Mike Benson

Mike has been the Director of the Scottish Crannog Centre since late 2017. Under his leadership, the Crannog has launched a very successful apprenticeship programme which continues to this day. Mike has also negotiated a successful Community Asset Transfer request to purchase and develop a new site at Dalerb on Loch Tay.

Prior to becoming Director of the Crannog, Mike was Director of Ryedale Folk Museum in Yorkshire – a role he came into having volunteered at his local museum and creating a group called Iron Awe which would go on to win national awards for engagement . He got involved in the museum sector after 28 years in the steel industry on Teeside where he was involved in trade union activities and worked in personnel at a senior level representing the trades union.

Mike is committed to ensuring  that museums are places for everyone.

He is a committee member of NHLF Scotland and a trustee of Outerspaces, a charity working in Scotland to create free spaces for artists to work and grow as well as offering mentoring support.