MSP Visits Arbuthnot Museum to See Achievements and Find Out About Challenges and Future Plans

On Friday, 6 March 2015, Stewart Stevenson MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast and Morag Macpherson, Head of Research and Development at Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) visited Arbuthnot Museum as part of a series of MSP visits to museums, proposed by MGS, to engage them in championing their local museums and experiencing first-hand their achievements and challenges.

Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banffshire & Buchan Coast said:

"Our local museums play a tremendously important role as the custodians of our civic heritage, but should also be places of fun and learning where younger generations engage with their history.

"I've heard some very good reports about engagement and outreach work carried out by the local museums service; Mr Arbuthnot's Cabinet of Curiosities comes to mind as a recent example. At the same time, we should never lose sight of the importance of collections such as the Shivas photographic plates, which I was shown today, as a link with the past."

Morag Macpherson, Head of Research and Development at Museums Galleries Scotland, added:

“It has never been more important for museums and galleries to showcase how they’re delivering across health and wellbeing, education and social agendas in a cost-effective, convincing and comprehensive manner.

“In addition to delivering strategic development support to a sector of over 450 museums and galleries, MGS is committed to raising the profile of these valuable organisations amongst stakeholders and opinion formers.”

MGS will be visiting other museums and galleries with MSPs over the next couple of months.