Bosses at the organisation told our sister paper The Herald that “shuttered galleries and the loss of public access to Scotland’s national collection” could be “the only option” without “critical” investment.
It said financial support was needed to help with staffing costs as well as essential maintenance work and that increased costs were in part a result of changes to employer National Insurance contributions brought in by the UK Government.
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The news comes despite the Scottish Government’s commitment of a 9% hike to the budget of the body responsible for housing the 120,000 objects in the collection.
In a submission to Holyrood’s Culture Committee ahead of an evidence session today, NGS said this uplift will be almost “entirely absorbed” by increased staffing costs.
NGS also said the Scottish Government’s public sector pay policy, which means all staff will receive a 3% hike this year, will add to challenges.
The expectation for NGS is also that it will move towards a standardised 35-hour working week.
As such, they are required to provide 24/7 staff cover to meet their statutory obligations, this has forced them to increase the size of the workforce.
NGS operates five category A-listed buildings across three sites in Edinburgh, including the Scottish National Gallery and the Royal Scottish Academy on the Mound.
It also operates the Scottish National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street and the Modern One and Modern Two galleries that comprise the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in the city’s west end.
For the 2025/26 financial year, NGS – which is given around £19 million annual revenue funding – said 93% of the grant in-aid money from the government and 72% of their total income is forecast to go on salary costs.
NGS told MSPs: “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.”
Around 2.4m visitors came through the NGS doors in 2023, making it one of the most popular attractions in the country.
It says the recent opening of the new Scottish Galleries at the National Gallery has led to a significant increase in revenue from retail sales, restaurant income, donations and Friends memberships.
However, bosses argued they shouldn’t have to rely on uncertain self-generated income to cover core costs.
They also expressed concerns about Art Works – a planned new storage and research facility for NGS in Granton Waterfront in north Edinburgh.
Anne Lyden, director-general at National Galleries of Scotland, told The Herald: “National Galleries of Scotland appreciate the Cabinet Secretary’s efforts in securing funding for the wider cultural sector during challenging financial times but we continue to urge the Government to be aware of the precarity of the culture sector, which has been underfunded for years.
“Recent UK and Scottish Government policies have added additional cost pressures.
“This includes the public sector pay rise, an increase in employer National Insurance contributions, and the move to a 35-hour working week.
“As an organisation requiring 24/7 cover to meet our statutory obligations, these policies have necessitated increased headcount and costs.
“The 9% increase in revenue grant-in-aid we received in the 2025/26 draft budget was an important step but will almost entirely be absorbed by these increased staff costs.
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“This leaves little if any funding for the things people value the most about our galleries – a place to discover Scotland’s amazing art collection, to improve wellbeing, relax, learn more about art, and to enjoy events.
“We look after Scotland’s heritage, and we need to keep it safe not just now but for future generations.”
She added: “We have a critical need for investment in our estates and without this investment, we face the unacceptable possibility of shuttered galleries and the loss of public access to Scotland’s national collection.
“Closing one of our galleries is a last resort, however, the challenges we face may mean it is the only option.”
The Scottish Government has previously promised to increase investment in the arts by £100m per year by 2028/29.
In the Budget announcement, Finance Secretary Shona Robison (above) said a further £34m would be announced for the culture sector.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “As part of a record £34m 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.
“Ministers await the outcome of the UK Government’s ten-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.”