An Argyll museum which celebrates one of the most important archaeological landscapes in Britain has received a £3.2 million grant.
It is hoped the money will help transform Kilmartin Museum into a “landmark venue” that explains the cairns and standing stones of Kilmartin Glen.
As well as becoming a significant cultural and natural tourism centre, the project will enable the museum to be able to care for its collection of artefacts, some of which are of international significance.
Thanks to money from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project has taken a massive leap towards becoming a reality.
Construction is expected to begin on the project in January, with work complete by the summer of 2020. Visitors will increase to 44,000 that year, whilst the redeveloped museum will have an economic impact on Argyll as a whole of £5.8 million in its first year.
A major extension will provide a much larger exhibition space giving opportunities to get more artefacts on display and tell many more visitors the story of Kilmartin Glen’s unique archaeological and natural heritage.
Activities for students of all ages are planned and will enable the museum to become Scotland’s national centre for excellence in archaeology.
Dr Sharon Webb of Kilmartin Museum said: “The project will enable us to properly care for the artefacts in our collections, and tell their stories interwoven with the sites and monuments in which they were found, as well as provide massive improvements to the visitor experience and the Museum’s education service.”