Glasgow renews museum aid plea

Many historical items are kept at Glasgow museums

Glasgow City Council has launched a fresh appeal for financial help for its struggling museums service.

The council fears its appeal for several million pounds of public funding may be overlooked following the resignation of culture and environment minister Sam Galbraith.

The authority held talks with Mr Galbraith last month, and now wants to ensure that his decision to quit the post on health grounds does not slow down the process.

In a letter to First Minister Henry McLeish, culture convenor Liz Cameron launches a fresh appeal for support and says she hopes the museums will remain a priority.

MSPs have backed the council's calls

She has also appealed to Allan Wilson MSP, who was Mr Galbraith's deputy.

He is now solely responsible for culture and directly answerable to the first minister.

An audit of Glasgow's 13 museums - which house the largest civic collection in the UK - is currently being carried out.

The £17m annual bill for maintaining the museums is left at the door of the city council.

They are among the most popular free tourist attractions in the UK, with Kelvingrove alone attracting more than a million visitors every year.

The city council hopes to prove that they also contain works of national significance.

Special status

If so, they may be entitled to financial help with the running of the services.

In January, 19 MSPs gave their backing to the council's calls.

They said they wanted to see the attractions given special status and assisted funding from the government.

In September 1999, a £2.7m grants package was awarded to England's major museums and galleries.

That led to a call for similar help in Scotland.

Unlike Glasgow, Edinburgh is given "national" status and therefore qualifies for funding similar to that handed out in England.