Big cash boost for trio of cultural collections

Access to cultural collections in Scotland will be improved thanks to a £220,000 funding package.

The money is being spent on visitor attractions in Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow, the Scottish Government said.

Funding worth 115,000 will allow new storage at the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery in Glasgow for about 500,000 zoological specimens, creating new access for the public.

In Aberdeen, A-listed Provost Skene's House is to receive 64,651 to establish a new "interactive" exhibition space, while Discovery Point in Dundee is getting 44,350 to built automated entrance gates and improve disabled access, among wider plans.

Culture minister Fiona Hyslop said the money would help to improve access to a "diverse heritage".

She added: "This funding, and all our support for museums and galleries, recognises a wonderful educational resource that brings Scotland's culture and heritage to life. This funding will help increase access to some of the attractions, which collectively tell Scotland's story to an estimated 25.3 million visitors every year, contributing more than 800m to the economy."

Joanne Orr, chief executive of Museums Galleries Scotland, said the decision was "great news".