Cash boost for Scottish cultural collections

The money will be spent to improve access to Scottish culture

A £220,000 funding package will boost access to Scotland's museum collections, the culture minister has said.

Fiona Hyslop said the cash would be shared by attractions in Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow.

A £115,000 storage area will be created at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow to house 500,000 zoological specimens.

In Aberdeen, A-listed Provost Skene's House will receive £64,651 to establish a new "interactive" exhibition space.

Discovery Point in Dundee will also get £44,350 for plans which include building automated entrance gates and improving disabled access.

Ms Hyslop said: "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 that £800m to the economy."

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

She added: "Our museums and galleries are a huge asset to Scotland's tourism and education offer."

The organisation manages the government's "recognition scheme" for museums and galleries housing collections of national significance.