16 June 2026
The Scottish Parliament election took place on 7 May but that doesn’t mean our advocacy work stops there.
This is an opportune moment to engage with your newly elected (or re-elected) MSPs to make sure they understand the value of your museum and see it as worthy of investment. You are represented by eight MSPs (one constituency and seven regional). It is important to build a relationship with your local MSP even if your museum doesn’t receive government funding.
If MSPs are aware of issues affecting your museum, they are more likely to advocate on your behalf. MSPs can advocate on your behalf in a number of ways, including by writing to the relevant minister about an issue, asking a parliamentary question or making a motion.
You can find out more about parliamentary questions and motions below.
Parliamentary questions
Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.
Previous questions in Scottish Parliament related to museums include:
- To ask the Scottish Government, further to its commitment to continue to support national museums and galleries to ensure they remain free to access, in light of the cost of living crisis, whether it will provide more detail on how it will do so
- To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it supports rural museums
Motions
A motion is a way MSPs can:
- raise awareness of an issue
- suggest a topic for debate
- recognise a group, business or individual
- agree Parliamentary business
Examples of previous motions related to museums include:
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Call to action
Contact your MSPs to congratulate them and invite them to visit your museum. It’s by seeing things firsthand that politicians can appreciate the significance of your collections and the importance of the museum to the local community. You can find your MSPs on the Scottish Parliament website.
Top tips for engaging with MSPs
- Make your letter personal. Use the template letter as a starting point but make sure you tailor it to your specific context. MSPs receive a lot of letters so this can help to make sure yours stands out
- Make it clear why you want them to visit and what they will get out of the visit, e.g. to introduce them to the work of the museum and how it is having a transformational impact on people living in their constituency
- Create key messages you want to get across when you speak to them so that you can make the most of the time you have with them
- Share the successes and the challenges. MSPs can help to amplify these issues (such as through a motion or asking a parliamentary question) which can help the museum to receive recognition and support
- Keep the dialogue going. Once you have established a good relationship with your local MSP, make sure to keep them updated and engaged with your work
Template email
Dear [insert MSP name here],
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Congratulations on being elected to the Scottish Parliament to represent the people of [insert constituency name].
I am the [insert role title here] at [insert museum name here], a museum in your constituency that [insert the museum’s mission and its impact].
Museums play a vital role in bringing our communities together, supporting us to understand our past and helping us to shape a fairer and greener future.
I would like to meet you and invite you for a tour of the museum so you can see firsthand the positive impact we are making. Please contact me at [insert phone/email here] to arrange your visit.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
[insert name here]