Innovation Panel: Building Financial Sustainability

Drawing on three inspiring success stories from Scottish museums, this session explores how to create the conditions for innovative thinking and turn new ideas into sustainable change and financial resilience.

Speakers include Thania Meneses Flores, Trimontium Museum, Kate Linsell and Jon Evans, The Museum of Lead Mining, and Ashleigh Pink, Dundee Heritage Trust.

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(00:00 – 04:31) Gillian Darroch, Museums Galleries Scotland.

Gillian introduces the session and the speakers, as well as the Museum Futures project.

(04:31 – 26:46) Thania M. Flores, Trimontium Museum.

Thania discusses recent innovative projects at Trimontium, focusing on their Virtual Reality offering. She highlights the increase in engagement as well as revenue following the installation of the VR, as well as other projects.

(28:28 – 46:53) Kate Linsell, Museum of Lead Mining.

Kate discusses the innovative use of heat pumps, which extract heat from mine water to then heat the museum. This pilot project has not only reduced the museum’s carbon footprint, but has vastly reduced their energy costs.

(48:02 – 56:14) Ashley Pink, Dundee Heritage Trust

Ashley discusses the new Mast Climb at Discovery Point, Dundee. She highlights that whilst their initial ideas had to change, they now have an additional offering that is seeing visitor numbers increase, as well as increased interest from the travel trade.

(56:14 – end) Q&A

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The Museum Futures programme of essential support has been developed in direct response to the significant and ongoing financial and capacity challenges faced by the sector.

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Innovation Fund

Part of the Museum Futures Programme, the Innovation Fund can support museums to develop, trial and implement activity that will improve the museum’s financial position. Applications will be assessed on a continual basis, with decisions provided within 8 weeks of submission. Applications will be assessed on a continual basis, with decisions provided within 8 weeks of submission. The fund will close to applications on 20th January 2027 at 5pm.