£521k awarded to support resilience in museums
We’re delighted to announce that 14 museums and galleries across Scotland have been awarded £521,000 through the Capital Resilience Fund.
The Capital Resilience Fund was created thanks to the Scottish Government who allocated £500,000 of capital funding to develop resilience in Scotland’s museums.
The awards will support capital costs that directly increase the resilience of museums by increasing energy efficiency, reducing running costs or preventing increases in maintenance and repair costs. A priority in the awarded projects is to reduce carbon emissions or to have a positive environmental impact.
The 14 projects include Dundee Heritage Trust generating and championing local renewable energy at Verdant Works by sensitively installing a solar photovoltaic array. Glasgow Women’s Library aims to achieve a 30% reduction in their building’s overall energy consumption through insulating the walls, basement, and loft. These works are part of their action plan for reaching operational net zero by 2030. St Andrews Heritage Museum & Garden will repair, restore, and insulate the roof of their historic building to support the future of the museum.
Lucy Casot, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland said:
“Climate action is a key part of the Resilience strand in Scotland’s Museums and Galleries Strategy with the aim that the sector will actively seek to adapt and evolve in response to social, economic, and environmental factors. This fund is an investment in the future of museums with awarded projects that will use new technology, make vital repairs, and increase energy efficiency to support their resilience going forward.”
Samantha Walker, Museum Manager and Curator at St Andrews Heritage Museum & Garden said:
“This vital project will repair, restore and insulate the roof of our historic 17th century Grade B listed building, securing our site’s long-term future as a centre for local heritage. As well as making urgent repairs, the works will support us in reducing thermal heat loss and provide more stable environmental conditions for artefacts on display. We are delighted to have the support of Museums Galleries Scotland in preserving our building and collections for the benefit of local people and visitors to St Andrews.”
Awarded Projects:
The 14 museums and galleries awarded a Capital Resilience Grant are: Bennie Museum, National Mining Museum Scotland, Dundee Heritage Trust (Verdant Works), South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture (Low Parks Museum), The Whithorn Trust, Glasgow Women’s Library, John Paul Jones Birthplace Museum, David Livingstone Birthplace, National Trust for Scotland (Robert Burns Birthplace Museum), Museum of Islay Life, St Andrews Heritage Museum & Garden, Glasgow Life Glasgow Museums (Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum), Inverclyde Council (McLean Museum), High Life Highland (Inverness Museum & Art Gallery).