CALL FOR COMMITMENT TO THE ART WORKS IN NORTH EDINBURGH
Research by the National Galleries of Scotland has found that Scotland is on top
when it comes to accessing culture. However, despite promising results for
Scotland’s culture sector, the survey also highlights a concerning 19 per cent gap between the highest and lowest socioeconomic groups feeling like they can easily access museums and galleries.
With an increasingly challenging financial landscape for the arts sector, the National Galleries of Scotland fears that without investment this gap will continue to increase.
The UK wide polling found that 49 per cent of people in the UK felt they have easy
access to cultural space, such as museums and art galleries, compared to 64 per
cent of people in Scotland. The lowest areas were Wales (38 per cent), East
Midlands (38 per cent) and Northern Ireland (46 per cent). Scotland however is
paving the way for making culture more accessible, even beating London (54 per
cent).
Regardless of the positive outlook for overall access to cultural spaces in Scotland
there is an alarming class divide across the whole of the UK. Polling found that 59
per cent of those in the higher socioeconomic group said they felt they have access
to culture versus 37 per cent of those in the lower socioeconomic group.
Even in Edinburgh there was a significant gap between classes, with 87 per cent of those in the higher socioeconomic group feeling they have easy access to art, versus 68 per cent of those in the lower socioeconomic group.
With continuous challenges around funding for the culture sector, the National
Galleries of Scotland fears the gap will only continue to widen if there is not urgent
investment in the arts.
Scotland’s national collection of art is currently already facing massive challenges, with limited storage putting restrictions on how the collection can be accessed, shared and cared for.
Legislation sets out that the National Galleries of Scotland must look after Scotland’s collection of art on behalf of the Scottish Government for the people of the country. However, Scotland’s national art collection is currently at risk due to lack of funding for suitable storage; 97 per cent of the collection is hidden away in full and overcrowded stores with limited access for the public, of which about half is environmentally substandard.
However, the National Galleries of Scotland are yet to receive commitment from the UK or Scottish Government to fund the construction of the new state of the art storage solution, The Art Works: an innovative new c13,000s/sqm building located in an area of regeneration in North Edinburgh, a priority area for the National Planning Framework (NPF4).
Turning the notion of storage inside out, The Art Works will be open to the public and unlock wider access to art in North Edinburgh and importantly across the UK.
The survey’s findings back this, with 86 per cent of Edinburgh respondents believing The Art Works would be accessible to everyone, regardless of income.
The benefits of interacting with art are well cited. In research carried out in 2024, 85 per cent of visitors to one of the three National Galleries of Scotland venues: National, Modern and Portrait felt that their visit had a positive impact on their wellbeing.
Current storage of Scotland’s national collection limits the ability to tour it around the UK and Scotland, due to lack of space to access the art. The Art Works will eliminate the current logistical constraints, enabling loans and touring programmes across Scotland, UK and Internationally.
This would mean being able to take Scotland’s world class art collection to lots of new locations, contributing to reducing the socioeconomic divide. The Art Works will provide best in class museum standard storage spaces.
According to the National Galleries of Scotland survey, 77 per cent of UK residents
believe it’s important to look after art for future generations, yet there is a crisis in art storage.
There is also a financial upside to The Art Works, with a benefit/cost ratio of
1.31, so for every £3 spent, £4 is returned in wider benefits to Scotland.
Anne Lyden, Director – General at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “The
socioeconomic divide in access to culture in the UK is deeply concerning. Not only is our project to create The Art Works vital to the re-generation of Granton in North Edinburgh, it will also act as an enabler that will allow us to share Scotland’s incredible art collection more widely across the UK.
“Our research clearly illustrates that more needs to be done urgently to ensure every adult and child is able to experience culture. We know that the benefits of art go well beyond the financial, with visits to galleries and museums increasingly being prescribed by doctors around the world to treat anxiety and depression.
“While our research shows that people in Scotland have greater access to culture
than the rest of the UK, the reality is that this is not the case across the whole of
Scotland. National Galleries of Scotland cares for Scotland’s art collection for the
whole of the nation; however, we are failing in our duty to make art work for
everyone and share the collection across the nation.
“The Art Works is the solution and will unlock the full potential of the collection, allowing us to share it, giving greater access to everyone across Scotland and the UK, and keeping it safe for future generations. Doing nothing is not an option.”
Benny Higgins, Chairman of the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “It is
essential that Scotland does not fall behind in its ability to share and access culture.
The Art Works will provide so many benefits, including improving the accessibility of Scotland’s national art collection, enabling it to be seen by more people than ever
before.
“This incredible building will help us to share the collection across Scotland,
England, Northern Ireland and Wales, in areas who would otherwise never have the
chance to see world-class art.
“Without The Art Works we’re not only risking catastrophic failure by storing the collection in buildings that aren’t fit for purpose, we’re preventing people from having easy access to culture.
“The culture sector has been underfunded for years. It’s a sector wide issue across
all the UK and it is putting our museums and galleries in danger. Without the funding to build The Art Works, our hands are tied. Scotland’s collection is at risk, in cramped and outdated storage.
“The Art Works is a solution that offers the best value for money. We need to invest to save, and we need to do it now.”
The public polling was carried out by Yonder Data Solutions on behalf of the National Galleries of Scotland with 2,405 members of the UK public, weighted to be nationally representative on the basis of age, gender, ethnicity and region.
This included a boosted subsample of 300 respondents from Edinburgh. Fieldwork was conducted from 9 to 16 May 2025
