Cash for Scotland's museums and galleries

The Significance Scheme, backed over the next two years by £1 million from the Scottish Executive, will make sure that important collections are identified, cared for, protected and promoted to a wider audience.

The scheme has two strands: the process of recognition of collections of national significance and then the process of funding recognised collections.

The Minister also announced the appointment of Douglas Connell as the Chair of the Significance Committee it will oversee the recognition of collections of national significance and advise on the dispersal of grants from the fund.

The scheme will be managed by the Scottish Museums Council

Launching the scheme at the Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine, Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson said:

"Scotland's museums and galleries house collections that celebrate our proud and distinguished history, providing a fascinating and educational experience for all those who visit.

"This new Significance Scheme will, for the first time, allow us to fully recognise many of these collections for their national contribution to our identity, learning and tourism.

"In January, in response to the Cultural Commission Report, I made a commitment to support Scotland's non-national museums. This new scheme, which invests £500,000 per year in museums and galleries across Scotland, fulfils that pledge."

Joanne Orr, CEO of Scottish Museums Council said:

"This is a welcome day for many of our treasured collections which, in successfully achieving recognition status, will benefit from a much deserved raised profile at local, national and international level.

"It will also contribute greatly to raising standards in collections care, management and public service delivery to the benefit of future museum audiences."

Mr Connell said:

"This is an exciting time for Scotland's museums and galleries holding nationally significant collections in whole or in part.

"I thank the Scottish Executive for creating this initiative and SMC for their hard work in developing the scheme and managing the process."

Through the Significance Scheme, the Executive will invest an additional £500,000 a year, for the next two years, in Scotland's non-national museums and galleries.

Mr Douglas Connell is a former Chair of the Lottery Committee of the Scottish Arts Council and the former Chair of the Edinburgh Book Festival.