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  • Last updated: January 23rd 2023

Sector Stories

Be inspired and learn about the amazing work being undertaken by museums and galleries across Scotland, through stories, case studies, and insights.

An adult with light skin, grey hair, an orange jumpsuit, and a white hard hat shows a metal safety lamp to a group of adults and children.
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MGS Funded
An ariel photo of nine adults holding a Pride Progress flag between them.
Aberdeen Art Gallery
Diversity on display: building a queer art trail
By working with a local LGBTQ+ charity to develop an audio tour, Aberdeen Art Gallery has invited new perspectives on their collections and increased LGBTQ+ visibility.
Detail of a portrait of an adult with light skin wearing an elaborate dark blue dress with ruffled sleeve. They are holding a book and quill in their hands.
Portrait - National Galleries of Scotland
Diversity on display: highlighting LGBTQ+ histories
National Galleries of Scotland and historian Ashley Douglas found creative ways to showcase the story of Marie Maitland, a 16th century poet whose works explored themes of same-sex attraction.
A light-skinned hand sews a transgender symbol onto rainbow fabric.
Kirkcaldy Galleries
Diversity on display: creating an LGBTQ+ community banner
The team at Kirkcaldy Galleries wanted to address the underrepresentation of LGBTQ+ people in their exhibitions and displays. So they collaborated with a local LGBTQ+ youth group to create a powerful display of community pride.
A modern building with rough stone walls and a sweeping wooden roof. A curving path leads up to the entrance.
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, National Trust for Scotland
Burns, Scots, and schools: engagement at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
Find out how students and the Museum team benefited from long term engagement during this Workforce for the Future project.
A white flag. Printed on the flag in blue are the words 'Scottish Maritime Museum' and an illustration of a ship.
Scotland wide
Resilient approaches in museums across Scotland
We’ve collated a selection of resilience stories from across Scotland’s museums and galleries to highlight some of this work and inspire other organisations. These examples demonstrate collaboration, innovation, skills development, audience development, and entrepreneurial thinking.
6 people stand in an auditorium around a Benin Bronze sculpture placed upon a plinth covered in a blue table cloth that has "University of Aberdeen" written on it. 5 of the people have dark skin, 1 has light skin. The people are all wearing examples of formal dress in either the western european style or North West African style.
Return (and Other) Stories
Returning a Benin Bronze to its rightful place: Benin City
In 2021, the University of Aberdeen returned a looted Benin Bronze from their collection to the Oba of Benin, becoming the first UK institution to agree to an unconditional return of a Benin Bronze. Neil Curtis, from University of Aberdeen, outlines the process of giving back a pillaged object without a repatriation request being made. 
A black plastic tub containing objects associated with Scottish football in the mid-20th century. This includes a leather football, a football boot, a cap, and a wooden rattle.
Scottish Football Museum
Football Memories: from pilot scheme to national programme
Football Memories started in 2009 with a simple idea: to tackle social isolation by setting up reminiscence groups. Curator Richard McBrearty reflects on how the project has grown from an MGS-funded pilot to a national programme which benefits thousands of people.
A group of medium skin tone people wearing traditional clothing of the Nisga’a Nation stand on a balcony behind the wooden Ni’isjoohl Memorial Pole. The pole depicts animals carved into the wood and extends out of shot at the top and bottom of the image.
Return (And Other Stories)
The Rematriation of the House of Ni’isjoohl Memorial Pole
The House of Ni’isjoohl Memorial Pole, stolen from the Nisga’a Nation in the 1920s, was rematriated from National Museums Scotland (NMS) in 2023. Noxs Ts’aawit (Dr. Amy Parent) of The Nisga’a Nation and Dr. John Giblin from NMS outline the process of international cooperation to rematriate the Memorial Pole to its ancestral home.
A pair of blue wool socks displayed on a red and green tartan blanket.
Glenesk Folk Museum
Flock to Sock
In this video case study we hear from Museum Development Officer Julie Cave about Glenesk Folk Museum's Flock to Sock project.
An ornate gold chalice positioned between two display panels which contain medallions.
Brodick Castle, National Trust for Scotland
Hidden treasures: developing skills and confidence in collections
Collections are at the heart of museum work. Find out how investing in the documentation and display of Napoleonic coins enabled the team at Brodick Castle to gain new expertise and strengthen their connections with other heritage organisations.
A group of six adults gather around a glass jar containing a lizard specimen.
Return (And Other Stories)
Return of the Galliwasp
Staff at The Hunterian share their experience of returning a specimen of the extinct Jamaican giant galliwasp back home to Jamaica. They highlight how the repatriation of the specimen was achieved through collaboration with curators and academics in Jamaica, and explain the challenges and outcomes of the process.
A wooded area with a path running through, and wild flowers.
The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum
Using outdoor spaces to diversify audiences and benefit nature
This case study explores the value of creating an outdoor space for engaging visitors and the local community, as well as attracting new audiences while also benefiting the local biodiversity.