- Art Matters: New Strategic Plan 2026-2030 to focus on children and young people
- Free access to ticketed exhibitions for under 18s
- Delivery of The Art Works building is a key priority
The National Galleries of Scotland has revealed it contributed £253million to Scotland’s economy through tourism, jobs and cultural activity in 2024/2025, according to a new independent report by BiGGAR Economics. The news comes as the organisation outlines its commitment to children and young people with the launch of its Strategic Plan 2026-2030: Art Matters. Read more about the strategy here.
The new strategy sets out the first steps in a long-term vision to transform access to Scotland’s national art collection on the path to 2050 and beyond. It’s driven by a clear ambition: to remove barriers to participation so that everyone in Scotland, regardless of age or background, can experience the benefits of art. From encouraging creativity to improving wellbeing, accessing and engaging with their national art collection is vital.
Throughout the duration of the strategy, the National Galleries of Scotland aims to increase the number of visitors aged 26 and under by 9%, recognising that early encounters with art can spark lifelong curiosity, creativity and wellbeing.
It will do this through:
- Free entry to ticketed exhibitions for children and young people under 18, kicking off with Gwen John: Strange Beauties and Catherine Opie: To Be Seen. The rest of the galleries are already free to come and enjoy, ensuring cost is not a barrier to participation
- A revised schools offer to connect more learners with the collection
- Strengthening the families programme to support early engagement
The National Galleries of Scotland has three galleries in Edinburgh – the National, Modern and Portrait. In 2025/2026 they welcomed over 2.6million visitors, making them Scotland’s second most popular free attraction.
Discover treasures from Botticelli to Titian, the very best modern and contemporary art from Joan Eardley and Jasleen Kaur, famous faces and contemporary portraits of pop culture icons, and the largest collection of Scottish art in the world.
As an integral part of Edinburgh’s visitor proposition the National Galleries of Scotland are part of the foundations of Scotland’s tourism sector. Identified as a key motivator for almost two thirds of those visiting Edinburgh and almost half of those visiting Scotland, according to the report.
As well as conserving and researching the national collection, the National Galleries of Scotland is committed to reaching the widest possible audience through an active programme, including partnerships across Scotland, the UK and abroad, as well as online.
Key to the delivery of the Strategic Plan is The Art Works, a major project to build a new free-to-visit home in north Edinburgh for over 130,000 artworks, complementing those on display in the National, Portrait and Modern galleries or out on loan.
It’s a critical strategic enabler that will transform how Scotland’s art collection is experienced, shared and enjoyed, and support the National Galleries of Scotland to care for, preserve and share the nation’s art.
It will also make it easier for art to be loaned to local galleries across Scotland, the wider United Kingdom and internationally.
The National Galleries of Scotland’s ambition is that every child in Scotland will have the opportunity to interact with their nation’s art, by visiting The Art Works, seeing it online, in education or through loans in their local community. The Scottish Government has committed £56million over three years to help the National Galleries of Scotland to create The Art Works.
To deliver this incredible new building the National Galleries of Scotland will need to reprioritise some other areas of work. Its summer exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy building will move to a biennial schedule, following this summer’s Catherine Opie: To Be Seen the next exhibition planned to take place in 2028. This shift will enable the National Galleries of Scotland colleagues to prioritise The Art Works and to focus on bringing it to life.
Following opening of The Art Works the National Galleries of Scotland will look to its next capital project to renovate the Mound Level galleries at the National.
Art Matters also reaffirms the National Galleries of Scotland’s ongoing commitment to anti-oppression and anti-ableism, ensuring that its spaces, programmes and workforce continue to be inclusive and representative. This work will be embedded across all areas of activity, from how art is displayed and interpreted, to how audiences and communities are engaged.
The strategy is underpinned by growing evidence of the powerful role art plays in supporting health and wellbeing. 84% of visitors to the National Galleries of Scotland report that their visit has a positive impact on their wellbeing.
This aligns with emerging global research, including a recent study from University College London showing that regular engagement with arts and culture can have measurable biological benefits. In 2024/25, the health and wellbeing benefits generated by the National Galleries of Scotland were valued at £31.8million, the report states.
Anne Lyden, Director-General at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “Art matters because it has the power to change lives. Our new strategy sets out how we will increase access to Scotland’s national art collection over the next four years so that more people, and particularly children and young people, can enjoy the benefits art brings.
“These are our first steps towards 2050. By focusing on children and young people, removing barriers and investing in the future, we can ensure that art continues to enrich lives across Scotland. The impact of art goes far beyond the gallery walls, it supports mental and physical health, fosters connection and contributes to public wellbeing. Art matters for us to have a healthy and thriving society.
“Our priority is the creation and opening of The Art Works building. This vital investment will enable everything that follows.
It is the foundation for how we will care for the collection, expand access and share Scotland’s art for generations to come.”
Art Matters represents a significant milestone in a longer journey for the National Galleries of Scotland.
It lays the groundwork for a future where every child and young person in Scotland can build a meaningful relationship with their national art collection. By investing in access, participation and infrastructure now, the National Galleries of Scotland is positioning itself to deliver lasting cultural, social and wellbeing impact for decades to come.
To find out more, visit Plans and policies | National Galleries of Scotland.