Distributed on behalf of the Scottish Government via the Museum Development Fund, the latest awards have been made to museums run by local authorities, arms-length trusts and universities – all of which were ineligible for the substantial Recovery and Resilience Fund.
The museums selected for support will now be able to enhance their digital offers and boost audience engagement through the introduction or expansion of resources such as online education, podcasts, livestreamed events and digitised museum tours.
This strategy, the government hopes, will see the investment’s legacy far outlast the pandemic and continue to contribute to recipients’ plans in the coming years.
In addition to broadening the reach of museums, funding awards will also support exhibitions focused on healthcare and wellbeing, highlighting the role of the GLAM sector in supporting communities through the pandemic.
Award recipients
The awards made via the Museum Development Fund are:
Aberdeen City Council: £60,000
ANGUSalive: £55,072
City of Edinburgh Council: £55,125
Culture Perth and Kinross: £38,624
Dumfries and Galloway Council: £48,000
East Dunbartonshire Leisure & Culture Trust: £58,529
East Lothian Council: £2,496
Falkirk Community Trust: £20,404
Fife Cultural Trust: £23,925
Glasgow Life, Glasgow Museums: £59,520
High Life Highland: £60,000
Inverclyde Council: £51,577
Renfrewshire Council: £25,909
Robert Gordon University: £42,027
University of Aberdeen: £43,989
University of Dundee: £24,034
University of Edinburgh: £21,756
University of Edinburgh: £25,200
University of St Andrews: £38,504
University of Stirling: £11,652
West Lothian Council: £7,562
Western Isles Council – Comhairle nan Eilean Siar: £39,179
“While this remains a difficult time for museums and galleries, there is a huge appetite in the sector to embrace new and innovative approaches to their work,” according to Lucy Casot, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland.
“We are pleased to support civic and university museums through our Covid-19 Museum Development Fund as they work to become more resilient and find new ways to reach audiences. These awards will support an impressive range of projects that demonstrate the immense value of culture and heritage in these challenging times.”
When funding decisions are made later this month regarding the Recovery and Resilience Fund, the total figure awarded by Museums Galleries Scotland in response to the Covid-19 crisis will exceed £7 million.
