captivated the imaginations, hearts and minds of people around the world.
Cameron's movie Titanic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, won 11 Oscars (Image: Getty)“It’s played an important role in my own life – as a film-maker, a deep sea explorer and as an advocate of deep-ocean research.
“Along with National Geographic, Titanic Belfast, Titanic Foundation, Royal Museums Greenwich, National Museums Northern Ireland and my friend, Dr Robert Ballard, I’m proud to support the campaign to bring the Titanic Artefacts Collection home.
'Irreplaceable collection'
“The sinking of the Titanic was a heart-breaking moment in history.
“Securing the irreplaceable collection of artefacts – protecting and preserving them for future generations by placing them in the public trust – is a unique and important opportunity to honour the 1,503 passengers and crew who died.”
Kathryn Thomson, CEO of National Museums Northern Ireland, warned this could be the last chance to secure the artefacts for public display
.@NatGeo is backing our campaign to bring the #TitanicArtefacts home, pledging $500,000 to the cause.
Find out more: https://t.co/ZgaAzXkTFd@TitanicBelfast @TFL_Belfast #NationalMuseumsNI @RMGreenwich pic.twitter.com/jH1oEbMjli
— Titanic Artefacts Collection (@TitanicArtefact) July 24, 2018
“Titanic is a huge part of Northern Ireland’s history and is renowned worldwide, therefore, as custodians of our national collection we are working to ensure this collection’s permanent care and preservation for the public benefit,” she said.
“If our bid fails, history, and this part of Northern Ireland’s history, might go on the auction block and disappear from the public domain.”
Today’s launch at the Titanic Belfast tourist attraction also saw the National Geographic Society pledge $500,000 (£380,000) towards the campaign.
The unique collaboration aims to protect, preserve and unite all the artefacts, which are at risk of being split up and sold.
If successful, the bid will secure the entirety of the collection in public ownership in perpetuity.
To find out more about the campaign, click here.
