Museums Galleries Scotland launches national advocacy campaign ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, calling on political parties to recognise museums as essential civic infrastructure.
Museums Galleries Scotland has launched a national advocacy campaign, Museums: Scotland’s Stories, Scotland’s Future, and is urging museums across the country to actively take part ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election on May 7th.
The campaign responds to pressure on cultural funding and increased attention on the role of civic institutions. It aims to ensure museums are visible in political debate and recognised not only as custodians of the past, but as active contributors to Scotland’s future.
David McDonald, Senior Advocacy and Public Affairs Manager at MGS said:
“The months ahead offer us an opportunity to shape how museums are understood by those who will hold power in the next Parliament. Scotland’s museums support learning, wellbeing, community connection, local pride, and economic recovery every day. If these contributions are not clearly articulated, museums risk being overlooked when national priorities are set.”
This campaign aims to make a clear and positive case for sustained investment and recognition. It brings together four national policy asks that highlight where government action can make the greatest difference, they are:
– Multi-year support for the Museum Futures programme
– Recognition of museums as forces for social good
– Support for museums as trusted civic spaces for inclusion
– Capital investment to reduce museums’ carbon footprints and adapt for a changing climate
In addition to these national priorities, the campaign provides every museum with the opportunity to add its own local fifth ask, connecting national ambition with local need. By gathering and aligning these local priorities, MGS aims to demonstrate that challenges facing museums are systemic and that investment in the sector supports national outcomes through local action.
MGS has created a toolkit to make it simple for museums of all sizes to take part in the campaign. The toolkit includes various templates to help museums engage with local candidates, create social media content, and send out press releases.