Search
Contact Us
  • Last updated: September 2nd 2026

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 from Trimontium Museum, Kate Linsell and Jon Evans from The Museum of Lead Mining, and Ashleigh Pink fromDundee Heritage Trust.

Downloads
Audio transcript
(DOCX, 60 KB)
Download

Video timestamps

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

Get involved

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.

Find out more
Funding
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.
Three people with light skin tone stood together. In the middle the person with short grey hair in a suit is holding a clipboard whilst the others wearing 1920s historical costumes look on.
Sector Story
Innovative ideas for income generation
This series of photographs and interviews highlights how museums are generating income through innovative visitor experiences.
Funding
Unlocking Potential Fund
Part of the Museum Futures Programme, the Unlocking Potential Fund can help prepare the way for strategic development of your museum by addressing issues that are currently preventing you from moving forward. 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.