ONE of Scotland's finest museums has been given a multi-million pound boost to its refurbishment plans.
Glasgow's Burrell Collection is currently due to close for three years as it undergoes a £66million revamp.
The world famous, A-listed building in the city's south side needs a new roof, new glazing and a major internal refit.
Glasgow City Council has already agreed to fund half of the cost of the refurbishment with the Heritage Lottery Fund pledging a further £15m to the target.
Today Chancellor George Osborne, as part of his spending review, will announce the UK Government will contribute £5m.
A Treasury source said that the £5m cheque was "testament to the collection's huge cultural relevance for the United Kingdom as a whole".
The funding contributes to the Burrell's Renaissance project, which will see the treasures of the collection, gifted to the city by shipbuilder and art collector Sir William Burrell in 1944, go on an international tour.
Burrell's unique collection includes French masters, tapestries, sculpture, paintings, arms and armour, artefacts from Egypt and China, Islamic art, and stained glass.
The UK government believes the Burrell, in Glasgow's Pollok Park, is a "major attraction for locals and visitors alike and representative of Glasgow as one of Britain's most culturally rich and diverse cities".
Burrell's gift to the city is a treasure trove of art and artefacts but one that is housed in a museum, opened in 1983, which is not "fit for purpose."
Councillor Archie Graham, the Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow Life, said: "Sir William Burrell devoted his life to collecting outstanding treasures which he then gifted to the people of Glasgow for the enrichment of all.
"The UK Government's support will help us to unlock the great potential of the Burrell Collection, massively increasing access so that it can continue to be a place of joy and inspiration for local, national and international audiences for many years to come."
The Renaissance plan will see a completely new roof, a significant reordering of its internal displays, and the opening up of its basement into a new floor, as well as a new outdoor space.
Glasgow Life, which runs Glasgow's museums and galleries, is believed to be delighted by the news of the funding boost.
When it re-opens the museum will be able to display more than 90 per cent of the 9000-strong collection collected by the shipping magnate.
It is expected that the museum will close in October next year and open again in 2019.
During the closure, an exhibition of objects will be on display at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, while a tour of some of the collection's most famous and important objects will travel to galleries abroad.
Sir Williams's Deed of Gift in 1944 stipulated that his collection could not be transported abroad.
In 2013 a special committee of MSPs at Holyrood, the Burrell Collection (Lending and Borrowing) Bill Committee, backed the city's bid to lift the restrictions on overseas lending.
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