Public gears up to help old favourite with modern face

The Riverside Museum Appeal – in aid of the new transport museum – has already raised 2.9m of its fundraising target of 5m so far from foundation and corporate givers.

However, that has taken about two and a half years and the appeal is now seeking at least 500,000 in smaller private donations from the public.

Appeal director Gavin McLellan said the move was partly to create a feeling of "ownership" for the costly landmark.

Designed by the British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, the striking Z-shaped structure with its undulating roofs is designed to reflect the folds and flow of the river.

Armoured in 27,000 silvery zinc panels, constructed on site, its changing display "pods" will show transport milestones from the horse and cart to the Lambretta scooter.

Scotland is in the throes of three multi-million-pound museum fund-raising efforts, with the 46m Royal Museum project and the 17m Scottish National Portrait Gallery overhaul, in Edinburgh. All three are due to open in 2011.

The Riverside marks the second major capital project appeal for Glasgow Museums. The appeal for the Kelvingrove Museum and Gallery, which reopened in 2006 after a 28m overhaul, set a donations target of 5m and raised 11.89m. Private donations there accounted for about 1.2m.

Backers are hoping the new museum will attract 800,000 visitors in its first year after exhibits are moved from the current Kelvin Hall site, which closes in the spring. That site brings in about half a million people a year.

While economic circumstances have vastly changed since the Kelvingrove appeal, Mr McLellan said: "There's a great affection for this museum, from the different generations of this city.

"We are looking at about half a million pounds. It depends how well it's taken up."

Builders are due to hand the structure over to Glasgow Museums in August.

Exhibits such as the "car wall" showing 30 vintage cars in a three-tier display, and a suspended moving "velodrome" to show historic cycles, will then take shape.

The number of items on display is set to more than double from 1,300 to 3,000.

While the new building has about the same floorspace as the old, it is clear of pillars, with far more flexibility.

The project has already received 17m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a 52m grant from Glasgow City Council. But Mr McLellan compared the need for public support to a local school, paid for through council tax, where extra gifts build an "ownership stake".

"It's a similar situation here – this is your museum, this is your collection, if you want this little bit extra for this fantastic facility," he said.