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4.(i) THE FIRST MINISTER
Introduction
The First Minister's portfolio includes funding for cultural organisations such as the National Museums, Galleries and Library of Scotland, Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Screen, Historic Scotland, National Archives of Scotland, Bord Na Gaidhlig and the National Performing Companies. Culture contributes towards enhancing Scotland's economy through the creative industries and by the quality of life of Scotland's communities through maximising participation in high quality cultural events and opportunities. The capital allocation for this portfolio is £23 million in 2008-09 increasing to £29 million by 2010-11. Details of a selection of projects with capital values greater than £5 million are provided below together with details of the sponsoring organisations. These include:
- National Museums Scotland - National Museums Scotland is a Non Departmental Public Body. In 2007 initial work commenced on the £46.4 million Royal Museum Project. The Scottish Government has already given £9.5 million towards work at the Royal Museum and will now contribute £15.3 million to the main phase. Heritage Lottery Fund will contribute £16.8 million. This project will create a world class museum for the 21st century. It will provide 16 new galleries, double the number of objects on display, a new street level arrivals hall, a large special exhibitions gallery to host international exhibitions, a state of the art learning centre and high quality social spaces with new shops, restaurants and visitor facilities. The Project is due for completion in mid 2011. A storage building at the National Museums Collection Centre, Granton was handed over in January 2008 and enabling works are on site at the Royal Museum for completion in June 2008. The main works will commence in August 2008.
- National Galleries of Scotland - National Galleries of Scotland ( NGS) cares for the national collections of Scottish and international fine art, which are displayed in three principal galleries: the National Gallery of Scotland, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. The NGS's mission is twofold - a fundamental responsibility to protect and develop the national collections, and to encourage as many people as possible to use and enjoy these collections. NGS is now embarking on an ambitious project to redefine the Scottish National Portrait Gallery for the 21st century. The project will restore an outstanding heritage asset and in tandem will use the national collection to bring the story of Scotland - its peoples, histories, places and cultures to the widest possible audience. The result - Portrait of the Nation - will be like no other gallery; it will radically extend the ambitions and national role of the NGS, consolidating Scotland's capital as one of the top international cities for visual culture. The forecast capital cost is £17.6 million, of which £5.1 million will be provided by the Scottish Government. Heritage Lottery Fund will provide £5 million. A fundraising campaign will be launched to raise £7.5 million. It will be completed by the end of 2011.
- Historic Scotland - Historic Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. The Agency has recently approved the fourth phase of the ongoing works at Stirling Castle aimed at providing a world-class visitor attraction for Scotland. The Palace Project will present the interiors of James V's Palace, Scotland's finest Renaissance building, and interpret the culture and court of the castle to give visitors an understanding of the richness of Medieval Scotland. The cost is £11.8 million. Preparatory works are underway with a completion date set for 2011.
- The National Archives of Scotland - the National Archives of Scotland ( NAS) is an Agency of the Scottish Government. Its capital baseline for the next 3 years is £2.7 million. The NAS is actively considering options for improved storage facilities and accommodation rationalisation. These proposals are already part of a Gateway Review. In conjunction with other bodies, the NAS is considering the benefits of accommodation which could be built at the Granton Waterfront. This project is very much work in progress, but capital bids have not been approved.
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