Blog | Scotland needs a strategic approach to public funding for museums
Museums can be spaces where you hear the stories of local people in their own words, but in some cases those voices are being stifled by cuts and the financial pressure on the sector.
Museums Galleries Scotland’s recent sector-wide survey revealed that 11% of respondents felt their organisations were at risk of closure in the next 12 months. This paints a worrying picture and is a stark reminder of the seriousness of the situation facing museums of all types and sizes across Scotland.
Despite Scottish Government committing to increased investment in culture by £100m a year by 2028-29, funding for museums has continued to decline. For example, the Scottish Budget 2024-25 cut capital funding available to non-national museums by 15.1%.
In response the Museum Association (MA) is working to make a strong case for investment in the sector. We met with Angus Robertson, cabinet secretary for culture, in August to raise concerns about the widespread financial challenges faced by museums across Scotland.
We also responded to the Scottish Parliament Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26. In our response, we called for the Scottish government to invest some of the £100m committed to arts and culture into museums.
A strategic approach to funding is needed to create an ambitious museum sector that can support and inspire communities. Otherwise, museums will simply be left in a state of managed decline. Scotland’s Museums and Galleries Strategy sets out a clear vision for the sector but it cannot be achieved without adequate funding.
One solution to the funding crisis would be multi-year funding which would give museums some much-needed certainty and the ability to plan ahead. Another welcome measure would be public investment in the core operational costs of museums which is essential for museums to be able to deliver for their communities and provide public benefit. It is clear that a tactical and innovative approach to public funding for museums is required as the current system of cuts year-on-year is unsustainable.
In our pre-budget scrutiny response, we also advocated for continued funding for the delivery of the Empire, Slavery and Scotland’s Museums (ESSM) recommendations. We are pleased to be contributing to the recommendation for the creation of guidance on repatriation through our involvement in MGS’s repatriation working group.
We also welcomed the opportunity to attend the reception on museums addressing legacies of empire and slavery in Scottish Parliament. This was an important event and a great opportunity to celebrate and raise awareness of the work museums are doing to decolonise and become anti-racist institutions.
The work of museums to tackle systemic racism and address colonial legacies is proof that, despite the acute financial challenges, museums are continuing to do groundbreaking work in partnership with their communities. The MA will continue to champion the work of museums advocate for a fair funding deal for the sector.
Image: Attendees gather at Scottish Parliament for a reception on museums addressing legacies of empire and slavery following the Scottish Government’s acceptance of the recommendations of the Empire, Slavery and Scotland’s Museums Steering Group
17 October 2024