Title: Future-proofing Cruck Cottage: Promoting Partnerships in Environmental Responsibility
Status: Freelance Contract
Fee: £4,500 (inclusive of VAT and expenses)
Duration: 1/7/26-1/12/26 – mainly online with at least 1 visit to the cottage
Closing Date: 29 May 2026
Cruck Cottage in Torthorwald, Dumfriesshire is a Category A listed building, the last remaining survivor of this type of thatched rural home in South West Scotland.
In March 2026 Cruck Cottage received Unlocking Your Potential funding from Museums Galleries Scotland to build a small facilities block within the grounds of the cottage, with accessible toilet, utility room and small store. As part of this project, we are also being funded to develop an environmental sustainability programme in tandem with the new build. This will explore how we can use the cottage and site to expand visitors’ and the community’s sense of agency when faced with the reality of the climate and biodiversity crises.
We are now looking for someone to help us bring Cruck Cottage’s exciting new chapter to life, connecting climate and environmental stories with our building and our communities, to:
1 Investigate how the cottage and new build can explore 21st century approaches to sustainable building management and how to respond to a changing climate.
2 Identify methods to interpret the historic cottage, new build and site to engage the public with environmental responsibility both as part of a general visit and as a public activity programme.
3 Identify and liaise with potential partners and groups who may want to take part in and support the delivery of programmes, or use the site as a base for some of their own activities.
4 Identify if there is potential for funding or income generation in delivering these programmes.
5 Identify ways that the new offer can be marketed and publicised.
6 Create an evaluation framework for any resulting programme.
For more information and to apply please contact Sue Hughes, cruckcott@btinternet.com by 5.30pm on 29 May 2026.
This project is funded by Museums Galleries Scotland as part of Museum Futures.
