The £46.4 million Royal Museum Project will transform the
National Museum of Scotland site in Chambers Street, Edinburgh into
a 21st century museum experience. The Project will see the creation
of 16 new galleries, two hands-on discovery centres, a larger
gallery for international touring exhibitions, new facilities for
education and a state of the art learning centre to inspire
visitors of all ages.
A former nuclear physicist, Dr Scott was inspired by the
collections of the museums which reflect Scots’ scientific
achievements, including those of Nobel Laureates Sir James Black
and Sir Alexander Fleming. Keen to inspire future generations
through the stories of such inventive and entrepreneurial Scots he
has chosen to fund the Discoveries gallery at the heart of the
transformed National Museum of Scotland.
Dr Scott owned Edinburgh-based investment management company
Walter Scott and Partners until 2006, when he sold to US-based
Mellon Financial Corporation. His interests are wide-ranging
including architecture, science, aviation and sport. He is
responsible for restoring much of Charlotte Square to its original
Georgian splendour.
Dr Walter Scott said:
“I have been amazed by the ambitious vision to transform the
Victorian Royal Museum building and the tremendous progress to
date. National Museums is returning to us one of the jewels in
Scotland’s architectural crown.
“I am delighted to help make this happen. I am especially
pleased to help fund Discoveries: it sits at the heart of the
transformation of the museum and tells extraordinary stories of
Scottish engagement with the world and its contribution to it. In
this way, it epitomises the spirit of the new Museum. That is why I
am supporting it and it is my hope that these stories will
encourage new generations of Scots to aspire and succeed.”
Discoveries highlights Scotland’s impact on the world, its
inventiveness as shown by life-changing scientific achievements and
its legacy of leadership in diplomatic and military history.
It shows treasures which tell extraordinary stories with an
irresistible capacity to inspire, inform and excite visitors.
Dr Gordon Rintoul, Director of National Museums Scotland,
said,
“Dr Walter Scott is a great supporter of our work and our
ambitions. We are tremendously grateful for his generous gift which
will allow us to fulfil our aspirations for a major gallery in the
National Museum of Scotland.
“We look forward to welcoming visitors to these new displays
when the Museum reopens in summer 2011.”
The £46.4 million project is jointly funded by the Heritage
Lottery Fund (£17.8 million) and the Scottish Government (£16
million), with a target of £12.6 million from private sources to be
raised for the re-opening in 2011. Dr Walter Scott’s substantial
donation means that the Museum now has less than £2 million left to
raise in order to reach the target.
For further information or images, please contact Bruce
Blacklaw, Press Office, Tel (0131) 247 4165 or email b.blacklaw@nms.ac.uk
Note To Editors
Please note that National Museums Scotland (no ‘of’ or ‘the’) is
our corporate name. Our individual museums are called the National
Museum of Scotland, the National Museum of Flight, the National
Museum of Rural Life, the National Museum of Costume and the
National War Museum.