Why Do We Need Scotland’s Heritage Hub?

A physical space hosted by an independent organisation would bring people together, encourage positive community engagement with Scotland’s heritage and act as a focus for the historic environment sector more generally. In challenging times, the provision of this neutral space which is not reliant upon government funding would create opportunities for people to discuss the complex issues we face and propose innovative solutions.

In addition to supporting our historic environment, Scotland’s Heritage Hub would transform the Society into a more public-facing charity, making its knowledge and expertise more widely available and supporting the dissemination of Scotland’s past to the world.

Currently the Society is unable to welcome Fellows, host meetings in its own rooms or host events without significant rental outlay. This impacts our ability to provide external training and reduce skills gaps, run in-person events, enhance knowledge-exchange, showcase Scotland’s heritage offer and the latest advances in digital heritage, and facilitate activity to provide opportunities for marginalised communities to continue to meaningfully engage with Scotland’s past.

Scotland’s Heritage Hub would improve the visibility and remove the challenges to the accessibility of the Society to Fellows and the public. A front door presence in Edinburgh would welcome people to engage with the Society and Scotland’s past in a beautiful and stimulating environment and provide greater prominence in the city for the work of both the Society and its Fellows.

We aspire to create a quality space which would better reflect the history and reputation of the Society, strengthening its ability to draw in membership and generating an atmosphere for the encouragement of philanthropy, increasing its sustainability.

The building, and especially the flats, provide net income up to an estimated £100,000 a year, ensuring the Society is more financially secure and can develop more benefits for the heritage sector, the public and Fellows.

The Society has been based in four small rooms in a converted 19th-century block of flats owned by National Museums Scotland since it moved from its premises on Queen Street in 1998. These current premises have serious challenges relating to accessibility for Fellows, staff and the public, restricting opportunities for growth and depriving the Society of full independence. The building would provide fit-for-purpose offices for Society staff and other organisations, ensuring we can welcome anyone to work with us.

Image Credit: Benjamin Tindall Architects

Interior view of the proposed hub

The building will give Scotland an independent space and enable the Society to significantly enhance its current activities

If you would like to know more about how to support this project and get involved, please contact heritagehub@socantscot.org.