Repair and Adaptation Fund

The Repair and Adaptation Fund will support capital costs that directly increase the resilience of museums, or improve accessibility through projects that address capital repair issues and adaptations that go beyond the limitations of a museum’s core maintenance budget.   

The fund can support: 

• Projects which address urgent repair needs that are: negatively impacting on the safety and security of, or access to, collections; negatively impacting visitor experience; limiting the ability of staff to carry out work; or creating health hazards. 

• Projects aimed at lowering running costs by improving environmental efficiency and contributing to Scotland’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2045.  

• Projects that improve the accessibility of museums for disabled visitors, volunteers, staff, and those with additional needs. 

Projects can be up to 2 years long, and must start within 6 months of the award date.

• In order to be eligible for MGS funding organisations must be able to demonstrate compliance with the Scottish Government’s Fair Work First policy which requires workers to receive payment of the real Living Wage and have access to appropriate channels for effective voice. This a Scottish Government requirement for all recipients of public funding implemented from 1 July 2023. Further information can be found in Fair Work First – Guidance for funding applicants. 

• Organisations that run Accredited museums in Scotland.

• Accredited museums on behalf of partnerships, which may include non-Accredited museums .

• Formally constituted groups of museums (eg. geographical forums) which include Accredited museums which will benefit from the funded work.  

We are currently developing the assessment criteria for this fund. We will publish the criteria in the coming weeks.

• Accredited museums can apply for grants of up to £100,000. 

• You can apply for 100% of the costs of the work you are proposing but we welcome financial contributions from the applicant organisation or other sources wherever possible as this enables us to support more museums with our limited funds.  

All awards are offered at a percentage of the total project cost so if you do not spend as much on your project as indicated in your application the amount that you can claim from us will be reduced proportionately. The maximum amount you will be able to claim will be stated clearly in any offer of grant. 

The Repair and Adaptation Fund is not yet open and is still being developed. We will share further information on how to apply in the coming weeks.