Kinloch Historical Society has secured £80,000 to develop new accommodation pods next to the community hub in Balallan.
The project aims to create a new income stream to support the long-term sustainability of the organisation while also increasing accommodation options for visitors, students on placements, and tourists exploring the Hebridean Way.
The development is expected to support local employment, strengthen community resilience, and enhance facilities for walkers and cyclists.
The Kinloch Community Hub was officially opened by Princess Anne on October 2, 2019.
The assistance comes from Museums Galleries Scotland, the national development body for the sector, which has today (Monday June 1) announced the latest awards through its Museum Futures programme, with several projects across the Highlands and Islands among the latest recipients.
The funding will support museums to develop new income streams, preserve traditional skills, improve visitor experiences, and build long-term resilience in the face of ongoing financial and operational pressures.
Lucy Casot, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland, said:“Scotland’s museums have a strong track record of adapting, innovating, and collaborating in response to changing circumstances.
'What is particularly exciting about these Museum Futures awards is that they are giving organisations the time, confidence, and support to build on that strength by testing new ideas, developing partnerships, and finding creative ways to secure their future while continuing to serve their communities.”
Among the other projects awarded is Museums and Heritage Highland (MHH), which has secured £255,800 for Pathways to the Future, a two-year pilot project designed to strengthen the long-term sustainability of small rural museums across the Highlands.
Gairloch Museum has received £81,086 to reconstruct an Iron Age roundhouse as a major new feature within its outdoor museum. The roundhouse will connect visitors directly with the archaeology of excavated roundhouse sites behind the museum and showcase the traditional building skills used to construct them.
Culture Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Scotland’s museums are vital to preserving our nation’s stories and ensuring access to our cultural heritage. I am pleased that this Scottish Government funding is offering a much needed boost to museums across Scotland to help them on their transformational journey towards greater sustainability. The Museum Futures programme recognises the challenges many museums face and offers a positive way to help each museum address those challenges.”
Full list of recipients: Stromness Museum (£22,200), Museum Heritage Highlands (£255,800), Kinloch Historical Society (£80,000), Gairloch Museum (£81,086), Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (£70,000), Leisure and Culture Dundee (£50,000), Falkirk Council (£131,410), Art in Healthcare (£13,300), David Livingstone Birthplace Museum (£194,500), The Tall Ship Glenlee (£60,000), Kilmartin Museum (£60,000), Summerlee Museum (£68,313) The Whithorn Trust (£152,519), The Abbotsford Trust (£143,924).
