£15m Burrell Collection revamp gets the green light
A £15 million grant towards the redevelopment of the Burrell Collection has been formally approved by lottery chiefs.
The museum in Glasgow closed last October for a £66 million refurbishment project to upgrade the building and increase display space.
Under the modernisation plans, a new roof glazing will be fitted, along with two new floors of exhibition space so that 90% of the 9,000 objects can be viewed by the public.
Burrell Renaissance has raised over 80% of the project costs so far, with Glasgow City Council agreeing to fund up to 50% of the overall amount.
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) previously granted the project #15 million at the phase one outline approval stage in 2015 and has now formally approved the funding at the second stage of the process.
Councillor David McDonald, chair of Glasgow Life which manages the museum, said: `I would like to thank the Heritage Lottery Fund for its endorsement of the Burrell Collection's ambitious refurbishment and redisplay.
`The Heritage Lottery Fund has supported the development of Glasgow Museums for almost two decades and its significant investment has played a vital role in the success and growth of the city's cultural offer.
`With HLF's support and commitment, the Burrell Collection is once again a catalyst for change, driving regeneration of the historic and cultural heritage of Pollok Country Park, greatly enhancing the wider cultural offer south side of Glasgow and playing an important role in the city's growing tourism offer by contributing to the economic impact tourism brings to the city.'
Before it closed only around 20% of the objects were on display.
The collection was gifted to the city by Sir William and Lady Burrell in 1944, and the museum opened in 1983.
As part of the refurbishment flexible displays for the rotation of artworks and new spaces for temporary exhibitions will be installed to allow much more of the collection to be displayed, and a new dedicated space for special exhibitions will be created.
Landscaped terraces will connect the museum to Pollok Country Park while the fabric of the Grade A listed building will be repaired.
Seona Reid, Deputy Chair of HLF and Chair of the Scotland Committee, said: `The Burrell Collection was one of the greatest gifts ever given to a city and the seed that helped Glasgow grow into the thriving cultural centre it is today.
`It is timely then that in a year when we are celebrating Scotland's History, Heritage and Archaeology, we are able to support such an important collection.''
The museum will reopen in 2020.
Sir Angus Grossart, Chair of Burrell Renaissance, said: `The Heritage Lottery Fund's decision to support the renaissance of the Burrell Collection is a wonderful endorsement of our plans to liberate the great potential of Sir William's gift.
`We need to provide a home worthy for this generation, of this incredible collection and its influence.
`We would like to thank the Heritage Lottery Fund for their support which will enable us to present Sir William's collection within the international context and aspirations which were his guide.'