The Innovation Fund, delivered by Museums Galleries Scotland as part of the Museum Futures Programme, provides grants of up to £250,000 to help museums in Scotland develop innovative approaches which improve their financial sustainability and resilience.

The fund is designed to support museums to develop, trial and implement new activities which strengthen their financial position. Museums Galleries Scotland is particularly interested in ambitious and experimental ideas which may be difficult to deliver without external support.

Funding can be used to explore new income streams, test innovative concepts, or scale up successful initiatives. Examples of eligible activity include developing event and venue hire opportunities, creating new tourism initiatives and experiences, establishing commercial partnerships, expanding or creating retail and catering offers, delivering training workshops and courses, developing digital products, creating philanthropy strategies, and exploring renewable energy opportunities. The fund can also support feasibility studies and pilot projects that test new approaches.

Applications are open to organisations running Accredited museums, eligible non-Accredited museums, and formally constituted museum groups in Scotland. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, with decisions normally issued within eight weeks of submission.

Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, with the closing date for applications at 5pm on Wednesday 20 January 2027.

For further information, including full eligibility criteria and how to apply, please visit the Innovation Fund page.