Scotland’s Museums and Galleries Strategy Symposium 2026 (in-person)

This event is open to all those who volunteer, work in, and collaborate with Scotland’s museums and galleries. It offers an excellent opportunity to learn about sector initiatives, engage with topical discussions, and network with colleagues.

Attendees can look forward to a packed programme of panel sessions, knowledge-sharing opportunities, and workshops designed to provide inspiration and practical advice across the priority areas of We are delighted to welcome a diverse range of engaging speakers from across the museum and wider heritage sectors.

The Collaboration Space will return, offering a chance to connect with a variety of organisations from across the culture and heritage sectors, who will be able to provide support or opportunities to collaborate. The MGS team will also be there, including the new Museum Futures team and Delivering Change team, to meet with attendees and answer questions on how we can further support your work and ambitions.

We are keen for as many sector colleagues to join us in person as possible. If travel costs are a barrier to attend, please get in touch: [email protected]

We also offer an online live-streamed programme for anyone unable to join us in person. .

Please register by 18th February 2026 at 5pm.

For accessibility information on the venue please refer to The guide also includes information on the venue's quiet spaces which are available for attendees to visit as and when they like. We strive to remove barriers to participation and want to provide an accessible experience. If you require BSL interpretation at the event, please inform us before 17th February so we can make the necessary arrangements.

For any queries, please get in touch: [email protected]

Please note you will be asked to choose the panel sessions and workshops you would like to attend at checkout.

There will be limited spaces available for the workshop sessions taking place in the Cullen Suite. Priority for these sessions will be given to delegates from museums and galleries if demand is high.

9am-10am: Registration & networking

Delegates arrive at the venue and complete their registration for the day. Teas, coffees, and pastries will be provided.

10am-10.10am: Welcome address by Duncan Dornan

Room: Auditorium

Duncan Dornan, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Museums Galleries Scotland will welcome attendees to the Strategy Symposium.

10.10am-11am: Panel discussion with Q&A: Museum Futures – First Stories

Room: Auditorium

Museum Futures participants will share candid stories and early reflections from their involvement so far with the programme. Themes will touch on leadership, capacity, innovation, fundraising, and income generation. It will be an opportunity to learn more about the changes and opportunities that the programme is delivering.

Speakers will be announced soon

11am-11.15am: Comfort break

Comfort break between sessions. Water available.

11.15am-12.15pm: Session 1

Panel discussion: What will the next Parliament do to support Scotland’s museums?

Room: Auditorium

Kathryn Samson, Channel 4 News' Scotland Correspondent will chair a panel session with senior politicians from Holyrood's main political parties, who will set out their plans and take questions from the audience.

Speakers to be confirmed.

Workshop: Inclusion work in polarised times

Room: Cullen Suite

Since early 2024, participants in Delivering Change: Museum Activists have been building their understanding of anti-oppression through training and peer-to-peer reflection. In this practical workshop led by four Museum Activists, you’ll explore their work to make Scotland’s museums more welcoming to all people in an increasingly polarised climate and consider how to apply these approaches in your own context.

Speakers:

· Tom Hughes, Youth and Community Engagement Officer, The Devil's Porridge Museum

· Tess Rodrigues, Museum Assistant, St. Cecilia's Music Museum and Concert Hall

· Jen Keenan, Learning and Access Curator, Glasgow Life

· Caitlin Meldrum, Audience and Communications Officer, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum

12.15pm -1.15pm: Networking lunch

Lunch will be made up of a selection of vegetarian and vegan sandwiches and wraps, alongside a selection of fresh fruit, cakes, and traybakes. This is an opportunity to connect with sector and MGS colleagues.

Delivering Change meetup

Room: Foyer

Delivering Change participants are invited to meet in the Foyer area to meet up and talk about their work and experiences so far. Others are welcome to join them to chat all things Delivering Change. It will be possible to bring lunch into the Foyer.

1.15pm-1.30pm: Shortcuts – MGS anti-oppression work

Room: Auditorium

A brief update on MGS’s work to achieve the LGBT+ Charter Mark and how the sector might also get involved.

1.30pm-2.15pm: Session 2

Panel discussion: Collaboration and Communities for Climate

Room: Auditorium

This panel discussion will explore the ways in which museums can collaborate with their local communities and climate networks for collective action, audience engagement and funding. We will hear from museums, community climate action networks and there will be time for a Q & A session.

Speakers:

· Katy Firth, Museum Climate Change Exhibitions and Outreach Officer, Stromness Museum

· Jo Moulin, Museums Officer Promotions, East Lothian Council

· Keith Dunmall, Community development Lead NESCAN Hub

Workshop: Hands-On Heritage: The Modern Apprenticeship Experience

Room: Cullen Suite

Apprenticeships build skills, confidence and resilience across Scotland’s heritage sector. This workshop brings the apprenticeship experience to life through firsthand perspectives from a Modern Apprentice, showing how work-based learning creates lasting value for individuals and organisations alike.

The session highlights the powerful impact of investing in people — from strengthening teams and building capacity to supporting long-term organisational sustainability. Apprenticeships can inject fresh energy, new ideas and vital skills into heritage organisations of all sizes.

Whether you’re a manager, curator, educator or volunteer coordinator, you’ll gain practical, real-world insights into how apprenticeships can enhance resilience, spark innovation and future-proof your organisation. Supporting apprentices isn’t just good practice — it’s essential to the future of Scotland’s heritage sector.

Speakers:

· Chaired by Karen Jamieson, Skills Development Manager, MGS

· Megan Stamper, Workplace Assessor, MGS

· Shaun Wilson, Visitor Advisor, ANGUSalive

2.15pm-2.45pm: Refreshment break

Comfort break with tea, coffee, and biscuits available.

Collections meetup

Room: Foyer

Delegates involved in planning or implementing the rationalisation of collections and disposals of objects are invited to spend the break together. This is an informal opportunity to come together to share learning and experience around collections rationalisation.

2.45pm-3.30pm: Session 3

Panel discussion: Rationalising Collections Rationalisation

Room: Auditorium

Collections rationalisation is a fundamental part of healthy collections management. However, this important aspect of collections work can be all-to-often fraught with challenges around public perception, workforce isolation, ethical decision making, and practical hurdles.

This session brings together people actively involved in collections rationalisation to explore key challenges, barriers, and hurdles in their rationalisation, and identify practical approaches to how they have been overcome.

Speakers to be confirmed.

Workshop: Collaborating for Health Improvement World Café

Room: Cullen Suite

In this World Café style session, you will contribute to our understanding of where Scotland’s Museums and Galleries are currently in contributing to place-based health improvement and shaping an effective intersectional ecology. This will help the heritage sector evidence positive impact on population health.

You will be invited to join open discussions on themes ranging from impact evaluation to training, partnership working to policy awareness.

At the end of this workshop, you will have met new people, gained an insight to how your organisation can support, or share where your organisation is supporting, population health and have a deeper understanding of why the sector identifies Health and Wellbeing as a priority in the Scotland’s Museums and Galleries Strategy.

Speaker:

· Ruthanne Baxter, Civic Engagement Manager and Prescribe Culture Lead, University of Edinburgh

3.30pm-3.45pm: Short break

Short break to allow changeover between sessions. Water available.

3.45pm-4.30pm: Panel discussion: Return Stories

Room: Auditorium

This panel session will explore the story of a recent return of a specimen of the extinct Jamaican giant galliwasp back home to Jamaica from The Hunterian. We will hear from colleagues from the Caribbean and The Hunterian and about ongoing collaborative work to create inventories of Caribbean and African collections through projects such as Reveal & Connect funded by Museums Galleries Scotland and the John Ellerman Foundation. The session will also update on the development of guidance on repatriation and restitution for Scottish museums.

Speakers to be confirmed.

4.30pm-4.45pm: Closing remarks

Room: Auditorium

Forward Focus: Lucy Casot, CEO, Museums Galleries Scotland brings the event to a close with a look ahead to MGS’s work as the sector’s National Development Body.

5pm onwards: Post-event social

Delegates are invited to join MGS colleagues for post-event refreshments at a nearby venue. This will be a chance to meet up with sector colleagues in a more informal setting.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 11 Queen Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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