Plans revealed for Paisley Museum upgrade

The proposed £42M transformation of Paisley Museum into a world-class cultural destination has received a major boost with an additional £200,000 funding from The Wolfson Foundation.

When Paisley Museum reopens it is expected to attract 125,000 visitors each year from Scotland, the UK and overseas and provide a £72M economic boost to the area over the next 30 years.

The redevelopment of the museum is said to be the signature project in Paisley’s radical regeneration, which also includes refurbishments of the town’s A-listed town hall and a new learning and cultural hub housing library services on the town’s high street.

The redesign of the museum campus, being led by an international team including architects AL_A and exhibition designers Opera Amsterdam, will allow the number of objects on display to be doubled.

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, chair of Renfrewshire Leisure, said: “We are delighted the Wolfson Foundation is investing in the future of Paisley Museum.

“The museum has been beloved by generations of Renfrewshire people and this significant sum brings us a step closer to radically transforming this prominent symbol of Paisley’s past into a central part of our town’s future.

“Investing in our venues is key to our recovery from the pandemic, as it will create jobs, support new and existing businesses in the area, and drive new footfall to our town centre.”

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of The Wolfson Foundation, said: “The Wolfson Foundation is committed to funding widely across Scotland and so we are delighted to be supporting Paisley Museum, especially at such a challenging time for cultural life generally.

“The scale of the ambition is extremely impressive – and the new museum campus will tell a glorious mix of local and global stories, all based on superb collections.”

Paisley Museum Reimagined is supported by Renfrewshire Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.