Funding secures future for popular Fife museum

After having to close its doors in March, The Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther has received vital funding support.

The museum, which holds one of only two recognised collections in Fife, has received vital additional funding from the Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund managed by Scottish Enterprise.

This complements already vital ongoing support from Scottish Government and Fife Council in sustaining museum activities and its preparations for reopening of the museum.

In addition, the Scottish Fisheries Museum has been awarded advertising support sponsored by the Federation of Small Businesses and Daily Mail/Metro, which means the Scottish Fisheries Museum is feeling very positive about the future.

In May, the museum had warned that the crisis “could not have come at a worse time” and warned some could close without financial assistance.

Ian Goodyear, director of operations, said: “I was absolutely over the moon to receive the news of this additional support from Scottish Enterprise and Daily Mail.

“The museum team and community volunteers cannot wait to get the green light from Scottish Government to welcome back our members and visitors to our much-loved museum.

“The Scottish Fisheries Museum is also delighted to be able to reassure the community that it is not going anywhere soon and will continue to serve as a popular tourist attraction and vital part of the national fishing industry heritage.

“The museum has been overwhelmed by supportive comments from their online community, volunteers, and the tourism sector as a whole and would like to thank all supporters of the museum for their kindness throughout lockdown and look forward to seeing everyone in the future.”

The museum remains shut, however, phase three of the government’s plan to end lockdown includes the reopening of museums.

If you are missing your fix of museum fun, there is lots to do online. The Scottish Fisheries Museum currently has two exhibitions active online as well as a plethora of content on social media, including ‘Teach me Tuesday’ educational videos for all ages, online pub quizzes and ‘Cake Thursday’ in which the museum encourages you to share your lockdown bakes.