Social Impact: Evidence summary

Sharing the impact museums can have is a powerful way to demonstrate the value of the sector.

In 2025, we commissioned a literature review looking at museums in relation to place-making and place-based approaches. The report collates the academic, peer-reviewed evidence of the impact museums can have in this area.

We also commissioned two literature reviews, published in 2020 and 2021, to collate the academic, peer-reviewed evidence of the impact museums can have. The findings were measured against the outcomes of the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework.

Role of museums and galleries as anchor institutions in place-based development across Scotland

• The role of museums and galleries as anchor institutions is well recognised in the literature and they provide a wide range of benefits around place-making.

• This role can be summarised in three main ways: museums as flagship projects; museums role as an important presence in a place; and the contributions of museums from being tied to, and embedded within, a particular place.

• Case study examples clearly show the role that museums can have as anchor institutions, including as a key contributor to the wider local economy through their purchasing and as a direct employer, as a tourist attraction, and as a hub for the local community, and for learning/education.

• Museums of all sizes can fulfil this role as anchor institutions – whilst the role of larger museums may be more obvious, smaller museums that are an important presence in their place also make important contributions as anchor institutions.

Contribution of museums to addressing inequalities in participation and access through place-based initiatives

• There is clear evidence and good recognition in the literature of the inequalities in participation and access that exist for museums, and that museums recognise and are taking proactive steps to address these challenges.

• It is also evident that museums are carrying out a range of activities and initiatives around seeking to address these inequalities.

• Examples from the literature show that whilst some of this work is general in nature, much of it seeks to address particular inequalities in participation – such as in relation to young people, migrants, lower socio-economic groups, and disabled people.

Extent to which museums support community wealth building and local empowerment through partnerships

• Building on aspects of museums as anchor institutions, there is clear evidence that museums support community wealth building through place-based activities.

• The literature and research show that museums support community wealth building and local empowerment in a variety of ways – especially on employment, purchasing, and attracting people to, and retaining people in, a place.

• In addition, museums also support local empowerment through partnerships, with evidence suggesting that much of this activity now involves co-production, co-curation, co-creation, collaboration and active community participation.

Museums as vehicles for fostering a sense of place, belonging, and cultural identity within communities

• There is very strong evidence from a wide variety of robust studies in the literature that museums fulfil a clear role in helping people to develop a ‘sense of place’, a ‘sense of belonging’; and a ‘cultural identity’.

Our previous two literature reviews, published in 2020 and 2021, can be found below. The findings were measured against the outcomes of the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework.

We commissioned two literature reviews, published in 2020 and 2021, to collate the academic, peer-reviewed evidence of the impact museums can have. The findings were measured against the outcomes of the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework.

Below is a summary of our findings. The full literature reviews with bibliography are available here:

Literature review: education and employability

Literature review: health and wellbeing 

Football memories evaluation 

The Museums Association has also produced Scottish case studies to support their Museums Change Lives campaign.

We are well educated, skilled, and able to contribute to society.

Educational attainment

Research conclusions:

• visible improvement of student learning in the measured population of 4–16-year-olds 
• a positive impact on attainment
• increased teacher confidence around finding creative ways to deliver the curriculum using non-traditional spaces
• better understanding of curriculum subjects
• improved examination grades, written and practical work

Confidence of children and young people 

Research conclusions:

• children developing increased confidence and improved social and communication skills 
• increased levels of interest and motivation
• inspiration of children and young people at all curriculum stages

Resilience of children and young people 

Research conclusions:

• developing critical thinking benefiting social norms and values as well as ethical thinking 
• the promotion of creative engagement leading to entrepreneurial thinking     

We grow up loved, safe, and respected so that we realise our full potential.

Child social and physical development 

Research conclusions:

• developing critical thinking benefiting social norms and values as well as ethical thinking 
• the promotion of creative engagement leading to entrepreneurial thinking

Child wellbeing and happiness 

Research conclusions:

• children developing increased confidence and improved social and communication skills 
• increased levels of interest and motivation

Children’s material deprivation

Research conclusions:

• Children and young people from disadvantaged areas reap greater benefits from visiting museums

We are healthy and active.

Healthy life expectancy 

Research conclusions:

• Visiting museums and galleries is associated with increased longevity

Mental wellbeing 

Research conclusions:

• Museums have a positive impact on mental wellbeing
• Carers are happier through reminiscence attendance
• Agitation in dementia sufferers can be eased through reminiscence
• Museum visitors have a lower rate of developing dementia in later life
• Communication can be improved through attending reminiscence sessions for those with dementia
• Reminiscence reduced social isolation
• Reminiscence can make carers less stressed
• Reminiscence increases sociability and enjoyment in dementia patients
• museum objects might trigger personal memories, associations and emotions that could support a deeper level of processing and meaning-making
• museum visitors have a lower rate of developing depression

Premature mortality 

Research conclusions:

• participation in museum activity can reduce chronic pain 
• museums visitors have greater general wellbeing
• visiting museums makes people happier
• museums participation reduces stress and anxiety
• participating in museum activities reduces isolation and increases a sense of identity
• museum outreach activities in hospitals have been shown to have a positive impact on patient wellbeing