To help us achieve our charitable mission, it is time to return the Society to a more public-facing charity with physical meeting spaces that will provide the capacity required to achieve wider engagement with the public and heritage sector.

However, we intend to create a space, not just for the future of the Society, but for the future of Scottish heritage.

The Society aims to acquire and redevelop a B-listed building, rich in its own unique heritage and architectural significance, situated beside the National Museum of Scotland, to establish an independent national centre for knowledge exchange dedicated to Scotland’s historic and archaeological environment.

Scotland is currently lacking a bespoke heritage space coordinated by an organisation that is not dependent on government funding which is dedicated to welcoming people from all walks of life to explore all aspects of Scotland’s past. A space that allows for open discussions addressing the challenges we face today while enabling the sector to work towards our shared objectives. A space that brings together different heritage organisations to collaborate, to conceive of new research and to engage with the public.

As a charity mainly funded through membership subscriptions and as a recognised independent heritage organisation with a diverse range of views and expertise within its membership, the Society can provide this neutral space.

The need from the public and broader heritage sector has been identified. In 2024, our community engagement experts at the Horizons Research consultancy collected input from over 200 people from a wide range of organisations in the heritage and other sectors to assess both the demand and the types of activities the Hub could support. A clear need was identified.

Beyond a home for the Society, the Hub will be the beating heart of Scotland’s heritage: a connector, a facilitator, an independent voice, and a national centre for knowledge exchange.    

The Hub will preserve and enhance our legacy, and through broader engagement and collaboration, build resilience across Scotland’s heritage sector for generations to come.  

Image Credit: Benjamin Tindall Architects

A focal point that enables people to better engage with Scotland’s past