The Friends of the Falconer Museum welcome Moray Council’s Conservation and Heritage Scheme for Forres
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A VOLUNTEER group focused on a historic building in the centre of Forres is confident that a local authority project will result in its reopening.
The Friends of the Falconer Museum (FFM) welcome Moray Council’s initiative to develop a Conservation and Heritage Scheme for Forres.
Spokeswoman for the Friends of the Falconer Museum committee, Christiane Friauf, confirmed the building’s reopening to the public is integral to the scheme, an objective its cooperating partners agree upon.
She said: “Chairman of the project management group, George Alexander, made this very clear.
“However, ways and funds to achieve this goal are still to be found, and a viable operating model for the museum still to be developed.”
Ms Friauf pointed out that funding for projects such as building works or information panels is easier to acquire than funds for permanent employment of staff.
However, she believes qualified staff are what an accredited museum needs.
She said: “While we appreciate the continued upkeep of the precious exterior of the museum by Moray Council, our town centre would be much uplifted and the footfall for all other town centre sites and amenities much increased with it being open to the public.”
The Friends are collaborating in the heritage scheme project in the hope that the once five-star tourist attraction will again attract visitors and support schools, families and other social groups with educational and fun events.
Friends representatives are part of a project management group run by Moray Council managing officers Kirsty Conti and Kirsty Shand alongside Moray Council officers, Forres’ councillors and community groups including Forres Heritage Trust and Forres Area Community Trust, all focused on developing and promoting the historic character of the Royal Burgh.
Commissioning of a feasibility study for the museum follows guidance from a 2020 Culture Radar report. This is expected to inform development of an operating model.
The Friends suggest that the council retains ownership of the museum while a separate trust works as operating body, overseeing the day-to-day management, including staff, exhibitions, and budgets. It is estimated there are around 130 similar arms-length external organisations successfully working in Scotland.
The Friends are also in talks with the project’s appointed heritage consultant and curator Helen Avenell of Helen Avenell Heritage Associates.
“We supported Helen with information and data in preparation of her report,” explained Ms Friauf. “We continue to have engaging discussions. She is a highly experienced consultant, with a deep understanding of the history and heritage of Forres. It’s an especially fortunate situation to have such an expert working on the scheme.”
A Moray Museums Service Collections Overview is expected to be published soon by Moray Council.
The Friends sent a representative to Forres Heritage Scheme workshops and encouraged members to participate in a public drop-in event at the museum in recent months.
Ms Friauf added: “The results from the public event, as appraised by Moray Council, are overwhelmingly in support of reopening the Falconer.”
Ms Friauf believes votes cast at the public consultation evidence that the museum can offer a multitude of activities and services, exhibitions with different topics catering to a variety of visitors, for walks and talks, and as a partner for educational groups and local enterprise.
She finished: “This is an exciting time for Forres and the more that get involved in the Conservation and Heritage Scheme expressing their needs and wishes the better.”
