Falkirk's museum collection tells the story of our area, its people and the events and industries that have shaped the place we know today.

From everyday objects that give us a glimpse into how people lived and worked, to items connected with important moments in our history, the collection belongs to Falkirk's story.

We want to make sure it continues to tell that story for generations to come.

Looking after Falkirk's collection

Our museums team is carrying out a detailed audit and review of the collection to understand more about the objects we care for and the stories they help us tell.

Reviewing collections in this way is a normal and important part of how museums look after them. Collections grow and change over many years and regularly reviewing what they contain helps our museums make the best use of the space and resources available to them.

For Falkirk, this means looking carefully at the objects in our care and considering their significance, condition and connection to our local area.

Our aim is to build a strong, meaningful collection that reflects Falkirk's past and continues to grow with the stories of Falkirk.

Making room for the future

Falkirk's story hasn't stopped - and neither should our museum collection.

As our communities change, new stories and objects become important. We need to make sure there is space to collect and preserve them so that future generations can understand what life in Falkirk was like today, just as our existing collections help us understand the generations that came before us.

By reviewing the collection, we can focus our care, resources and available space on objects that have a meaningful connection to Falkirk and help tell its story.

It also gives us the opportunity to identify gaps in the collection and think about the objects and stories we should be preserving for the future.

What happens to the objects we review?

Every object will be considered carefully by our museum professionals and in line with recognised museum standards.

Most objects will continue to form part of Falkirk's museum collection.

Where an object is identified as having little or no connection to Falkirk, we will consider whether it could have greater significance elsewhere. Where appropriate, we will look for opportunities for objects to be transferred to another accredited museum or collection where they can continue to be cared for and enjoyed.

There may also be a small number of objects which are badly damaged, beyond repair or unsafe to keep. These will be considered individually and handled in line with professional museum guidance.

No decisions will be taken lightly. The purpose of the review is to make Falkirk's collection stronger and more relevant, while ensuring the objects we care for can be properly looked after.

Telling Falkirk's story

At the heart of our collection review is a simple question: what should we preserve today to help future generations understand Falkirk?

By taking a fresh look at our collection, we can make sure the objects we care for have stories worth telling - stories about our communities, our industries, our achievements, our everyday lives and the people who have made Falkirk what it is.

It means looking after the best of Falkirk's past while making space to capture the stories that are still being written and will be part of Falkirk’s future.

Find out more

We know people may have questions about how the collection is being reviewed and what this means for individual objects.

You can read our Frequently Asked Questions below to find out more about the process.

You can also register for updates below to follow The Future of Falkirk's Past as the project develops.