The Scottish Parliament election will be held on 7 May. This is a key opportunity for the museum sector to advocate for the value of museums to society.

We are encouraging all our members in Scotland to contact their local candidates to ask: what commitments are you making to support museums?

Here’s how:

  1. Search for your local candidates on the Electoral Commission website by entering your postcode or the postcode of your museum.
  2. Contact your local candidates using Museums Galleries Scotland’s template email.
  3. Check out the MA’s top tips for advocating in the run up to the Scottish Parliament election and Museums Galleries Scotland’s 2026 Election Advocacy Toolkit for more ideas on how to advocate.

If you are a charity, remember that you must not support or oppose a political party or candidate. However, you can contact your local representatives, raise the profile of your causes, and even support or oppose specific policies advocated by a political party if it relates to your charitable purposes. More information about rules that charities must follow in the run up to an election can be found via the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).