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A group of young people stand on a hill overlooking Edinburgh

Community and access

We work in partnership with communities across Edinburgh to break down barriers to engaging with our rich local history and museum collections. Through our outreach work community groups can take part in, or co-create a wide variety of activities, exhibitions or events.

Outreach programme


We run an outreach programme to work with communities across Edinburgh that face barriers to engaging with our collections, venues and public programme. Through our outreach work community groups can take part in, or co-create a wide variety of activities, exhibitions or events.


Our focus is on engaging with people who are typically under-represented in the museum-going public or in our collections and displays. We prioritise working with communities with protected characteristics as well as those who face barriers due to their socio-economic background.


We have an Outreach Plan which helps us to prioritise our work with key partners across the city. For more information contact museumsandgalleries.outreach@edinburgh.gov.uk




Edinburgh Young Carers


We have collaborated with Edinburgh Young Carers since 2018. Our partnership has spanned several projects, including a co-created exhibition at the People’s Story Museum (Young Carers in Charge, 2019); a co-produced heritage project in partnership with the British Museum (Edinburgh is not the Royal Mile, 2021) and a co-produced volunteering project with Make Your Mark.


Edinburgh Young Carers is a voluntary organisation that provides respite and support to young people living in North and South-East Edinburgh, between the ages of 5 and 25, who care for somebody at home. During projects and activities they bring in other partners that support young carers in Edinburgh, including Capital Carers, Space and Midlothian Young Carers.




Invisible Cities


Invisible Cities is a social enterprise that trains people affected by homelessness to become walking tour guides of their own city. They offer these alternative tours to tourists and locals, with a pledge to responsible tourism and positive social impact.


We support their work by offering museum tours and workshops for their tour guides. We have also commissioned them to run tours for our own exhibitions.




Museum in a Box


We offer museum loan boxes free of charge to community groups. The boxes feature original and replica objects that relate to our collections and exhibitions. They provide a hands-on opportunity for community groups to explore Edinburgh’s past and present.

Boxes are free to borrow for up to two weeks. Please note we're unable to deliver, but boxes can be collected from the City Art Centre on Market Street between 10am-4pm 7 days a week. We require at least one week’s notice to book a box.


Community and reminiscence boxes

• 1950s

• 1960s

• Leisure and Going out

• Life in the Home

• School Days

• Sports and Hobbies

• Street Games


For further information and to book, please contact: museumsandgalleries.outreach@edinburgh.gov.uk