SMF Conference 2025: Preserving the Past, Protecting the Future

SMF Conference 2025: Preserving the Past, Protecting the Future

How can heritage thrive in a complex world? Join us 12 May in Dundee for expert-led sessions on finances, audiences & resilience.

By Scottish Museums Federation

Date and time

Monday, May 12 · 10am - 5pm GMT+1

Location

Caird Hall

City Square Dundee DD1 3BB United Kingdom

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 7 days before event

Agenda

9:00 AM

Registration / Tea & Coffee

10:00 AM

Welcome Address 

10:10 AM

First Session: Audience and Engagement 


Shannen Provan-Sloan, The MacDougall of Dunollie Preservation Trust – Sophy & White: The Dunollie Collections Unboxed | Matthew Leeper, Education Evolved Ltd – St Giles: Preserving History Through Di...

11:10 AM

Tea & Coffee  

11:25 AM

Second Session: Community Engagement  


Sophie Hinde & Kim Turford-Mowat, Dundee Heritage Trust – Community Feedback to Gallery Impact with £0 | Siobhán Beatson, Ullapool Museum – Revitalising Heritage: How the Lost Inverlael Expanded Ulla...

12:25 PM

Comfort Break 

12:30 PM

Third Session: Financial Resilience Panel 


Rikki Payne, National Lottery Heritage Fund | Kate O’Driscoll, Museums Galleries Scotland | Shannen Provan-Sloan, The MacDougall of Dunollie Preservation Trust | Emma Halford-Forbes, Glencoe Folk Mus...

1:30 PM

Lunch & Engagement Tables


Education Evolved Ltd. | Museums Galleries Scotland (resources available) | National Museums Scotland – National & International Partnerships Team

2:30 PM

Social Activities


Choose from: Dundee Contemporary Arts, HMS Unicorn, Verdant Works, The McManus Art Gallery & Museum (no organised tour, but free to visit) , V&A Dundee (no organised tour, but free to visit)   

3:45 PM

SMF AGM

4:15 PM

Workshops


Choose from: Clémence Aycard, Climate Museum UK – Old Stuff: An Environmental Story – How to Use Your Collections to Talk About the Planetary Emergency | Dr Nicôle Meehan, University of St Andrews – ...

5:00 PM

Conference Closes 

5:15 PM

After-Conference Social


Bertie Mooney’s, 85 Commercial Street, DD1 2AB

About this event

  • Event lasts 7 hours

How can heritage organisations thrive in an increasingly complex world? Preserving the Past, Protecting the Future tackles this question head-on, with expert-led sessions on topics such as financial stability, engaging audiences, and building resilience in challenging times.

Join us for the Scottish Museums Federation 2025 conference on Monday, May 12th at Caird Hall in Dundee.

Sign up to be a member today to get your Members Discount.

If you or your organisation would like to attend, but would struggle to cover the cost of the tickets and/or travel to the conference, please do let us know. We are looking into support options.

If there are any accessibility accomodations you would like to see at the conference, please do let us know as soon as possible, and we will endeavour to put them in place.

Contact scottishmuseumsfederation@gmail.com

£0 – £65