Lottery support to complete National Museum of Scotland masterplan

The National Lottery has confirmed a grant of over £1 million towards the fourth and final stage of the masterplan to transform the National Museum of Scotland.The grant supports a £3.3m project which will create two new galleries displaying National Museums Scotland’s internationally important collections of Ancient Egyptian and East Asian material, together with a programme of activities across Scotland. Confirmation of this major award means that £2.3m of funding is now in place for the project, and a campaign is underway to secure the final £1m from private sources.The new galleries will explore the remarkable cultural heritage of Ancient Egypt and East Asia. Showcasing over 1200 objects, 40% of which have never been on display in over a generation, the galleries will be created in spaces within the National Museum which have previously not been accessible to the public. They are due to open in early 2019.The development is the final stage of an ambitious £80m masterplan to restore the much loved Victorian building to its former grandeur, reveal the remarkable treasures of National Museums Scotland’s collections and create inspiring visitor experiences.The third phase was completed on time and on budget, opening to the public in the summer of last year, presenting ten award-winning new galleries of science and technology, decorative art, fashion and design.