museumsgalleriesscotland

Join Us – Commercial & Sustainable Growth Manager

Nicola Henderson Blog , , , , , , 0 Comment
Dan Cottam speaking at the launch of MHH

Museums and Heritage Highland is seeking a freelance Commercial & Sustainable Growth Manager to join our ambitious Pathways to the Future project and help strengthen the long-term sustainability and resilience of museums across the Highlands.

This new two-year freelance role will work collaboratively with small and rural museums to explore thoughtful, realistic and values-led approaches to income generation, audience growth and partnership development.

Working alongside participating museums, the role will help create space for museum leaders to focus on collections, communities and strategic development while building confidence around earned income, commercial opportunities and sustainable growth.

About the Project

Pathways to the Future is a collaborative initiative, led by Museums and Heritage Highland and funded by Museums Galleries Scotland, supporting museums across the Highlands to work in more connected, resilient and sustainable ways.

The project responds to increasing operational and financial pressures facing many museums, particularly smaller and volunteer-led organisations in rural areas. Through shared expertise, collaboration and practical support, the project aims to help museums strengthen their long-term sustainability while remaining rooted in their communities and values.

The Commercial & Sustainable Growth Manager will work closely with participating museums to explore opportunities for:

  • Developing new and existing income streams
    Strengthening tourism and travel trade relationships
    Building regional partnerships and collaborative initiatives
    Increasing visibility and audience engagement
    Exploring sustainable commercial models suited to rural heritage organisations

    About the Role

This is a practical and strategic role focused on helping museums identify realistic opportunities for growth and resilience.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively across multiple museum sites and partner organisations, helping museums build confidence around commercial development while ensuring approaches remain values-led, community-focused and sustainable.

Areas of work may include:

  • Supporting growth in earned income through admissions, retail, events, experiences and venue hire
    Exploring joint ticketing schemes and regional visitor offers
    Developing retail and product opportunities linked to local stories and identities
    Building partnerships with tourism organisations, tour operators and local businesses
    Developing sponsorship opportunities and corporate partnerships
    Supporting strategic marketing campaigns and audience development activity
    Using visitor and audience insight to identify growth opportunities
    Encouraging collaborative approaches and shared initiatives across participating museums

The role will act as a key connector across the project, helping museums identify opportunities that may not be achievable independently while supporting sustainable and achievable long-term planning.

Role Details

Role: Commercial & Sustainable Growth Manager
Contract: Freelance fixed-term role (2 years)
Fee: £38,000 per annum (£76,000 over two years)
Hours: Around 35 hours per week
Location: Home-based with travel across the Highlands as required
Start Date: 6 July 2026

Who We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone collaborative, strategic and proactive, with experience developing commercial income and sustainable growth activity within heritage, cultural, charitable or visitor-focused organisations.

You’ll be confident identifying opportunities, building partnerships and supporting organisations to develop realistic and sustainable approaches to income generation.

We’d especially like to hear from people who:

  • Have experience developing commercial or earned income opportunities
    Understand the opportunities and challenges facing rural and community-led museums
    Are confident building partnerships across tourism, cultural and business sectors
    Can use audience insight and market knowledge to inform decision-making
    Have strong project management and communication skills
    Are committed to ethical, sustainable and environmentally responsible approaches to growth
    Enjoy collaborative working and supporting organisations to build confidence and resilience

Experience working specifically within museums, heritage or place-based tourism initiatives would be particularly valuable.

How to Apply

Please submit:

Your CV or details of relevant experience
A covering letter (maximum 1000 words) outlining your suitability for the role

We also welcome alternative application formats, including:

A video application (maximum 5 minutes)
A PowerPoint presentation (maximum 10 slides)

Applications and enquiries should be sent to:

Nicola Henderson
nicola.henderson@museumsandheritagehighland.org.uk

Deadline

Applications close: 8 June 2026 at 5pm

Further Information

Full details about the role, responsibilities and person specification can be found in the Job Pack.

Commercial+Sustianable Growth Manager JobPack.docxDownload

Join Us – Museum Operations & Support Coordinators

Nicola Henderson Blog , , , , , , , 0 Comment
Group image of people is a light, airy space talking and laughing

Museums and Heritage Highland is seeking two freelance Museum Operations & Support Coordinators to join our Pathways to the Future project, funded by Museums Galleries Scotland, and help strengthen the sustainability and resilience of museums across the Highlands.

Inspired by collaborative working and practical support, these new freelance roles will work directly with clusters of small and rural museums, helping reduce operational pressure and creating more space for strategic thinking, creativity and community impact.

About the Project

Pathways to the Future is a collaborative initiative led by Museums and Heritage Highland supporting museums to work in more connected, resilient and sustainable ways.

The project recognises the growing pressures faced by many museums – particularly small, volunteer-led and rural organisations – and aims to provide hands-on operational support where it is needed most.

Each coordinator will support a cluster of up to four museums, working flexibly with each organisation to identify practical support needs and improve day-to-day operations.

The Role

The coordinators will provide a mixture of operational, administrative and organisational support tailored to the needs of participating museums. This may include:

  • Supporting finance and administration systems
    Coordinating visitor services and reporting
    Assisting with marketing and communications activity
    Helping streamline systems and shared ways of working
    Supporting training, wellbeing and organisational development initiatives
    Exploring opportunities for collaboration and shared resources across museums

The role is designed to ease pressure on museum staff and volunteers while helping organisations build confidence, capacity and long-term resilience.

Key Details
Role: Museum Operations & Support Coordinator
Number of roles: 2
Contract: Freelance fixed-term role (2 years)
Fee: £30,000 per annum (£60,000 over two years)
Hours: Around 35 hours per week
Location: Home-based with travel across the Highlands as required
Start Date: 29 June 2026 (or as close as possible)

Who We’re Looking For

We are looking for organised, collaborative and proactive people who are passionate about supporting museums and heritage organisations to thrive.

You may already have experience working in museums, heritage, arts, cultural, community or voluntary organisations and be comfortable balancing multiple priorities across different teams and locations.

We’d especially like to hear from people who:

  • Enjoy practical problem-solving and improving systems
    Communicate well and build positive working relationships
    Are confident working independently and collaboratively
    Have strong organisational and digital skills
    Understand the challenges facing small and rural museums
    Can provide supportive, flexible and people-focused assistance

Experience in marketing, administration, operations or coordination work within the cultural or community sector would be particularly valuable.

How to Apply

Please submit:
Your CV or details of relevant experience
A covering letter (maximum 1000 words) explaining your suitability for the role

We also welcome alternative application formats, including:
A video application (maximum 5 minutes)
A PowerPoint presentation (maximum 10 slides)

Applications and enquiries should be sent to:

Nicola Henderson
nicola.henderson@museumsandheritagehighland.org.uk

Deadline

Applications close: 1 June 2026 at 5pm

Further Information

Full details about the role, responsibilities and person specification can be found in the Job Pack.

Museums Operations & Support Coordinator JobPack.docxDownload

Join us: Freelance Project Coordinator – Pathways to the Future

Nicola Henderson Blog , , , , 0 Comment
Join us: Freelance Project Coordinator – Pathways to the Future

Museums and Heritage Highland is seeking a Freelance Project Coordinator to support the delivery of an ambitious new pilot, Pathways to the Future, supported by Museums Galleries Scotland.

This two-year project brings together eight rural museums across the Highlands to test a new shared-services model designed to strengthen financial sustainability, reduce administrative burden and build long-term resilience.

Working across two regional clusters, the project embeds shared administrative support and commercial expertise within partner museums—freeing up leadership capacity and enabling organisations to focus on strategic growth, collections and community impact.

About the role

This is a coordination-focused role at the heart of a complex, multi-partner project. You’ll work closely with the Project Lead and partner museums to ensure that communication is clear, systems are aligned and delivery stays on track.

You’ll be responsible for:

  • Coordinating project planning, timelines and workflows
    Supporting communication across multiple organisations and staff roles
    Tracking risks, progress and key milestones
    Supporting reporting, evaluation and learning capture

About the project

Pathways to the Future responds to a critical challenge facing small, rural museums: limited capacity and increasing operational demands. By embedding shared expertise and fostering collaboration, the project aims to:

  • Increase earned income across partner museums
    Improve governance and financial systems
    Reduce burnout and operational pressure
    Build stronger, more confident leadership across the sector

The project is rooted in collaboration, with all partner museums actively shaping and testing the model together.

Role details
Freelance contract (2 years)
1 day per week (flexible, primarily remote)
Fee: £19,200
Start date: June 2026

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone highly organised, proactive and confident working across multiple partners. You’ll bring experience in project coordination, excellent communication skills and the ability to manage complexity with clarity.

Experience in the heritage or cultural sector is welcome but not essential. This project is funded by Museums Galleries Scotland Pathfinder’s fund.

Freelance Project Coordinator_Pathways_JobPack.docxDownload

MGS Advocacy Campaign – get involved!

Nicola Henderson Blog , , , , , , 0 Comment
MGS Advocacy Campaign – get involved!

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.

Working with young people – a digital toolkit

Nicola Henderson Resources , , , , , , 0 Comment
Working with young people – a digital toolkit

Young volunteers can bring something very special to a museum or heritage organisation. Fresh energy and ideas, new areas of expertise, more visitors, and opportunities for succession planning to name just a few.

This toolkit will help you to identify why young volunteers would benefit your organisation, how you could benefit them and how to go about recruiting. It will also provide you with tools, templates and tips to ensure everyone has a safe and positive experience.

This toolkit has been designed in partnership between Museums & Heritage Highland and Dingwall Museum with funding support from Museums Galleries Scotland and The Space.

Toolkit for Young VolunteersDownload

Highland museums to share skills and ambitions at major summit

Nicola Henderson Blog , , , , , , , , 0 Comment
Highland museums to share skills and ambitions at major summit

Action, innovation, and ambition are on the agenda at Air Faire, a major summit for Highland museum and heritage professionals taking place in Inverness later this month.

On May 22nd and 23rd, staff and volunteers from museums and heritage organisations across the Highlands and beyond will gather to discuss how they can build more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable futures for their communities.

Air Faire is being organised by Museums and Heritage Highland, a forum that facilitates connections between cultural organisations across the region. Siobhan Beatson, Director of Ullapool Museum and Chair of MHH, said: “Museums and heritage sites are vital to the culture, economy, and wellbeing of our communities. By sharing our knowledge and skills at Air Faire, we aim to realise our ambition for museums and heritage sites to serve as inspiring, innovative, and educational spaces where everyone is welcome.”

The diverse responsibilities of museums and heritage sites are reflected in the range of topics being discussed at the summit. Air Faire will feature panels on fundraising, volunteering, workforce wellbeing, and engaging with younger audiences, as well as workshops and talks on the role of Gaelic in museums, LGBTQ+ representation, and anti-racism.

Nicola Henderson, Innovation and Network Manager at MHH, added: “Air Faire offers a unique opportunity for people to exchange ideas, connect across disciplines, and develop creative new solutions to shared challenges. As well as welcoming a range of perspectives from cultural organisations across Scotland, we invite representatives of other industries to attend and explore the potential for collaboration with museums and heritage sites.”

The significance of Air Faire is highlighted by the range of panellists from key heritage organisations and funding bodies. This includes speakers from National Museums Scotland, Museums Galleries Scotland, the Museums Association, Historic Environment Scotland, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The summit is made possible thanks to funding from Museums Galleries Scotland and The Space, along with the support of our sponsors AOC Archaeology and Vernon Systems.

Air Faire builds on a series of successful initiatives undertaken by Museums and Heritage Highland. The forum has supported museums and heritage sites through the post-pandemic recovery by co-ordinating Highland Threads, an innovative digital exhibition which showcased museum collections from across the region; launching Museum of the Highlands, an online learning tool for schools; and running workshops and professional development opportunities for heritage workers.

For more information on the programme or to book tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/air-faire-tickets-1237430751689?aff=oddtdtcreator

VE Day in the Highlands

Nicola Henderson Blog , , , , , , 0 Comment
VE Day in the Highlands

The 8th May 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). The day signifies an opportunity for communities across the UK and Commonwealth to celebrate and honour the Second World War generation and those who lost their lives in the War.

Nationwide initiatives include the lighting of beacons across the country and a specially written tune for the pipes, performed on the top of the UK’s four highest peaks. Museums across the Highlands are also playing their role in the programme of events and activities to mark the day.

The Highlands played a vital role in the World Two war effort. Many Highland men fought in the war, but the region also served as a key training ground and housed military bases and airfields. The region’s rugged terrain made it ideal for specialised training and its coastline was crucial for naval and air operations.

Between 1941 and 1945 Loch Ewe was the main strategic military base for naval convoys. As a deep sea loch with direct access to the north Atlantic Ocean, Loch Ewe at times saw up to ninety-five Merchant Navy and Royal Navy ships anchored in the loch. The Arctic Convoy Museum are offering free entry on 8th May as a gesture of commemoration. This is a great opportunity to see their new displays at the museum in Aultbea. They also have a special exhibition of watercolours in the Inverasdale School Tearoom. They were painted from memory by Arctic Convoy veteran Jack Shirley based on sketches he made during his war service. The paintings capture everyday life of sailors who made the perilous journey from Loch Ewe to the Arctic. Each painting is a snapshot of a journey from which many did not return.

On the north coast, Strathnaver Museum will have a special pop up exhibition as part of Bettyhill Village Hall’s VE Day celebrations on 3rd May. You can explore objects from the store, hear the stories of those who did not come home and  a screening of Strathnaver Museum’s Their Past, Your Future film featuring interviews with WWII veterans and civilians.  This is a free event between 11am to 3pm with refreshments and table top games provided.

Sepia print of a woman (Aunty Baba) with brown hair and a dark coat looking directly at camera. Photo by Katie Gray
Photo of Aunty Baba by Katie Gray

The Highlanders Museum at Fort George near Inverness has a special exhibition launching on VE Day that explores how the War ended in different countries throughout Europe. Discover the special relationship between soldiers of the Seaforth Highlanders and Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders and the Dutch people they liberated. Learn how a Seaforth Highlander took the surrender of German troops in Norway; alongside the Norwegian resistance fighters he had served with during the war.

A special free event at Dingwall Museum on 8th May between 12pm and 4pm will see volunteer George MacIvor talking about life during the war through some of the museum’s artefacts.

During World War II, the west coast of Scotland served as a key training ground for the British Commandos and other Allied forces. The Commando Basic Training Centre at Achnacarry Castle near Spean Bridge, was a renowned facility for rigorous training, including amphibious assaults and mountain warfare. Other locations like Arisaig House also played a role in Commando training, particularly for the Special Operations Executive (SOE). At West Highland Museum you can explore this story in their Commando Exhibition where you can unpack some of this hidden history with hands-on object discovery.

Wherever you are in the Highlands, take a moment on 8th May to share in remembering VE Day and explore some of the special Second World War stories the Highlands has to share.

Air Faire

Air Faire

22 May, 2025 @ 1:30 pm – 23 May, 2025 @ 3:30 pm

A 1.5 day workforce summit for staff and volunteers working in rural museums and heritage, exploring the challenges and opportunities facing the sector today. There will be sessions on fundraising, inclusion, digital volunteering, wellbeing, working with young people and more.

£35 members

MHH

07388346626

View Organizer Website

Wasps Inverness Creative Academy

Midmills Building, Stephen's Street
Inverness, Highlands IV2 3JP United Kingdom
0141 553 5890
View Venue Website
Eventbrite sign up link

Museum Workforce Project Coordinator Call Out!

Nicola Henderson Blog , , , , , , , 0 Comment
Museum Workforce Project Coordinator Call Out!

Are you interested in people, in Highland heritage and in the future of rural museums? Then you could be just the person we need to lead our Future-proofing the Highland Museum Workforce project!

Thanks to funding from Museums Galleries Scotland and The Space, we are looking to deliver a project that focuses on the workforce across the Highland museum sector, addressing the clear challenges around volunteering and wellbeing identified in our Winter 2023 Sector Survey. We propose to create ‘test-beds’ in three museums across the region to develop best practice in priority areas that we believe could turn around these challenges:
Working with and attracting younger volunteers
Working with remote volunteers
Embedding wellbeing practices

Each museum will become a centre of excellence in its chosen area and will share their work through the creation of best practice toolkits focused within the context of small-medium sized rural museums. The Museum Workforce Project Coordinator will provide capacity to support all three museums in creating project plans, developing resources needed and evaluating successes and challenges that will inform the best practice toolkit. Read more about the project in the attached jobpack and please reach out with any questions you may have in regards to applying.

Workforce Project Coordinator JobPack

Climate Action Toolkit

Nicola Henderson Resources , , , , , , ,
Climate Action Toolkit

This toolkit represents a comprehensive response to the pressing challenge of climate change, which not only poses a threat to the environment but also amplifies existing social injustices and inequalities. Its primary objective is to equip independent museums in the Highlands with the necessary resources and methodologies to effectively incorporate climate action into their operational framework while fostering meaningful engagement with their communities.

We acknowledge the challenges faced by many small museums that may already be operating beyond their capacity. Embarking on the sustainability journey can indeed seem daunting and overwhelming, particularly when viewed as a massive undertaking. However, the toolkit aims to alleviate this concern by emphasising that sustainability can be seamlessly integrated into existing plans and projects, thereby becoming an intrinsic part of ongoing museum activities.

By presenting a step-by-step guide, complete with lists, glossaries, and do-it-yourself policy kits, the toolkit seeks to demystify the process of becoming more sustainable. Rather than viewing sustainability as a separate and burdensome task, museums are encouraged to see it as a pathway to enhancing resilience and attractiveness to funders. By strengthening sustainability practices, museums not only contribute to climate action but also position themselves as more appealing destinations for visitors and potential revenue sources.

Ultimately, the toolkit strives to streamline the sustainability journey for museums, allowing them to devote less time to administrative tasks such as policy development and more time to engaging in meaningful sustainability projects and events. By providing practical resources and guidance, the toolkit aims to empower museums to navigate the sustainability landscape with confidence and enthusiasm, driving positive change within their communities and beyond.

Why should museums & heritage organisations take action?

  • It makes financial sense: save money. Action now, saves costs later. It is cheaper to address climate and adaptation measures now rather than leaving it. Make links to Sustainable Development Goals to strengthen funding applications.
  • Climate and social justice – ensuring a just transition.
  • Educational enrichment – assisting with behaviour change.
  • Enhance reputation.
  • Attract and retain staff.
  • Press opportunities – opportunities for museums to spread the word about the great work they do to be more environmentally and climate friendly.
  • You can tackle multiple issues and there are opportunities for co-benefits. E.g. nature and biodiversity, employment, reduce pollution, community wealth building
  • Current and future regulatory requirements: to secure funding in the future.
  • Meeting current legislation ≠ safety: Climate change is happening fast but regulations and guidance are slow to change, currently lagging 12-20 years behind the science.
  • Important to act now to avoid cascading risks: Full impact of climate change is difficult to quantify. E.g. Extreme weather disruption, fluctuating prices of materials.
  • Crossovers with health and safety. E.g. Storms and flooding, pests and diseases, rising temperatures.
  • Mitigation isn’t enough and we need to reduce negative environmental and climate impact.

Download the resources you need below and/or get in touch if you would like any help with getting started. This toolkit was developed in partnership with Ki Futures with thanks to funding from Museums Galleries Scotland.

The Full Toolkit

Getting started and templates –

Museum Sustainability in 8 Steps

Awareness: Starting to think about sustainability in your museum

Setting Your Baseline

TEMPLATE_Environmental Action Plan

Sustainability Strategy Development

Accreditation climate actions

Easy wins and project inspiration

Curating climate stories and quick wins

Storytelling for the Planet_ a place-based approach for museum audiences

The Plastic Age_Future Archaeologists

Understanding the terms and building a case

Glossary

Cultural Heritage Goals – Sustainable Development Goals

Resources & Training

Understanding Climate Change

Museums a Central Role

Rethinking Missconceptions

Funding tips

Funding Sources