Museum 'will not re-open on time'

Work will begin later on the multi-million revamp of the Ulster Museum nearly a year after its doors closed to the public.

Bosses at the south Belfast museum have told BBC News the spring 2009 completion deadline will be missed.

They now hope to re-open the landmark building by June of that year.

The revamp will cost £15m, £3m more than initially envisaged, but it will be "an enhanced and expanded project".

The increase is being met through additional investment from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (£2.2m) and approximately £1m raised through a fundraising initiative by National Museums Northern Ireland.

'Carefully packed'

A spokeswoman for National Museums Northern Ireland said after the museum's closure its "800,000 objects had to be carefully packed and documented and then transported to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum," but was unable to say when this process was completed.

She added that there been a two-month delay in appointing a contractor due to planning process complications.

The Ulster Museum is one of Northern Ireland's premier visitor attractions, welcoming 200,000 visitors each year.

Its revamp will result in, among other things, a display to be known as the 'Hall of Wonders' which will showcase some of the museum's best known artefacts.

There will also be additional gallery space and new interactive areas for art, history and science.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Ulster Museum
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites