Museums across the Highlands are doing extraordinary work with small teams, limited resources and an unwavering commitment to their communities. But with increasing demands on staff and volunteers, finding new ways to work sustainably has never been more important.
Pathways to the Future is a two-year pilot, funded by Museums Galleries Scotland, that is exploring how a shared-services model can help rural museums thrive. Bringing together eight independent museums, the project provides shared administrative support, commercial expertise, leadership development and governance and wellbeing support, with the aim of reducing pressure, building resilience and creating a model that can be sustained beyond the life of the project.
As the project develops, we’ll be introducing you to the people bringing it to life. This time, it’s Sophie Craig, one of our Museum Support Coordinators, who shares her reflections on her first month in post, from meeting museum teams and discovering unique collections to finding her feet across four very different museums:
‘It’s been just over a month of working with MHH, and it’s certainly been jam-packed.
When I took on the role of Support Coordinator for four museums across the Highlands, I didn’t quite know where I’d be travelling or who I’d be working with. I’m from Arrochar originally, so places like Inverness are not somewhere I’m the most familiar with, so it definitely felt a little daunting. A month in, and I’ve already been lucky enough to meet some fantastic people and visit some incredible places, that has taken me across the country. Looking back on the first few weeks, here are a few of my reflections.
1. Why does working on a train always feel so much more productive?
Whether it’s because there are fewer distractions (or people watching seems fair game) or because the scenery adds a bit of bounce to the virtual office, there’s something about opening a laptop on a train that makes the to-do list fly by. The Glasgow to Inverness train is definitely at its best in the morning. Not only is it one of the most scenic journeys, but there’s something lovely about people-watching as everyone heads off on their own adventures while you’re busy writing a marketing plan.
2. If you can tell your friends that today you worked overlooking a harbour and a lighthouse, you’re doing alright.
One of the biggest perks of this role has been the places it has taken me. I’ve found myself working in some truly beautiful locations, each with its own unique story to tell. It’s not every job that lets you step away from your desk and be surrounded by such incredible landscapes and communities. There’s something a wee bit smug about putting your work day on the family group chat and it’s a photo of the lighthouse outside the Waterlines Museum.
3. Every museum is completely different, but they all have so much potential.
This has probably been my biggest takeaway so far. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit Grantown Museum, Mallaig Heritage Centre, Tarbat Discovery Centre and Waterlines in Lybster, and while each one is completely different, what struck me most wasn’t just the collections or the buildings – it was the opportunity within each of them.
At Grantown Museum, I loved the feature they have for folk to dress up and step back in time, experiencing history in a way that felt interactive and fun. At Mallaig Heritage Centre and Waterlines, I found myself learning so much about harbours, fishing, water and the stories that have shaped coastal communities. Local collections and artists are at the forefront and there’s such a great link there to really celebrate the local community. I really loved one particular story in Mallaig about M.E.M. Donaldson, who used to go around in a little green mobile box and take photos of the local community.
Tarbat Discovery Centre offered yet another perspective, showing how local history can be brought to life through fascinating archaeology and storytelling, and the building itself is so cool, with loads of interactive bits for wee ones and families! The testimonials and feedback that visitors had left was a credit to all the amazing work Sam and her volunteers do.
Each museum has its own personality, its own challenges and its own audience, but they all share one thing: endless scope to be creative. Whether that’s through marketing, events, interpretation, exhibitions or finding new ways to engage visitors, there’s so much exciting work to be done, and I’m really looking forward to being part of that over the next couple of years.
4. Everyone is so eager to share what they do.
The thing that has made the biggest impression on me hasn’t just been the museums themselves, but the people behind them. Every visit has been met with such enthusiasm, generosity and passion. Nothing seems like too big of an idea and It’s been brilliant hearing everyone’s focuses, learning about their ambitions and seeing just how much people care about preserving and sharing their local heritage.
Here are a few photos from my visits so far! A huge thank you to Dan, Donna, Morag and Sam for making every visit so enjoyable. I’m really looking forward to working together over the next couple of years and seeing what we can create together.
