Cateran Ecomuseum

We’re very excited that our work and especially our climate action focus has enabled another major new partnership to develop, this time with Culture Perth & Kinross (CPK) and the Alyth Museum.

As a result of discussions between us over the last year or so, CPK has secured funding from Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) to develop Alyth Museum into an orientation base for the Cateran Ecomuseum.

The grant of £60,000 will provide visitors to the museum with interactive and engaging information on how to explore the natural and cultural heritage of the region, deepen their understanding of the climate and biodiversity crisis that we are facing and encourage rapid climate action and transition to more regenerative ways of living.

Shanzie Souterrain, near Alyth

The funding, secured from MGS’s Museum Development Fund, will allow the museum to install displays developed with sustainability in mind using content created by curators from Culture Perth and Kinross in partnership with the Cateran Ecomuseum.

Creating the new facility will involve working directly with the community in Alyth to create a sustainable and vital future for Alyth Museum and the collection relating to the area. The funding will also provide a base from which the Cateran Ecomuseum can inform visitors of their annual engagement programme.

The Centre of Alyth in 1929, photo Laing Photographic Collection

Clare Cooper, co-founder and co-director of the Cateran Ecomusuem, said, “We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with Culture Perth & Kinross to develop Alyth Museum into an interactive orientation base for the Ecomuseum, especially given our focus on mobilizing heritage for climate action. Not only will this provide a valuable service to both local people and visitors interested in experiencing the 1,000 square kilomteres of natural and cultural heritage that our ‘Museum Without Walls’  promotes, it will also be a transformative project for the Alyth Museum, raising its profile and enabling it to promote the key role that heritage has in the climate and biodiversity crises we face.”

Russell Willis Taylor, Secretary, Alyth Development Trust, said, “The beauty of our natural surroundings is treasured by all of us. It contributes so much to the character and welcoming nature of our town.  The Cateran Ecomuseum is an innovative and successful project that helps all of us see, understand and protect this irreplaceable and sometimes fragile natural heritage. Having a “portal” into the work of this ‘museum without walls’ inside our own museum ‘within walls’ is important for both museums and all of us who love this area.  The Alyth Development Trust is delighted to support the Ecomuseum and to see the revitalisation of the Alyth Museum in our town square as part of the rebuilding and recovery after Covid”.  

Rhona Corbett, Head of Culture and Heritage at Culture Perth and Kinross added “We’re absolutely delighted this funding has been secured from Museums Galleries Scotland. Working closely with the Cateran Ecomuseum and the local community has been a pleasure, and we’re looking forward to developing the next stage of this partnership by creating the orientation base at Alyth Museum and engaging visitors in discussions around the climate and biodiversity crisis that we are facing as a society on a local level”