Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in Scottish Heritage

This year-long project delivered a collaborative programme of engagement with Scottish heritage organisations around Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). The project helped create capacity to address EDI issues (with a special focus on race) in some of Scotland’s largest and most influential heritage organisations, through working with closely networked partners from within the sector. 

Partners on this project included: 

• Strathclyde University (lead partner) 
• Museums Galleries Scotland  (MGS)
• Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 

The project work centred on 3 strands. 

Involved using the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and Museum Galleries Scotland’s extensive networks to facilitate a large survey of heritage professionals about EDI awareness and challenges, to identify specific gaps in knowledge and practice to address in Strand 3. This information was also a research base for Empire, Slavery & Scotland’s Museums.

Focused on delivering work placements within Scotland’s museums and in the wider heritage sector. These pilots were designed to generate impact through creating templates for future EDI-focused placements run by heritage organisations. The placements were run in the autumn of 2021 and were remunerated through a bursary administered by MGS.   

Focused on dissemination, including the development of a suite of resources (toolkit) for BAME-focused community heritage projects.

By working with the heritage sector to map challenges, build links with diverse communities, and involve young people (and potential future employees), directly with decision-making mechanisms, the project sought to address inequalities by embedding better working and engagement practices and policies across the heritage sector in Scotland.