Museums Galleries Scotland

NEWS | Over £456K has been awarded through the latest round of the Museum Development Fund. 🎉We're delighted to announce that nine organisations across Scotland have received funding. The funded projects focus on sharing untold stories within their collections, promoting inclusivity, and increasing community engagement and co-curation. The fund is supported thanks to The Scottish Government. The nine organisations are: ⭐ Royalscottishacademy ⭐ The University of Edinburgh ⭐ The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh ⭐ National Museums Scotland ⭐ The Scottish Crannog Centre ⭐ Robert Burns Ellisland Farm & Museum ⭐ Dundee Museum of Transport ⭐ Almond Valley Heritage Trust ⭐ West Dunbartonshire Council Read more in our news story: https://lnkd.in/eHfjem3f 📸 1: Detail of beadwork belt from National Museums Scotland's Reveal and Connect project. Credit: University of Aberdeen 📸 2: Through the peephole of Tunnel Book, University of Edinburgh special collections. Credit: University of Edinburgh 📸 3: Royal Scottish Academy building. Credit: Royal Scottish Academy #ScotlandsMuseums #ScottishMuseumsandGalleries #ScottishMuseums

🎉 Happy Burns Night! Today we’re celebrating Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet. This is obviously a very special date for the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway. The museum has thrived since it was redeveloped in 2009, largely due to its ambitious and forward-thinking environmentally conscious design.    For instance, a ground source heat pump heats the building and its water supply, while light tubes on the green roof absorb light from the sun to brighten the inside of the museum. Due to this redevelopment, they can display most of their 5000 artifacts to the public, now better and more safely lit due to LED lights which are paid for by MGS grants. These lights are both brighter for the public and gentler on artifacts. So it’s fitting that January 26th – the day after we celebrate a poet who took inspiration from nature – is International Day of Clean Energy. This global event aims to raise awareness and mobilise for a fair and inclusive transition to clean energy for the benefit of all people and the planet. The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is doing its part in protecting the past as well as the future. You can learn more about their green initiatives and the amazing impact they’ve had by reading this case study on our website: https://lnkd.in/d_S_ZDFu 

🌈 We’re really pleased to feature in the latest issue of Somewhere: For Us, a magazine dedicated to queer culture and enterprise in Scotland! Joe Setch and Robyn Evans from our marketing team have written a piece on the #LGBTQ+ projects that we’ve supported, the museums and galleries that are leading the way on LGBTQ+ inclusion, and our own work to become a more inclusive organisation. Find out more on the Somewhere: For Us website: https://lnkd.in/er7P5Ppj

📰 Our January newsletter has just been sent out to mailing list subscribers! Top stories this month include: ⭐Scottish Government's survey on culture sector support - voice your needs by 31st January ⭐Museum sector finances debated in Parliament ⭐Visitor levies - make sure museums' voices are heard ⭐A case study on Glenesk Folk Museum's Flock to Sock project Read this month's Connect newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/dgrsyfGj Subscribe to our mailing list here: https://buff.ly/49En3c7

Scotland’s Museums and Galleries Strategy Symposium 2025 is taking place on February 26th at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. This free event offers an opportunity for museum sector professionals working in Scotland to learn about sector initiatives, engage in topical discussions, and network with colleagues. Delegates will attend panel sessions, knowledge-sharing opportunities, workshops, and speeches from figures including Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture. Our team will also be there to answer questions on how we can support your work and ambitions. If you’re not able to attend the Symposium in person, you can join us online. Our live-stream will offer access to sessions taking place in the auditorium and give you the opportunity participate in Q&A sessions.    🎟️ Follow this link for in-person tickets: https://lnkd.in/dMfcuZES Registration closes on the 12th of Feb at 5pm 🎟️ Follow this link for online tickets: https://lnkd.in/dBVxpsD3 Registration closes on the 21st of Feb at 5pm 📸: Ryan McGoverne

📝 Scotland’s museums and galleries can realise their full cultural and economic potential with support from MSPs, writes our CEO Lucy Casot in Holyrood Communications magazine. “Given the positive impacts museums and galleries have on public health, as well as providing free or low-cost access to learning and enjoyment, MSPs of all parties should be looking for every opportunity to secure the future of the sector.” Read Lucy's article here: https://lnkd.in/euJf6fRa

📅 Check out our events and training page for a range of talks, workshops, and training sessions aimed at the museum sector workforce: https://lnkd.in/enwGcDzF Upcoming events include: 28th Jan | Museums Galleries Scotland: Lunch and Learn: Interview skills 29th Jan | Arts Marketing Association: How to Create Great Short Form Video with Capcut 5th Feb | Museums Galleries Scotland: Digital Marketing Modern Apprenticeship information session 10th Feb | Museums Galleries Scotland: Museums and Galleries Technician Apprenticeship information session 19th Feb | National Museums Scotland: Introduction to integrated pest management 20th Feb | Association for Cultural Enterprises: Retail at cultural venues 📸: Ryan McGoverne

🎨 We’re looking to appoint a contractor for the evaluation of our Creative Minds Fund. Launched in 2024, this fund supports museums to engage with people who have experience of mental health issues. Applications for this contract close on February 3rd. To apply, visit our website at: https://lnkd.in/emzAxigY 📸: Aberdeen Art Gallery. Credit: VisitScotland and Kenny Lam

We’re offering aspiring and existing heritage sector leaders in the Greater Glasgow area an exciting opportunity to develop their strategic thinking and decision-making skills. This free Leadership and Innovation Training Programme, which is being delivered in partnership with City of Glasgow College, will take place in March. Read the programme details and sign up on our website: https://lnkd.in/e4YFz6Vw 📸: City Art Centre. Photo credit: Rob McDougall. Print credits: Ade Adesina - 'Secrets of the Sand', 'Gravity', and 'Twenty Sixteen' - 2016 © the artist.

📢 We're encouraging colleagues from Scotland's museums and galleries sector to take this survey from The Scottish Government to help shape a forthcoming review of how the wider culture sector is supported: https://lnkd.in/eC8taM5v Responses are sought from individual creative practitioners/freelancers and organisations. We will submit our own response to the survey but the more responses from our sector the better so please take the time to complete it. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and is open until 31 January.   The questions relate to experiences of funding and what you think needs to change to best meet the needs of the sector. It is worth noting that in one question about funding sources, MGS is not listed but there is an 'Other' option for you to add our name, should you wish to. #scotlandsmuseums #scotlandheritage #scotlandculture #scotlandculturefunding