Leaders from across Scotland's heritage sector gather today, Wednesday 10 June, at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall for the Scottish Historic Environment Forum (SHEF) 2026, aligning efforts, sharing progress and shaping the next phase of national delivery.

Marking three years since the launch of Our Past, Our Future, Scotland's national strategy for the historic environment, this year's SHEF highlights how delivery has shifted from isolated initiatives to a networked approach, with organisations collaborating across the country. Supported by targeted investment such as Historic Environment Scotland (HES) grants, shared leadership and joint working are changing how the sector operates.

With new Scottish Government priorities emerging post-election, the forum provides a space to reflect on achievements, exchange learning, interrogate challenges and opportunities, and raise collective ambition for the years ahead.

The event also offers the sector its first chance to hear directly from the newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, Màiri McAllan MSP, as she outlines the Government's evolving priorities and vision for the historic environment in the new parliamentary session.

Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, Màiri McAllan MSP, said: "Scotland's historic environment shapes our identity, strengthens our communities and drives economic opportunity across the country.

"It is central to so much of what our Government seeks to achieve for Scotland, for our people, our economy, and our environment. The historic environment also reminds us, in a fast paced, digital world of soundbites and transience, that thoughtfulness, resilience and endurance matter.

"As we enter a new parliamentary session, I look forward to building on this strong foundation to ensure Scotland's historic environment thrives for generations to come."

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To coincide with SHEF, HES has announced almost £4.5 million in awards to eight organisations through its Partnership Fund. Established in 2021, the fund supports third-sector bodies whose work delivers national impact and advances the strategy, enabling programmes to scale while building the infrastructure for long-term, countrywide change.

This year's grants span traditional skills, climate action, research, advocacy and community participation, underlining the value and impact of collaboration across Scotland's heritage system.

Katerina Brown, Chief Executive Officer at HES, said: "SHEF is the moment each year when Scotland's heritage sector comes together. Not just to reflect, but to align, to collaborate, to challenge ourselves and to set the pace for what comes next.

"Today's funding announcement celebrates the strength of our sector, and the recipients are a fantastic example of what heritage can offer Scotland's people, places and future.

"Together at SHEF, we can show the power of partnership and the value of a connected heritage sector. This is the sector at its most ambitious, most aligned and most impactful."

This year's HES Partnership Fund recipients include:

• Chartered Institute for Archaeologists – Platform for Success, which will upskill heritage professionals and provide key training and qualification routes.

• Heritage Network – Resilient Networks, offering professional development and advocacy support for heritage organisations.

• Keep Scotland Beautiful – Our Heritage, Our Future, working with communities to mitigate the impacts of climate change on heritage.

• New Lanark Trust – Conserving Heritage and Inspiring Learning, enabling more visitors to engage with and learn about the World Heritage Site.

• SCAPE Trust – Coastal Paths, Coastal Futures, identifying and recording coastal heritage sites at risk from climate change and working with communities to reduce those risks.

• Scottish Civic Trust – The Historic Environment and Communities, continuing the much-loved Doors Open Days scheme to develop volunteers and engage communities across Scotland.

• Scottish Traditional Building Forum – Ensuring the skills, knowledge and materials for the future, encouraging careers and skills development focused on traditional buildings.

• Society of Antiquaries of Scotland – Forth Valley and Fife Archaeological Research Framework, completing the update to the national Scottish Archaeological Research Framework, and Frameworks in Action: Insight to Impact, supporting the Dig It! accessible archaeology programme.

The HES Grants Funding Report 2025–26, published today, sets out how targeted investment advances long-term change and contributes to the success of Our Past, Our Future. Further information on the strategy is available via its dedicated website.

Historic Environment Scotland is the lead body for Scotland's historic environment and a charity dedicated to heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. It researches and records Scotland's historic places, addresses climate change impacts, and cares for more than 300 nationally important properties. HES also leads delivery of Our Past, Our Future. Its sub-brands include Historic Scotland, trove.scot, the National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, Edinburgh Castle and Stòr.