Helensburgh Outdoor Museum Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 10 June 2025
Back to Helensburgh & Lomond Area Committee — 10 June 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL HELENSBURGH AND LOMOND AREA COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 10 June 2025 HELENSBURGH OUTDOOR MUSEUM UPDATE 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This report provides an overview of the proposed 2025-2028 development plans for the Helensburgh Outdoor Museum to become a more prominent heritage led attraction for visitors and residents and have an increased economic impact. 1.2 It summarises the approach and spend of the remaining £48,496 budget, to address the key challenges facing the Outdoor Museum which relate to its poor condition, visibility, and limited number of artworks. 1.3 To deliver a greater impact and increase the number of artworks, a need for additional funding has been identified. Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy and Resources Committee approved an application for an additional £80,000 to be funded from the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme designed to support additional community engagement activities and the delivery of ten new artworks. 1.4 In line with the Outdoor Museum Arts Strategy, applications for artworks from the community and partner organisations will continue to be brought to the Area Committee for consideration and approval. RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the Area Committee: I) Agree to the utilisation of the remaining CHORD surplus funds and the additional Place Based Investment funding as outlined in the report. II) Note the indicative timeline and allocation of spend.
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III) Agree to delegate to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee authority to approve the final timeline and allocation of resource.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL HELENSBURGH AND LOMOND AREA COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 10 June 2025 HELENSBURGH OUTDOOR MUSEUM UPDATE 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This report provides an overview of the proposed 2025-2028 development plans for the Helensburgh Outdoor Museum to become a more prominent, heritage led attraction for visitors and residents and have an increased economic impact. 2.2 A summary has been provided of the proposed approach and associated spend to address the key challenges facing the Outdoor Museum which relate to its poor condition, visibility and limited number of artworks. 2.3 The proposal has been developed in consultation with the Outdoor Museum Design Panel who have a wealth of skills and experience in the arts, culture and heritage. 2.4 Details of the estimated spend of the remaining budget are provided, as well as an indicative timeline for the delivery of the proposed works and activities. There is the opportunity for the Outdoor Museum to achieve greater impact with additional artworks, should further funding be secured. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the Area Committee: I) Agree to the utilisation of the remaining CHORD surplus funds and the additional Place Based Investment funding as outlined in the report. II) Note the indicative timeline and allocation of spend. III) Agree to delegate to the Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee authority to approve the final timeline and allocation of resource.
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4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The Helensburgh Outdoor Museum is an award-winning heritage led attraction developed as part of the CHORD programme, with the first artworks installed in 2014. It consists of 131 granite plinths distributed across Colquhoun square. 4.2 At its meeting on 13 December 2016, Area Committee agreed to allocate £55,000 from CHORD surplus funds for the enhancement of the Outdoor Museum. Due to a variety of factors, including the impact of Covid-19 and staff vacancies, there is £48,496 remaining within the budget. 4.3 The original aim of the Helensburgh Outdoor Museum was to enhance the CHORD public realm development with the installation of artworks celebrating the culture and heritage of the area. There was a community led approach to the development of designs, with a view to creating an attraction for visitors and residents and increasing economic impact to the area. 4.4 There are currently only 17 of the 131 granite plinths that have artworks installed. Due to the low numbers of artworks and a lack of signage, there is limited awareness and recognition of the Outdoor Museum. In addition, some of the original installations have degraded over time and there is a need to consider repair, replacement and maintenance. Appendix 1 shows examples of the poor condition of four of the existing installations. 4.5 To ensure that the original objectives are delivered and to further conserve the Outdoor Museum as a cultural and heritage asset, a proposal for updates has been developed in consultation with the Outdoor Museum Design Panel. The Design Panel has a range of skills and experience and is made up of the Chair and Vice Chair of Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee, as well as representatives from local organisations and the community with expertise in the arts, culture and heritage. 4.6 Following this consultation process, key areas for improvement were identified and considered under three headings - poor condition, poor visibility/presence, and poor numbers. 4.7 After the repairs and actions to enhance the visibility, there is only enough funding to support a small number of artworks within the remaining £48,496 budget. Following consultation with the Design Panel, it was felt that this would not deliver enough artworks to create an impact, therefore a funding bid for an additional £80,000 was submitted to the Place Based Investment Fund. This request for funding was approved by the Council’s Policy and Resources Committee on the 8th May 2025, subject to the Scottish Government funding award. This funding will enable the delivery of ten additional artworks developed through community engagement.
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4.8 An overview of the proposed activities and works with indicative costs are detailed within Table 1. These activities and costs will be further developed and refined as the work progresses and could therefore be subject to change. 4.9 The delivery of the proposed activities and works noted in Table 1 will result in the Helensburgh Outdoor Museum being in better condition, with clear plans in place for ongoing maintenance. It will be well signposted, linked to other attractions in the town, and widely promoted, with the installation of additional artworks creating a more visible/viable attraction and providing opportunities for increased economic and community benefit. TABLE 1 DESCRIPTION ESTIMATED BUDGET Poor condition – repairs and maintenance • Consultancy services to: • provide a condition report of the existing installations • propose and deliver a solution for the engraving • advise on ongoing maintenance requirements • Removal and replacement of the two damaged acrylic installations • Biocide cleaning of all plinths • Updates to the guidance and application form £18,000 Poor visibility/ presence – promotional activities • Signage • Printing of maps for display and distribution • Digital fees for QR codes • Training and events through CARS • Website re-development £4,145 Poor numbers – installation of additional artworks • Match funding to applicant organisations for artworks • Design and installation of artwork in the gap plinth • Competition for community organisations £25,530 TOTAL £47,675 Total budget available £48,496 Budget remaining £821
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4.10 The indicative timeline for the delivery of all the proposed development activities and works is noted in Table 2. Movement of the ‘Bell’s Bell’ Plinth 4.11 Following a previous Elected Member request, there has been consideration of the movement of the ‘Bell’s Bell’ plinth. Colleagues in Roads and Infrastructure have advised that the area of Colquhoun Square where ‘Bell’s Bell’ is located is for pedestrian access and not designed for vehicles. The cost of the removal and reinstallation is likely to be prohibitive and risks damage to the engraved granite plinth. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 The proposed activities and works address the key issues faced by the Helensburgh Outdoor Museum. Delivery of the proposed developments will conserve and enhance the Outdoor Museum as a cultural and heritage asset, create a more prominent attraction for visitors and residents, and enhance the economic impact of the Outdoor Museum that is freely available to all visitors to the town centre. 5.2 The majority of the improvements proposed will be delivered within the existing budget allocation, however additional funding via the Place Based Investment programme will enable the Helensburgh Outdoor Museum to have greater impact facilitated by increased public engagement and publicity. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy - The delivery of this project fits with the Council’s Corporate Plan, Argyll and Bute Outcomes Improvement Plan and the approved Local TABLE 2 ACTIVITY ESTIMATED DELIVERY TIMESCALE Begin project delivery Summer 2025 Procurement Summer - Autumn 2025 Delivery of the competition Summer - Autumn 2025 Website rebranding and map development Summer - Autumn 2025 Signage installation Autumn 2025 - Spring 2026 Repairs and replacements Autumn 2025 - Autumn 2026 Award of Place Based Investment Funding Contract By March 2026 Completion of Place Based Investment funding project delivery By March 2027 Delivery of all artworks Autumn 2025 - Spring 2028 Full budget committed Spring 2028
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Development Plan. It further aligns with policy for safeguarding our built heritage and town centre regeneration. 6.2 Financial - The Area Committee allocated £55K from the CHORD Surplus Funds for the future enhancement of the Outdoor Museum, £48,496 remains. A further £80K has been approved from Place Based Investment funding. 6.3 Legal – None 6.4 HR – The project will be managed by the Economic Regeneration Officer, who will provide support to the Design Panel and updates to the Area Committee. 6.5 Fairer Scotland Duty: 6.5.1 Equalities - protected characteristics – None. 6.5.2 Socio-economic Duty - The Outdoor Museum acts as a visitor attractor to the town centre helping to support local businesses. 6.5.3 Islands: N/A 6.6 Climate Change – The Helensburgh Outdoor Museum website will be re- developed to consider carbon saving design standards. 6.7 Risk – Without the proposed updates, the museum will continue to deteriorate and is likely to require additional repairs and maintenance. 6.8 Customer Service – None. 6.9 The Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – None. Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth Councillor Math Campbell-Sturgess, Policy Lead for Business Development 16 April 2025 For further information contact: Fergus Murray, Head of Development and Economic Growth Fergus.Murray@argyll-bute.gov.uk Kirsty Durrant, Economic Regeneration Officer Kirsty.Durrant@argyll-bute.gov.uk Appendices Appendix 1 – Condition Examples
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Appendix 1 – Condition Examples
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