The National Galleries of Scotland is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which receives annual funding from the Scottish Executive. It is managed by a Board of Trustees accountable to Ministers. It exists to care for, preserve and add to the artworks in the national collections, to faciliate their display to the public, and generally to promote the public’s enjoyment and understanding of fine arts.

The magnificent art collections of the National Galleries of Scotland range from the 14th century up to the present day and include Scotland's national collection of art. The National Galleries of Scotland comprise of five Edinburgh-based galleries, the Weston Link and two partner galleries, one in the north and one in the south of Scotland.

Over a million visitors a year come to the National Galleries of Scotland, experiencing the superb permanent collections and attending stimulating exhibitions. Its galleries welcome thousands of school children and community groups to a wide range of education and outreach programmes and its visitors also enjoy the excellent shops and cafes in each of the galleries.