Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) has announced the launch of a new national advocacy campaign ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election on 7 May.
The national development body for museums is urging the sector to actively take part in its Scotland’s Stories, Scotland’s Future campaign.
The advocacy initiative responds to pressure on cultural funding and increased attention on the role of civic institutions. It aims to ensure museums are “visible in political debate and recognised not only as custodians of the past, but as active contributors to Scotland’s future”.
“The months ahead offer us an opportunity to shape how museums are understood by those who will hold power in the next Parliament,” said David McDonald, the senior advocacy and public affairs manager at MGS.
“Scotland’s museums support learning, wellbeing, community connection, local pride, and economic recovery every day. If these contributions are not clearly articulated, museums risk being overlooked when national priorities are set.”
The campaign aims to make a “clear and positive case” for sustained investment and recognition. It outlines four national policy asks that highlight where government action can make the greatest difference:
- Multi-year support for the Museum Futures programme
- Recognition of museums as forces for social good
- Support for museums as trusted civic spaces for inclusion
- Capital investment to reduce museums’ carbon footprints and adapt for a changing climate.
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In addition to these national priorities, MGS said the campaign will provide every museum with the opportunity to add its own local fifth ask, “connecting national ambition with local need”.
“By gathering and aligning these local priorities, MGS aims to demonstrate that challenges facing museums are systemic and that investment in the sector supports national outcomes through local action,” the body said in a statement announcing the campaign.
MGS has created a toolkit to make it simple for museums of all sizes to take part in the campaign. The toolkit includes various templates to help museums engage with local candidates, create social media content, and send out press releases.
The launch comes as sector bodies prepare to make a unified case for museums ahead of this year’s elections in the Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru. The Museums Association has published manifestos for museums in Scotland and Wales, as well as top tips on advocating for museums in Scotland and Wales.
Sharon Heal, director of the Museums Association, welcomed the launch of the MGS campaign.
“We wholeheartedly support the campaign and are encouraging our members to use our manifesto and top tips for advocacy as well as the MGS resources so that we can get a strong message across about the value of museums for local communities,” said Heal.
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“We have been meeting with politicians to discuss the positive difference that museums across Scotland are making working with their communities and have made an urgent case for ongoing investment in the sector.”
Repair and Adaptation Fund
Meanwhile MGS has awarded £543,299 to nine museum organisations in the latest round of its Repair and Adaptation Fund.
The fund was introduced last year to address the need for capital funding in the sector and was made possible by a welcome increase in capital investment from the Scottish Government.
The funding will support essential repairs and conservation work, while also helping museums reduce their environmental impact and improve accessibility.
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Lucy Casot, the CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland, said: “We are pleased to support these projects which will enable organisations to address essential repair needs, while also making meaningful improvements to sustainability and accessibility.”
Among the recipients, the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses will receive £100,000 to improve energy efficiency and visitor access in its new Fresnel lens gallery.
And Leisure and Culture Dundee was awarded £99,058 to upgrade lighting in the McManus’ display cases with energy-efficient LED lights, improving collections care while reducing emissions.
Dumfries and Galloway Council will use its grant to repair the lift in the nearly 400-year-old Tolbooth in Kirkcudbright, ensuring visitors with limited mobility can access all three floors of the building.
The Scottish Maritime Museum and Callendar House will both use the funding address to urgent repair needs to protect their collections and ensure a safe environment for staff and visitors.
The nine organisations awarded a grant are:
- Leisure and Culture Dundee (The McManus)
- Falkirk Council (Callendar House)
- Thirlestane Castle Trust, Dumfries and Galloway Council (Kirkcudbright Tollbooth)
- Museum of Scottish Lighthouses
- Wanlockhead Museum Trust
- Scottish Maritime Museum Trust
- Biggar Museum Trust
- Kilmartin Museum Company Ltd
