Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) formally launches as the National Development Body to support the museums and galleries sector in Scotland.
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Last year MGS produced Going Further: The National Strategy for Scotlands Museums and Galleries which has united the sector. MGS continues that work by publishing a delivery plan, From Strategy to Action , which outlines priority areas for development and provides a structured approach to achieve the Strategy aims.
At the heart of the Strategy is creating public value, with sustainability key to the future of the sector and collaboration and partnership working vital to the sector’s success.
MGS supports museums and galleries though strategic investment, advocacy and skills development opportunities. Since January 2012 MGS has invested £1.3m of Scottish Government funding into the sector to support 145 museum projects. MGS also seeks ways of bringing additional funding to the sector as has been achieved through Creative Scotland’s Creative Futures programme and Heritage Lottery Fund’s Skills for the Future funding.
MGS works with a sector of over 400 museums and galleries throughout Scotland and is the main conduit for Scottish Government funding to the sector. Public sector funding of circa £100 million helps to support a sector with an economic contribution estimated at around £1 billion (an estimated ‘turnover’ of the sector of £271 million and visitor spend of £662 million). MGS distributes funding to the sector through a number of investment streams including the Strategic Investment Fund and Skills Development Fund.
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, said, “Today we see Museums Galleries Scotland become the National Development Body for Scotland’s network of museums and galleries. The new body will support the sector to meet the objectives of our National Strategy which is already bringing organisations across the country together in a drive for greater collaboration, innovation and promotion.
“The Scottish Government is strongly committed to the development of Scotland’s museums and galleries, which welcome around 25 million visits every year and make a vital contribution to the Scottish economy. In delivering the National Strategy, Museums Galleries Scotland will help this important, thriving sector to build on its successes and ensure that it remains strong and sustainable into the future.”
