We see the Falconer Museum as a vibrant, inclusive centre of learning and discovery – celebrating Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage while inspiring creativity, environmental responsibility, and global awareness for generations to come.
The Falconer Museum is dedicated to preserving, safeguarding, and sharing its collections of art, science, natural history, and heritage, rooted in the founding vision of Hugh and Alexander Falconer. We will make these collections accessible, engaging, and meaningful for all – supporting learning, curiosity, and connection for local communities, visitors, families, and researchers. Through inclusive practice, thoughtful interpretation, and responsible stewardship, we ensure the museum remains relevant, inspiring, and responsive to the world today and for future generations to come.
What People Feel is Unique About the Falconer
There was consensus around a number of unique points of difference and interest that the Falconer Museum can contribute to both the Forres and Moray-wide heritage offer for its local community and visitors alike.
These included: A unique and significant collection with a focus on fossils, (and palaeontology), natural history and archaeology which are of growing interest in scientific and climate research. Noted also were links to related heritage, collections and tourist trails in Moray (particularly Pictish artefacts). International themes through the story of Hugh Falconer and his collection, particularly in relation to India and China. The museum store and archaeology lab were understood to be both unique and underused resources which could be of benefit to stakeholders in Moray and further afield. People were also proud of and felt the museum building was architecturally important in itself.
A Desire to See the Falconer Museum Open
Despite facing many challenges across its 153-years, the Falconer Museum had survived as the only museum of its size and type amongst Scottish accredited museums until 2019. It held a unique and important personal collection in a Victorian museum building named after its founder and collector.
There is an overall desire to see the Museum open once again, operated and managed with an exhibition programme engaging and attracting audiences and purposefully contributing to the local economy and community.
Repositioning the Falconer Museum and Collection
Recent analysis and historic research emphasise the value of Hugh Falconer’s collection, with published works conveying both the fascination and significance of the discoveries found within it.
However, this sense of excitement needs to be shared, and a renewed Falconer Museum must thoughtfully select, showcase, and interpret objects to highlight their importance and appeal to a wide range of audiences – including tourists and families – not just experts.
Consultations revealed strong support for the idea that a revitalised Falconer Museum could contribute meaningfully to community wealth, wellbeing, diversity, inclusion, and strengthen local and regional pride in its collection. There was also notable enthusiasm and a desire to see the museum feature and promote the most significant items from the Falconer Collection, enhancing the museum’s reach and impact through updated exhibition displays.
Participants requested exhibitions and displays telling engaging stories about Hugh Falconer (covering his travels and connections with India and China), the collection itself, as well as Forres’ history and its people – making them relevant not only to locals and families but to visitors as well. Additionally, there was support for focusing on the collection to ensure a more purposeful display at the Falconer Museum.