Join our Patrons
In 2026, Dundee Heritage Trust celebrates 125th birthday of the Royal Research Ship Discovery and the 30th anniversary of Verdant Works Museum.
We’ve chosen this special year to launch our Patrons’ Giving Circle, with a dream to build a community of dedicated heritage lovers to support and advocate for our mission.
Help us spark curiosity…
Your Patronage of Dundee Heritage Trust can help over 1 million people of all ages to experience the wonders of the RRS Discovery and Verdant Works Museum by 2040.
From hands-on learning to immersive exhibitions, you can help us to inspire learners young and old, and ensure both museums are a place for all to imagine, learn, and explore.
Your support will also help us to reach even more learners over the coming years, protect critically endangered heritage skills, and support those who need it most to visit the museums.
We are delighted to invite you on the adventure with us.
Preserving the past, inspiring the future
As the sole guardian of the RRS Discovery, Discovery Point, and Verdant Works Museum, Dundee Heritage Trust relies on the generosity of individuals to ensur Dundee’s history thrives. Join us to walk in the footsteps of explorers and share the wonder of Dundee’s industrial heritage.
A word from Dan Snow
“The RRS Discovery isn’t just a national treasure, it is an international one…
In a world where bad news can crowd out all else, it is shining example of what humans are capable of.
Discovery embodies the spirit of adventure, of discovery, of innovation, of bravery, of exploration and science. A ship built not for war or for extracting resources, but purely for discovery. A state of the art platform for scientists, engineers, geographers, marine specialists to go where no one had gone before, to learn more about our planet and our place within it.
The success of their mission depended on expertise, collaboration, respect for each other’s knowledge and specialism. That is why tens of thousands of people a year flock to see her, beautifully preserved and curated in Dundee.
The ship is looked after by the most enthusiastic team in the business. Every visitor leaves with a spring in their step and new ideas fizzing in their heads.
I am proud to be involved in one of the most enjoyable and important museums in the world. Please join me as a Patron of this extraordinary ship to ensure it remains an inspiration for years to come.”
Join our Patrons
Step aboard and become a Patron of Dundee Heritage Trust.
By joining, you will enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the museums, meet the expert team who care for the heritage collections you love, and help us welcome over 1 million visitors by 2040.
Your generosity does so much more than preserve the past.
It sparks curiosity that can last a lifetime.
Gold Patronage
✔ Year-round admission to Verdant Works and Discovery Point
✔ Free or discounted entry to specified talks and events
✔ Invites to behind-the-scenes tours of the RRS Discovery and Verdant Works
✔ Invitation to our annual Patrons gathering
✔ Invitation to all museum exhibition openings
✔ Save 10% in our museum gift shops and cafés
✔ Named recognition of your Patronage
Silver Patronage
✔ Year-round admission to Verdant Works and Discovery Point
✔ Free or discounted entry to specified talks and events
✔ Invitation to our annual Patrons gathering
✔ Invitation to museum exhibition openings
✔ Save 10% in our museum gift shops and cafés
✔ Named recognition of your Patronage
Our Giving Promise
As dedicated stewards of our heritage and all those who support our work in Dundee, unless agreed in advance of your gift, we will always direct your donation to the area of greatest need.
This empowers our small team of experts, ambassadors, guides, and ship’s crew to respond most effectively to the needs of our learners, visitors, and communities, and ensures your gift will go as far as possible to support our museums for the future.
If you have a special reason for wishing to dedicate a donation to a particular area of our work, or you would like to consider a larger gift, you are warmly welcome to get in touch with Sam Lagneau, Development Director, at sam.lagneau@dundeeheritage.co.uk for an informal chat.
We would be delighted to hear from you and explore with you the difference your support could make.
A word from Anne Strathie
“Supporting Dundee Heritage Trust is both a privilege and a pleasure.
Our generation is fortunate that Discovery has survived since 1901 and returned to Dundee, where, thanks to decades of care, she can still be visited today.
Through onboard and other displays Discovery has countless tales to tell of polar expeditions and explorers. The latter do not only include famous British expedition leaders like Scott and Shackleton, but also naturalist Edward Wilson, Ireland’s Tom Crean and Australia’s Douglas Mawson and Frank Hurley.
Visiting and learning about Discovery also reminds us of all the hundreds of expedition members, philanthropists, family members and – of course – ship designers and builders who contributed to polar expeditions.
If Discovery is to continue to fascinate and inform future generations, Dundee Heritage Trust needs and deserves our collective support, now and into the future.”
More to explore
Keep in touch
Curious about our work, or already a passionate supporter? By signing up to the Trust’s regular newsletter, you can keep up with the latest news from Discovery Point and Verdant Works, including progress on our conservation project aboard the RRS Discovery, upcoming exhibitions, and special events.
If you no longer wish to hear from us, you can always change your preferences or unsubscribe at any time.
