National Galleries of Scotland warns top attraction could close as costs soar

MSPs have been told the National Galleries of Scotland is at “crisis point” amid warnings it could be forced to close one of its flagship attractions.

Anne Lyden, the director of the organisation, warned of severe consequences without an urgent intervention as it faces rising staff and maintenance costs.

The NGS runs several galleries in Scotland including the National, Portrait, Modern One and Modern Two.

It is responsible for 120,000 works of art and welcomed more than 2.4 million visitors in 2023.

However, in a submission to Holyrood’s Culture Committee, it said that without “significant change in the near future, we will be forced to make seismic changes, such as closing one of our buildings”.

It also warned the “level of risk and potential for a catastrophic incident at one of our buildings is at a critical level never before seen, with the likelihood of such an event increasing with each budget cycle”.

Appearing before MSPs on Thursday, Ms Lyden said she is facing “unpalatable options” as she tackles the cost of running the NGS.

The Scottish Government’s 2025/26 Budget will increase funding for the culture sector by £34 million.

Ms Lyden said while the cash will have a “positive impact”, culture in Scotland is “not buoyant” and remains “precarious”.

She warned: “This is simply not enough and we will be challenged in balancing a budget for next year,” before adding that the increase is “too little, too late”.

She said the 9% uplift to the NGS’s budget – worth £1.75 million – would be consumed by staffing costs, with the Chancellor’s national insurance rise for employers costing it £300,000.

She said the Scottish Government’s public sector pay policy is also putting pressure on the organisation. Rules around a standardised 35-hour work week will cost nearly £800,000.

Ms Lyden went on: “We’re facing some very unpalatable options here this year.

“We’re actively looking at what does that mean. Is it a change in our operating hours or opening hours for the public? Currently, we’re open seven days a week, from 10 until 5pm.

“Is it a day closure? Is it closures around our multiple sites? Is it even going to the far extreme of a complete permanent closure of one of our buildings?

“Because, again, if we cannot afford to upkeep the fabric of these listed buildings, then we are at risk.

“We’re risking colleagues, we’re risking the collection, we’re risking the public, and we, I, cannot take that risk.

“It really is at a crisis point. I’m here today telling you that something needs to be done.

“There has to be an intervention now, within the next zero to five years.”

Katerina Brown, chief executive of Historic Environment Scotland (HSE), also appeared before the committee on Thursday.

She told MSPs the national insurance hike will cost HSE £1.6 million. She said HSE, which has to raise most of its budget on its own, is facing a £10 million reduction in its funding.

She said the organisation has to carry out inspections on hundreds of properties which may need repairs that could cost millions of pounds.

Ms Brown said HSE is looking at entry fees on its attractions – 80% of which currently do not charge to enter – but added: “It’s something we are looking at but not necessarily going to roll out.”

John Swinney was asked during First Minister’s Questions later on Thursday whether he can assure Scots that no national galleries will close.

The First Minister did not directly answer that question but said he is “determined to support” the NGS.

He said: “We are enormously fortunate as a country to have the national galleries and the collection that they nurture on our behalf, and the Government will engage constructively with national galleries to ensure that they are well supported through the challenges that lie ahead.”

He urged opposition MSPs to back his Budget to ensure the rise in funding for the NGS goes ahead, along with the increased settlement for the culture sector overall.

A Scottish Government spokesperson added: “As part of a record £34 million uplift for culture in the draft 2025-26 Budget, National Galleries of Scotland received a 9% increase to their overall budget, including a capital allocation above what they requested in the last capital spending review.

“The Budget also includes funding to continue to progress the Art Works facility, and work is ongoing between the Scottish Government, NGS and the wider sector to ensure Scottish Government investment in national storage solutions is consistent with public service reform aims.

“Ministers await the outcome of the UK Government’s 10-year national infrastructure strategy and multi-year spending review in the spring to get a clearer picture of the longer term capital position available to the Scottish Government.”