To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to increase cooperation between (a) Scottish museums and (b) Scottish museums and those elsewhere in the UK.
Co-operation, in the form of partnership working, is at the core of what museums do, how they work and the ways in which they deliver public value and is vital to the sustainability of the sector. From our national collections to local authority museums and galleries and our dynamic independent venues, co-operation, collaboration and partnerships are fundamental to supporting inspiring exhibitions, sharing of objects and professional expertise.
This partnership working takes place both autonomously across the sector and is facilitated, supported and enhanced by the work of the national development body, Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) and the National Museums of Scotland (NMS).
Both organisations are funded by the Scottish Government with funding in 2019-20 amounting to £22.5 million for the NMS and £2.55 million for MGS.
A – Co-operation Across Scotland
This year, MGS initiated a new approach to offer more continuous and comprehensive support to Scotland’s Geographic Forums, which enable museums to share knowledge and explore opportunities to increase co-operation. Guided by MGS, the sector is seeking to maximise the potential contribution and awareness of heritage to broader outcomes such as health and wellbeing, environmental sustainability, employability, attainment, tourism and the local economy.
MGS’s recent award-winning Skills for Success programme saw 16 museums collaborate in a major initiative to improve diversification of the sector. The programme, which was for non-graduates from diverse backgrounds with one-year paid placements in museums across Scotland, provided 20 entry-level learning opportunities and 2 management-level opportunities in host museums across Scotland.
In 2015-17, MGS provided funding of £48,155 to Industrial Museums Scotland and Go Industrial to support the transition to the new, joint-marketing, Go Industrial brand, with additional support provided in subsequent funding rounds to raise awareness and produce marketing material to promote the various member museums.
NMS Loans
In 2017-2018, NMS loaned 3,895 objects to 107 museums and galleries across Scotland, including loans to 15 new venues. NMS welcome requests to borrow objects for short and long-term displays.
NMS – Recent Loan Activities on the Western Isles
As part of a partnership to support the redevelopment of Lews Castle, NMS provided loans and advice to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to assist them in realising their ambition for a high-quality museum with the standards and infrastructure to support high value loans and touring exhibitions from National Collections.
Nearly a third of the objects on long-term display in Lews Castle are on loan from National Museums Scotland, including several Viking hacksilver hoards and a 1923 Morgan three-wheel motor car, which was driven in Stornoway and on the island of Berneray.
NMS – National Training Programme
NMS delivers an annual free training programme for curatorial staff in local museums across Scotland.In 2017-2018, NMS provided 377 training workshops to 75 organisations on the topic for example of Integrated Pest Management and Object Labelling. In the past five years, local museum staff from the Western Isles have also attended workshops on the ‘Basics of Couriering’, training which supports NMS’s loans activity.
There are good examples of innovative co-operation and partnership working in Realising The Vision Together , MGS’s report on the achievements of Scotland’s museums and galleries against the national strategy for the sector, Realising The Vision, the National Strategy Delivery Plan . The report uses case studies from across the sector and demonstrates rich examples of excellence and resilience right across the country from 2015 to 2019. The strategy is available at https://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/about-us/national-strategy-going-further/
B – Co-operation Across the UK
There is a wide variety of direct engagement with venues and institutions across the UK, from the National Museums Directors’ Council, which represents the leaders of the UK's national collections and major regional museums, the Universities Museum Group and UK-wide Subject Specialist Networks (SSNs). Partnership working across the UK also takes the form of collections sharing, such as the loan of the Lewis Chessmen to Lews Castle from the British Museum and the V&A Dundee’s exhibition Ocean Liners: Speed and Style.
Numerous SSNs in Scotland enjoy cross-border involvement with England, with many including membership from all four home nations. MGS has recently enhanced its work with SSNs, including holding two meetings per year, creating a survey to support advocacy of SSNs and creating a regular source of contact and support for professionals in Scotland. Most recently, MGS created a new fund specifically to assist in any multi-national SSN involvement.
Co-operation, in the form of partnership working, is at the core of what museums do, how they work and the ways in which they deliver public value and is vital to the sustainability of the sector. From our national collections to local authority museums and galleries and our dynamic independent venues, co-operation, collaboration and partnerships are fundamental to supporting inspiring exhibitions, sharing of objects and professional expertise.
This partnership working takes place both autonomously across the sector and is facilitated, supported and enhanced by the work of the national development body, Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) and the National Museums of Scotland (NMS).
Both organisations are funded by the Scottish Government with funding in 2019-20 amounting to £22.5 million for the NMS and £2.55 million for MGS.
A – Co-operation Across Scotland
This year, MGS initiated a new approach to offer more continuous and comprehensive support to Scotland’s Geographic Forums, which enable museums to share knowledge and explore opportunities to increase co-operation. Guided by MGS, the sector is seeking to maximise the potential contribution and awareness of heritage to broader outcomes such as health and wellbeing, environmental sustainability, employability, attainment, tourism and the local economy.
MGS’s recent award-winning Skills for Success programme saw 16 museums collaborate in a major initiative to improve diversification of the sector. The programme, which was for non-graduates from diverse backgrounds with one-year paid placements in museums across Scotland, provided 20 entry-level learning opportunities and 2 management-level opportunities in host museums across Scotland.
In 2015-17, MGS provided funding of £48,155 to Industrial Museums Scotland and Go Industrial to support the transition to the new, joint-marketing, Go Industrial brand, with additional support provided in subsequent funding rounds to raise awareness and produce marketing material to promote the various member museums.
NMS Loans
In 2017-2018, NMS loaned 3,895 objects to 107 museums and galleries across Scotland, including loans to 15 new venues. NMS welcome requests to borrow objects for short and long-term displays.
NMS – Recent Loan Activities on the Western Isles
As part of a partnership to support the redevelopment of Lews Castle, NMS provided loans and advice to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to assist them in realising their ambition for a high-quality museum with the standards and infrastructure to support high value loans and touring exhibitions from National Collections.
Nearly a third of the objects on long-term display in Lews Castle are on loan from National Museums Scotland, including several Viking hacksilver hoards and a 1923 Morgan three-wheel motor car, which was driven in Stornoway and on the island of Berneray.
NMS – National Training Programme
NMS delivers an annual free training programme for curatorial staff in local museums across Scotland. In 2017-2018, NMS provided 377 training workshops to 75 organisations on the topic for example of Integrated Pest Management and Object Labelling. In the past five years, local museum staff from the Western Isles have also attended workshops on the ‘Basics of Couriering’, training which supports NMS’s loans activity.
There are good examples of innovative co-operation and partnership working in Realising The Vision Together , MGS’s report on the achievements of Scotland’s museums and galleries against the national strategy for the sector, Realising The Vision, the National Strategy Delivery Plan . The report uses case studies from across the sector and demonstrates rich examples of excellence and resilience right across the country from 2015 to 2019. The strategy is available here: https://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/about-us/national-strategy-going-furthe
B – Co-operation Across the UK
There's a wide variety of direct engagement with venues and institutions across the UK, from the National Museums Directors’ Council, which represents the leaders of the UK's national collections and major regional museums, the Universities Museum Group and UK-wide Subject Specialist Networks (SSNs). Partnership working across the UK also takes the form of collections sharing, such as the loan of the Lewis Chessmen to Lews Castle from the British Museum and the V&A Dundee’s exhibition Ocean Liners: Speed and Style.
Numerous SSNs in Scotland enjoy cross-border involvement with England, with many including membership from all four home nations. MGS has recently enhanced its work with SSNs, including holding two meetings per year, creating a survey to support advocacy of SSNs and creating a regular source of contact and support for professionals in Scotland. Most recently, MGS created a new fund specifically to assist in any multi-national SSN involvement.
