Royal Museum throws revamp party

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers are headlining the event

A weekend of events has been planned to mark the start of a £45m facelift of the Royal Museum of Scotland.

Half the museum, in Edinburgh, will be closed until 2011 while workers rebuild, rewire and add lifts.

A new floor with street access will also mean twice the amount of artefacts can be displayed in the newly refurbished museum, on Chambers Street.

World-renowned Scots band the Red Hot Chilli Pipers will headline the event, being held on 26 and 27 April.

The free weekend will include live music, workshops, tours, children's activities, performance, dance and appearances from local celebrities.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to get up close with museum objects and try their hand at circus skills, badge making and Indian dance as part of the festivities.

The celebration will host a free ticketed book festival event with appearances by authors Kate Atkinson and Maggie O'Farrell and "last chance" tours of the museum will be available over the two days.

Museum spokesman Jane Ferguson, said: "This is an exciting time in our history, and while we will be sad to temporarily close parts of the museum, over half will remain open with an exciting programme of events and exhibitions continuing."