Museum Futures programme launched

On July 2nd First Minister John Swinney visited the Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh to launch Museum Futures, a pioneering programme which seeks to accelerate collaboration and innovation and embed organisational sustainability across the museum sector.   

Museum Futures is a partnership programme developed by the Scottish Government, Museums Galleries Scotland, and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It is backed by £4 million of Scottish Government funding.

Museums across the country will be able to access a programme of funding and non-financial support which aims to help organisations make the changes they need so they can continue to protect Scotland’s local heritage assets and present them to communities and visitors for many years to come.  

A 2024 survey conducted by Museums Galleries Scotland and DC Research revealed that 11% of respondents reported that their organisation could be at risk of closure within the next year. Developed in direct response to the significant challenges faced by the sector, Museum Futures creates new pathways which will support the innovation needed to transition to a more sustainable way of working across the sector. The programme also responds to the Scottish Parliament Culture Committee’s call for a strategic approach to the allocation of additional funding for culture to ensure maximum impact. 

Museum Futures will offer two main channels of funding  – an open fund which aims to build leadership capacity and enable strategic change at an organisational level; and a strategic, targeted fund to enable change at a sector level by piloting initiatives that explore new ways of working on the ground through collaborative and place-based approaches.  

Alongside funding, Museum Futures offers a menu of wraparound organisational support, including skills development, professional mentoring, and advice. This includes a new Organisational Health Checker developed by Museums Galleries Scotland to help museums identify their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities and allow them to make informed decisions regarding immediate and longer term priorities including future investment. This tool will provide valuable organisational information as a strong foundation for any museum engaging with the new programme.   

The programme will offer support for both Accredited and non-Accredited museums, enabling development across the sector ecosystem.

The First Minister said: 

“Museums are the stewards of our cultural heritage, preserving the objects and artworks that have shaped Scotland, from its earliest beginnings to the latest trends.  

“Local museums in particular are responsible for bringing the stories behind their communities to life, and the Museum Futures programme aims to give them a solid foundation to build on by helping organisations innovate, collaborate and adapt. I know some are already early adopters of new ways of working and this programme will encourage more of that through the sharing of ideas, practical advice and funding to enable them to test new approaches that will stand the test of time. 

“This programme and the £4 million funding behind it reflects the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensure our museums flourish, having heard the sector’s voices on the challenges they are currently facing loud and clear. I would strongly encourage anyone who might be eligible to consider how they could secure their part of Scotland’s story with this funding and support.”  

Lucy Casot, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland said: 

“Museum Futures takes a progressive new approach to sector investment and development, allowing us to imagine and test what a strong museum sector can look like. It provides capacity to explore how the sector can adapt to meet current and future challenges while removing some of the risks of trying something new. It gives museums a chance to plan for long term sustainability instead of just getting through another year. 

“Museum Futures recognises the hard journey that our sector has had and seeks to offer a positive and collaborative way to address barriers and support change together.  

This is a momentous opportunity for Scotland’s museums and I would like to thank our partners and sector colleagues who have shaped and will continue to develop this innovative new programme.”  

Caroline Clark, Director of the National Lottery Heritage Fund for Scotland said: 

“Since the launch of the Heritage Fund some thirty years ago, we have worked closely with Scotland’s museum sector and thanks to National Lottery players we have supported museums of every size and style in every part of the country.  

“As the largest funder for the UK’s heritage our knowledge and experience has helped shape the Museum Futures programme. We now look forward to supporting it in delivery and continuing to be a key funder, project partner and supporter for a resilient, creative and collaborative museum sector in Scotland.” 

Matthew Bellhouse Moran, Executive Director of the Scottish Maritime Museum, said: 

“I welcome the launch of the Museums Futures programme which acknowledges the new landscape in which museums now operate. The programme offers opportunities for museums to experiment with new ideas and ways of working, a rare opportunity when so many funders do not consider learning as a success criteria in of itself. 

“I am delighted that Museums Galleries Scotland has listened to the sector and acknowledged that things need to change. This programme will allow museums to plan for change without exposing their organisations to the unmitigated risk that can come with trying something new or radical. I can’t wait to see what work and learning Museum Futures brings out over the coming years.”   

Details of the leadership capacity funding are now available, with further information on more Museum Futures funding to come soon. Initial wraparound support, including the Organisational Health Checker is now available. Museum Futures Webinars will take place in July for anyone wanting to find out more about the programme and how to get involved.