Case Studies

At the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the beginning of lockdown, the Museums of the University of St Andrews pivoted to offer an upcoming on-site wellbeing programme online. Eilidh Lawrence, Assistant Learning and Access Curator at the Museums of the University of St Andrews, talks about creating a digital wellbeing programme.

Claire McDade, Project Manager for The Skylark IX Recovery Trust, talks about the Trust’s work, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to deliver woodworking and boatbuilding skills training to people from Alternatives Community Drug Charity in West Dunbartonshire, who are recovering from drug addiction. The Trust hopes to expand and build the Spirit of Skylark Centre in Dumbarton with key partners, the Scottish Maritime Museum, at the Denny Ship Model Experimental Tank, over the coming years.

The ‘Marvellous Museums’ project gives learners, including those identified as being at risk of not achieving their potential, opportunities to raise their awareness of careers in the Museum and Arts industries and develop a range of skills to prepare for work or further study within the sector.

Ruthanne Baxter, University of Edinburgh (UoE) Museums Manager and Founder of Prescribe Culture, talks about their multi-programme offer that utilises engagement with heritage collections and sites, as preventative mental wellbeing support for the wider community and as early intervention referral options for students presenting with mild-moderate mental health difficulties.

A joint project between Warddykes Primary School, ANGUSalive’s Signal Tower Museum, Museums Galleries Scotland and Developing the Young Workforce that highlights the exciting and varied roles within museums and the skills required for these jobs.

Whilst being closed to the public due to Covid-19 regulations the team at Hoy Heritage Centre organised new impactful ways to display and share resources in the heritage centre. Funded through Museums Galleries Scotland.

In this case study Ross McGregor, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, talks about the heritage team’s decision to commit to change and develop their core programme to look at inequalities within the College’s history and bring more people into the conversation.

Glasgow Museums has taken steps to embed autism acceptance into all areas of its work. Lyn Mooney, Learning & Access Curator at the Riverside Museum, describes the wide range of measures - from improved accessibility and resources to workshops and training - which have been implemented to ensure a better experience for staff and visitors with autism.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on access to culture. The McManus responded to this challenge by partnering with Alzheimer Scotland, Home-Start Dundee and THAT (Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust) to deliver Reconnect, a remote engagement programme. Kim Galligan, Learning and Engagement Assistant (Digital) for Leisure and Culture Dundee, outlines the project and its impact on families and community groups.

Museum Engagement Officer Amy Crawford shares how a focus on wellbeing led to the development of a sensory backpack. By taking collections out into the community, this backpack improved access to University of Dundee Museums and facilitated engagement with new audiences.

This case study is about working with schools and visitors to make links between the climate crisis and the industrial history of a community.