Scottish museums take climate action
As Scotland’s Climate Week begins Museums Galleries Scotland emphasises the role museums play in climate action.
Today, MGS highlights how the cultural and heritage sector plays a unique role in tackling the climate and biodiversity emergencies. Museums hold vital information about our past in collections of stories, objects, and natural history records. Museums are also key to inspiring audiences and communities, both locally and globally, to understand our connection to the planet and the actions we can all take to protect it.
As part of our commitment to supporting museums to take climate action we have signed the Culture Declares Emergency declaration, where we have pledged to provide support in the form of training, advice, strategic investment, and networks.
There is immense power in the arts, culture, and heritage sector to drive climate action. Museums and galleries stand uniquely placed, at the heart of communities, to tell stories of our past and use them in seeking solutions in the fight for the future. It’s important that we recognise the work museums have done and continue to do to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change, lower their own climate impact, and inspire their audiences to take meaningful action.
Lucy Neville, Climate Officer at Museums Galleries Scotland
Museums across the country are already taking climate action and MGS hopes that more will join them:
Glenfinnan Station Museum is planning to repurpose a 55-tonne snowplough into an interactive, all-weather exhibition space to showcase the railway’s snowploughing heritage and highlight current and future operational challenges in the face of climate change. The MGS-funded exhibition will feature way hand tools, archival snow clearance footage, and informational panels. The snowplough will be powered by its own solar panels mounted on the roof.
Hege Hernæs, Curator at Glenfinnan Station Museum said:
“The project aims to make the museum more inclusive by providing an enjoyable educational experience for all visitors, and more resilient by demonstrating on-site renewable energy generation and engaging visitors with the need for urgent climate action.”
Museum of Scottish Railways‘ Youth Group planned and built a biodiversity garden to encourage pollinating insects. Volunteers at the museum are currently recording species around the site and working with the curatorial team to develop a new walking trail. The team are also planting a variety of species that were spread by and thrive on the railway, highlighting the importance of biodiversity for wellbeing and sense of place, and giving visitors the opportunity to engage with the natural history of Scotland’s railways.
The Watt Institution is using its historic herbarium collection to produce interactive AR prints. The prints are created using recycled materials from the museum and embedded with seeds. By scanning a QR code with a phone or tablet, users can bring the plant to life and see in augmented reality the insects which rely on each plant. After enjoying the AR experience, the print can be planted, allowing the embedded seeds to sprout and attract butterflies and caterpillars, turning your garden into a wildlife-friendly space.
Scottish Fisheries Museum work closely with members of their local community to champion the message that healthy ecosystems and seas are required to support Scotland’s fishing industry. Their recent exhibition Pride in the Seas was a powerful photo-led exhibition featuring 12 individuals from across Scotland and depicted the challenges, pride, and responsibility felt by those working in Scotland’s fishing industry. Their current exhibition, The Solway Hoard reflects on the Plastic Age (1950-2050) by presenting a museum set 1,000 years in the future. The exhibition is based on the imaginings of people from Dumfries and Galloway who participated in workshops exploring the challenges for society and the environment. The exhibition aims to prompt action to address the problems caused by the current use of plastics. It is part of the Positive Action for a Cleaner Solway Project, supported by the Scottish Government’s Marine Fund Scotland and in collaboration with The Museums of the FutureNow.
The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum has a biodiversity garden in their grounds which they added an events cabin to in 2021 with funding from MGS. The cabin was made using reclaimed materials and now serves as a stage for outdoor music performances, a food and beverage stand, and an educational space. It has allowed the museum to host more outdoor events which has welcomed new audiences.
