Museum shops to 'enhance' 3 Ayrshire attractions this summer
Rozelle House, Ayr Heritage Hub and the McKechnie Institute will receive new gift shops after funding was secured.
Last updated 31st May 2023
New funding will allow gift shops to be introduced at some of South Ayrshire’s top tourist attractions this summer.
South Ayrshire Council have secured funding to the sum of £18,779 from the Museum Galleries Scotland Resilience fund.
The money will be spent on updating three attractions in the region; Rozelle House, Ayr’s Heritage Hub on the High Street and the McKechnie Institute in Dalrymple.
As part of the new shop units being commissioned, the council have made the decision to source the materials locally, with a yet to be named local furniture maker designing and handcrafting the units.
South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Rural Affairs, Councillor Alec Clark says the project is expected to have a quick turnaround with the aim being to open this summer.
He told Greatest Hits Radio: “We are delighted to receive the support from Museums Galleries Scotland to enable us to promote our collections and exhibitions, enhance our visitor offer, and develop revenue via the development of new museum and galleries shops at our flagship venues across South Ayrshire.”
“It also generates a bit of extra cash, so any profits being made from sales across these three new venues would go back into those areas.
“So, it’s safe to say if you go to buy something you’re actually contributing towards the gallery that you’re visiting which will in turn make these better places to return to.
“We also want to be sustainable and climate friendly so we will be sourcing this locally, and we will have it made to suit the location of the gallery. They might all look a bit different from each other but will be bespoke made so each shop fits in with the surrounding gallery.”