Funding to help Museum extension to be more green

A community project to extend a museum in Dornoch has been able to enhance its environmental credentials after securing a £30,157 investment from HIE.

The £560,000 project to extend the Historylinks Museum is being taken forward by Dornoch Heritage SCIO, the community group that operates the attraction.

The HIE funding will support the £60,314 element of the project that focuses specifically on reducing carbon emissions and energy costs.

They include installation of an air source heat pump and underfloor heating, high-performance roof and wall insulation, and upgraded low energy UV glazing.

Historylinks Museum is a VisitScotland five-star rated attraction. Its total collection has grown steadily over the years and now stands at more than 15,000 items, however less than 1,000 of these have been on display at any one time owing to lack of space.

The extended facility will create more exhibition space and help accommodate increasing numbers of visitor, as well as incorporating additional office and storage space and new toilets. A new multi-purpose activity room will enable more community engagement in heritage experiences.

The forecast increase in turnover as a direct result of the project will also help the museum to become more financially sustainable and less reliant on donations and grants.

Karina Ross, senior development manager with HIE’s Caithness and Sutherland team, said:

“This is a great example of another community led initiative to improve a local asset and generate more income that will be invested in projects to benefit the community. I’m very pleased we’ve been able to provide support to enhance the low carbon aspects of the project and look forward to continuing to work with the team at Historylinks Museum as the project develops.”

Alison Davies OBE, co-chair of Historylinks, said:

“Adding to our existing solar panels and recently installed renewable heating system in the existing Museum, the Green Grant award has enabled our wonderful new extension, the Heritage Hub, to be as energy efficient and low carbon emitting as it could possibly be.  As a community-led organisation, we feel proud and privileged to be part of the effort to move towards the country’s net zero target and we wish to thank HIE for supporting us in taking these important steps.”