Falconer Museum in Forres could be reopened by Moray Council in 2026

Moray Council is proposing to reopen a five-star visitor attraction in the centre of Forres.

The Falconer Museum could be set for a new chapter under plans that would see it partially reopen as early as 2026.

Local authority leader, Councillor Kathleen Robertson (Forres, Conservative), explained that the museum would open under independent governance with a newly developed business model and operating body.

She said: “There is a strong local appetite for the Falconer Museum to re-open, and I would encourage anyone who would like to get involved to express their interest. This will allow next steps to be taken quickly.

“The re-opening will strengthen Forres’ heritage offering, and create new opportunities for community engagement, earning and tourism.”

The Future Falconer Museum Report and Moray Museums Service Business Model were produced by Culture Radar in consultation with key stakeholders and funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Key proposals are as follows:

• Independent governance: the museum will be managed by a newly established independent body, with Moray Council retaining ownership of the building and collections.

• Financial sustainability - a diversified funding model incorporating a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the council, visitor admissions, grant funding, and revenue from merchandise and events.

• Museum reaccreditation - efforts will be made to regain Museums Galleries Scotland accreditation, enhancing the museum’s credibility and access to funding.

• Community and economic benefits - the museum will play a key role in supporting tourism, education, and social wellbeing, contributing to the local economy.

• A five-year development plan - a phased approach will see the museum gradually expand its operations, with full financial sustainability targeted by year five.

The proposals in the reports will be presented to Moray Council for approval if there is sufficient local interest in establishing a new operating body.

If approved, the Falconer Museum could partially reopen next year with full operational capacity within five years.

The Friends of the Falconer Museum is a long-standing volunteer group that previously helped maintain the collections housed within the museum.

Friends chairwoman, Christiane Friauf, confirmed the group worked with the Museum Action Group and Culture Radar ahead of the announcement.

She said: “We need to generate interest in forming a new operating body. The Friends will support this.”

Anyone with an interest in getting involved with the museum is encouraged to email forreschscheme@moray.gov.uk.