Scots museum grant oversubscribed

Scottish museums membership body Museums Galleries Scotland has received grant applications totalling £3 million, more than three times the amount than it can provide.

A capital grant fund of £750,000 is offered each year from the organisation towards construction, expansion or renovation projects.

However, this year the body will be forced to be particularly selective over what project it chooses to support.

Joanne Orr, Museums Galleries Scotland's chief executive, told the Museums Association: 'This level of demand is to be expected from an industry in which funding is an ongoing challenge and area for discussion.

'We look forward to making funding awards in March, but anticipate demand for this type of funding to continue and, indeed, increase.'

The grant had attracted 43 museums and galleries in the country to apply for funding before the process closed this month.

According to the organisation, Scottish attractions receive about 25.3 million visitors a year, generating a total of £800 million.