Over £573k Awarded To 20 Museums To Support Their Resilience
Museums across Scotland have been awarded a total of £573,985 by the national development body Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS), thanks to support from the Scottish Government.
Creative ideas for income generation and forward-thinking approaches to energy efficiency are at the core of the 20 museums that have been funded through the second round of the Resilience Fund. This funding supports museums to increase their resilience by reducing costs, increasing income, and supporting their local communities.
Museums are vital spaces for communities as they offer free or low– cost places for people to relax, have fun, and learn in. Many museums have events that promote wellbeing and entertainment for all ages, as well as hosting community group activities and supporting tourism in their local areas.
Museums have had to react quickly in order to keep their spaces open as the cost-of-living crisis and rising energy costs continues to impact them. Support from the Resilience Fund will help museums around the country to increase income generation and save money through better energy efficiency. Projects include installing a solar array at Almond Valley to reduce energy costs and consumption and save an estimated 11,517kg of carbon each year. At Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds a recycled shipping container is being transformed into a welcoming café, which will help to support the cost of running the museum.
Lucy Casot, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland said:
“Museums are working to build a more resilient future through using new energy saving technologies and diversifying income streams. Investment in long-term improvements for museums helps to strengthen and continue their role in communities across Scotland as spaces to have fun in, reflect, and share stories.
Culture Minister Christina McKelvie said:
“Energy efficiency is important not only to reduce costs but to cut carbon output as part of tackling climate change.
“I’m pleased that the Scottish Government’s provision of extra funds for Museums Galleries Scotland’s Resilience Fund is supporting organisations right across Scotland to put in place innovative solutions to these challenges.”
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