One in six Scottish museums and galleries face closure within a year

Exclusive Art galleries Museums Art Cultural attractions Entertainment Heritage Leisure Lifestyle Scotland One in six museums and galleries under threat of closure   Exclusive Museums and galleries across Scotland are under growing financial pressure due to the impact of rising energy costs, ageing infrastructure and climate change. (Image: Rob McDougall) This article is brought to you , and has been written . It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Around one in six of Scotland’s museums and galleries are facing closure within 12 months due to a mounting financial crisis. Ageing buildings, soaring costs and the impact of climate change have brought attractions across the country to the brink, according to new research. More than a third of the country’s historic attractions are said to be in a “poor or bad” condition, according to a national industry body. Tourist tax bid to give everyone in Edinburgh 'easy access' to culture Connery family reveals vision for filmmaking centre in Edinburgh Theatre: Happy Days, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Five stars, Sept 2026 Around half are said to have fallen behind with maintenance and repairs due to a lack of available finance. Museums and Galleries Scotland, which works with more than 450 attractions across the country, said its findings have uncovered “significant financial fragility” across the sector. Museums Galleries Scotland works with around 450 attractions across Scotland. (Image: University of Glasgow) It has revealed details of new research ahead of an appearance at the Scottish Parliament culture committee next week. It will be warning MSPs on Holyrood’s culture committee that 40% of its members only have up to three months of financial reserves to survive on. Museums Galleries Scotland works with around 450 visitor attractions. (Image: Martin Shields) Attractions are said to be struggling with a mix of depleted reserves, ageing buildings, workforce pressures and dwindling numbers of specialist staff. MGS is urging the Scottish Government to rethink its support for the nation’s museums and galleries, saying it “compares unfavourably” to other parts of the cultural sector. It has also raised concerns that just £4 million of the £70m in new culture funding rolled out -national museums and galleries around the country. The £4m allocated to MGS was ringfenced for a new programme, Museum Futures, which was launched . It is aimed at ensuring there is more “long-term sustainability” across the sector. However, MGS has claimed that the lack of multi-year funding across the sector “is making it harder for museums to plan strategically, retain staff, invest in their buildings and deliver sustained public benefit”.