We are thrilled to announce that Cruck Cottage has been awarded £73,730 from Museums Galleries Scotland for a project to unlock its potential and make it sustainable into the future.
Over recent years the cottage has been open regularly for daytime and evening events, increasing visitors, donations and the profile of the museum in the local community. However, this increased use has also identified issues with the infrastructure which impact on the offer and make it difficult to expand and develop further; most importantly the lack of access to running water or toilet facilities. This not only limits the programmes that can be delivered, the dwell time and the groups we can attract, but also causes barriers to volunteering.
The funding has been awarded for two strands of work. The first is to build a small facilities block, with accessible toilet, utility room and store within the grounds of the cottage. The building will be sympathetic to the site’s context and be as environmentally friendly as possible, with an insulated timber frame and untreated larch cladding, an insulated roof, a heat pump for heating and water, solar panels and a water butt.
The second strand of the project is to explore how the cottage, new build and site can be used to expand visitors’ and the community’s sense of agency when faced with the reality of the climate and biodiversity crises. This project will identify ways to interpret the site to engage the public with environmental responsibility issues, develop related activity programmes and identify potential local partners and groups to work with.
Chair of Trustees Sue Hughes said, “We are incredibly grateful for this funding which will allow us to provide a more comfortable and accessible experience for both visitors and volunteers, whilst also allowing us to develop new programmes identifying how we can use the lessons from this historic site to explore 21st century approaches to environmental sustainablility.”
The funding is part of Museum Galleries Scotland’s Museum Futures programme to support museums to achieve long-term sustainability by increasing leadership capacity, addressing barriers to financial resilience, and investing in ambitious projects that improve their financial position.
Lucy Casot, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland said, “We are thrilled to support the development of Cruck Cottage through the Museum Futures programme. By introducing essential amenities, the project will open up new opportunities for learning, volunteering, and community use, ensuring the cottage can offer a more inclusive and welcoming visitor experience. It strongly reflects the ambitions set out in Scotland’s Museums and Galleries Strategy, particularly in creating resilient, sustainable organisations and strengthening connections with communities.”