National Galleries of Scotland: where does the money come from?
The National Galleries of Scotland had income of £33m in the year to March 2025, and 71% of it was government grant-in-aid. It welcomed 2,629,952 visitors.
What does the National Galleries of Scotland do?
National Galleries of Scotland runs the national art galleries in Edinburgh, including the Scottish National Gallery and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. It cares for Scotland's national collection of fine art, from the Renaissance to the present day, also shown at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art; the Scottish National Gallery opened in 1859. It is funded by Scottish Government grant-in-aid with free general admission, plus paid exhibitions, shops, cafés and donations.
In brief: national art galleries · fine art collection of Scotland · free entry, paid exhibitions · Edinburgh
Source: Spark Intel editorial, checked 27 September 2026. Official website: nationalgalleries.org.
Where does the National Galleries of Scotland's money come from?
Government grant-in-aid brought in £23m, 71% of the total. The rest, £10m, came from what the National Galleries of Scotland earns and raises itself: admissions, shops and catering, donations and other income.
- Government grant-in-aid £23m 71%
- Admissions and exhibitions £0.6m 2%
- Shops, catering and commercial £3m 10%
- Donations and legacies £1.5m 5%
- Other income £4m 13%
What did the National Galleries of Scotland spend, and what is it worth?
| Measure | Mar 2025 | Previous year |
|---|---|---|
| Total income | £33m | £32m |
| Total spending | £31m | |
| Net income before gains | £1.4m | |
| Staff costs | £19m | |
| Staff | 362 | |
| Net assets | £372m | |
| Cash | £5m | |
| Visitors | 2,629,952 | |
| Income per visitor | £12.41 | |
| Grant-in-aid per visitor | £8.76 |
Net income is before investment gains and property revaluations. For a charity it is the surplus kept for the collection and buildings, not a profit paid out.
- Legal form
- Scottish charity (SC003728) and non-departmental public body funded by the Scottish Government
- Sites
- Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, Edinburgh, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Queen Street, Edinburgh, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern One and Modern Two), Belford Road, Edinburgh, Royal Scottish Academy building, Edinburgh, Collection centre, Granton, Edinburgh, Partner galleries: Paxton House (Berwickshire) and Duff House (Banff)
- Trading company
- NGS Trading Company Limited (SC312797)
- Latest accounts
- Year to 31 March 2025
National Galleries of Scotland: common questions
How much money does the National Galleries of Scotland get from the government?
£23m of grant-in-aid in the year to March 2025, 71% of its total income of £33m.
How much does the National Galleries of Scotland spend?
£31m in the year to March 2025, of which staff costs were £19m.
How many people visit the National Galleries of Scotland?
2,629,952 in the year to March 2025 (Number of actual visits to all gallery sites, 2024-25 (KPI; 2,550,423 in 2023-24). Excludes touring loans (3,606,603 visitors at partner venues reported separately)), according to its annual report.
Why isn't the National Galleries of Scotland on the Companies House register?
The National Galleries of Scotland is scottish charity (SC003728) and non-departmental public body funded by the Scottish Government, so it publishes its accounts in an annual report rather than filing them at Companies House. Its trading company, NGS Trading Company Limited, does file there.
Spark Intel, “National Galleries of Scotland: where does the money come from?”, updated 28 September 2026. https://www.spark-intel.co.uk/companies/national-galleries-scotland/. Figures from National Galleries of Scotland's annual report and accounts for the year to 31 March 2025.
More from Spark Intel
Battle
The battle of the national museums and galleries: turnover, profit and staff compared
Read →Company profile
Bet365: who owns it and what the accounts show
Read →Company profile
Mitchells & Butlers: who owns it and what the accounts show
Read →Company profile
Greene King: who owns it and what the accounts show
Read →Company profiles
Every company profile, by sector
Read →VS Series
Every VS comparison: two businesses, settled with accounts
Read →Bright Sparks