Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) is the National Development Body for the museums and galleries sector in Scotland. MGS supports a sector of some 450 museums and galleries throughout Scotland. MGS was the first accredited ICH NGO in the UK.
MGS acts as the representative for Scotland’s museums and galleries; custodians of Scotland’s rich and diverse intangible and tangible cultural heritage and centres of community life and engagement. MGS promotes the sector’s work to the Scottish Government, stakeholders and the public, and advocates for the public value and contribution of museums and galleries to society.
The work of MGS is driven by Scotland’s Museums & Galleries Strategy, which was launched in 2023. The strategy runs until 2030, and outlines priority areas for the museum sector, including Inclusion, Climate Action, and Place, all of which have clear links with ICH. MGS supports the delivery of this strategy across the museum sector in Scotland.
MGS is a key member of the ICH in Scotland Partnership, also consisting of Creative Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, and fellow accredited ICH NGO Traditional Arts & Culture Scotland. The partnership supports ICH through collaborative events and funding applications.
Year of accreditation: 2012
Domain(s): (a) oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage; (b) performing arts; (c) social practices, rituals and festive events; (d) knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe; (e) traditional craftsmanship.
Main Safeguarding measures: a) identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making); b) preservation, protection; c) promotion, enhancement; d) transmission, (non-) formal education; e) revitalization.
- Collaborative support and development for ICH in Scotland as part of the ICH in Scotland Partnership.
- Commissioned initial research scoping ICH in Scotland
- Key partner in research project to develop an ICH wiki for Scotland
- Build international networks of ICH supporting organisations, to bring benefit to ICH in Scotland
- Collaboration with VisitScotland to deliver Community Stories Fund for ‘Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022’
- Collaborative events with Subject Specialist Networks including Folklore Museums Network
- Collaborative event celebrating ‘Creative Responses to Intangible Cultural Heritage’, encouraging art and creativity in response to ICH in museum collections
- Articles and presentations outlining how museums are ideal locations for supporting, safeguarding, and celebrating ICH (FARO, Museums Journal, Association of Independent Museums)
- Funding to support ICH safeguarding and collecting in museums and galleries
- Production of online resources supporting the safeguarding of ICH
Main countries where the NGO works: UK (Scotland)
Local, national or international level of the NGO: National to Scotland (devolved within the UK)
