Sector Stories

By employing innovative digital technologies and working with sector professionals, ‘Highland Threads’ online exhibition reflects the quality of museums and diverse collections that can be found across the Highlands. Nicola Henderson, Innovation and Network Manager at Museums and Heritage Highland, talks about the partnership work between 14 museums and heritage centres to create ‘Highland Threads’.

This project focused on the creation of a suitable conservation environment inside Perth Museum & Art Gallery’s stores. The lab was designed to enable the Conservation Officer to progress work on preparing collections for a major new cultural attraction in Scotland.

In 2019 Gairloch Museum moved to a new building – a repurposed nuclear bunker. Through the journey of their redevelopment this museum has successfully won the support of their community, raised the profile of the area nationally and attracted enthusiastic new visitor audiences.

A joint project between Craigowl Primary School, HMS Unicorn, Museums Galleries Scotland, and Developing the Young Workforce.

The aim of this project by Comann Eachdraidh Uibhist A Tuath (North Uist Historical Society) was an exploration of the unique and threatened shoreline of North Uist and the machair land lying behind the marram grass dunes.

At the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the beginning of lockdown, the Museums of the University of St Andrews pivoted to offer an upcoming on-site wellbeing programme online. Eilidh Lawrence, Assistant Learning and Access Curator at the Museums of the University of St Andrews, talks about creating a digital wellbeing programme.

Claire McDade, Project Manager for The Skylark IX Recovery Trust, talks about the Trust’s work, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to deliver woodworking and boatbuilding skills training to people from Alternatives Community Drug Charity in West Dunbartonshire, who are recovering from drug addiction. The Trust hopes to expand and build the Spirit of Skylark Centre in Dumbarton with key partners, the Scottish Maritime Museum, at the Denny Ship Model Experimental Tank, over the coming years.

The ‘Marvellous Museums’ project gives learners, including those identified as being at risk of not achieving their potential, opportunities to raise their awareness of careers in the Museum and Arts industries and develop a range of skills to prepare for work or further study within the sector.

Ruthanne Baxter, University of Edinburgh (UoE) Museums Manager and Founder of Prescribe Culture, talks about their multi-programme offer that utilises engagement with heritage collections and sites, as preventative mental wellbeing support for the wider community and as early intervention referral options for students presenting with mild-moderate mental health difficulties.

A joint project between Warddykes Primary School, ANGUSalive’s Signal Tower Museum, Museums Galleries Scotland and Developing the Young Workforce that highlights the exciting and varied roles within museums and the skills required for these jobs.

Whilst being closed to the public due to Covid-19 regulations the team at Hoy Heritage Centre organised new impactful ways to display and share resources in the heritage centre. Funded through Museums Galleries Scotland.

In this case study Ross McGregor, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, talks about the heritage team’s decision to commit to change and develop their core programme to look at inequalities within the College’s history and bring more people into the conversation.