The National Trust for Scotland has received a £5.8m funding boost to its Robert Burns Birthplace Museum project today, with the news that the charity has been successful in its Stage Two submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

This substantial HLF contribution represents an important step towards the Trust realising an overall fundraising target which, if achieved, will enable it to begin its plans to build a new world class Burns museum in Alloway, the Ayrshire town where Burns was born.

The National Trust for Scotland now needs to raise an additional £5m itself towards the project, to add to the £5.8m HLF funding, a £5.5m contribution from the Scottish Government, £500,000 anticipated from Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire, and land in Alloway worth £2.8m from South Ayrshire Council. The programme is the largest, most ambitious project the charity has ever sought to undertake.

Commenting on today’s most welcome news, Shonaig Macpherson, Chairman of the National Trust for Scotland said:

“This is wonderful news for the Trust. We are extremely grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for granting such a substantial amount of money for what is unquestionably a prestigious and hugely significant Burns project.

“The HLF decision shows great faith in the National Trust for Scotland’s ability
to deliver such an important museum for the people of Scotland and Burns enthusiasts around the world. We must now play our part and raise several million pounds before construction of the museum and other Burns initiatives can begin. This will include a major public appeal to be launched in September.

“The Trust is uniquely placed to take on a project of this size and nature. The HLF support, together with our other major funders, means we are an important step closer to delivering a world class museum in Alloway and an exciting re-interpretation of the cottage where Burns was born. As a charity we feel honoured to be responsible for this project and we appreciate that, for the large part, it is only possible thanks to our major funders.”

Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland said:

"The Heritage Lottery Fund is delighted to announce our investment of £5.8m in this project. Robert Burns is perhaps the world's best-known Scot. His importance as a poet, songwriter and humanist is acknowledged from Ayrshire to the Urals and people of all ages recognise and enjoy his work.

“Burns' legacy is one of Scotland's great gifts to the world. It is only fitting that our generation create a museum at Burns' birthplace that is a worthy tribute to the man and his works, and where future generations can better enjoy and understand him.”

The National Trust for Scotland was first approached to take the lead in delivering the multi-million pound project in 2004. The initiative involves creating the new world class Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway, carrying out a major re-interpretation of the cottage where Burns was born, delivering exciting new education facilities and enhancing the Burns Monument, Brig o’Doon and Auld Kirk.

None of this would be possible without the consent and cooperation of the Burns Monument Trust, who own most of the Burns landmarks and collections in Alloway. Their trustees will soon hand over ownership to the National Trust for Scotland.

Their Chairman, the Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire and Arran, Mr John L Duncan, QPM, said:

“Today’s announcement is great news for all with an interest in Robert Burns. Since 1814, the Burns Monument Trust has shouldered the responsibility of preserving the built heritage and collections of Burns and the announcement today will facilitate the passing of that responsibility to the National Trust for Scotland.

“No safer hands could be found; we are confident that the future of all that we have preserved, built up and cared for over these many years, is secure.”
The Alloway land where the landmarks and collections are located is owned by South Ayrshire Council. The Council, which has been very supportive of the charity’s plans in Alloway, will give the land to the National Trust for Scotland, worth an estimated £2.8m.

Councillor Margaret Toner, Depute Leader of South Ayrshire Council and Chair of the Joint Board said:

“I am delighted that significant funding has been secured for such an important project. Tourism is the life blood of business in South Ayrshire and I know that the new facilities will increase visitors to this area.”

The new museum and cottage re-interpretation will indeed attract many Burns enthusiasts and tourists to the Alloway area, boosting the local economy and raising the profile of Ayrshire in general. With HLF funding now in place, Scottish Enterprise plan to contribute £500,000 to the project.

Michael Wright of Scottish Enterprise said:

"We are delighted that the National Trust for Scotland has been successful in securing Heritage Lottery Funding. Scottish Enterprise has worked closely with the Trust over the past few years to help in the preparation of the business plan and design concepts for the museum and we will continue to support them as they move towards implementing these plans.

"Burns is a key Scottish cultural icon and it is fitting that as the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of his birth in 2009 that work will be underway on the creation of a new museum which will preserve the Burns legacy for future generations to come."

The local community is enthusiastic about how the project can enhance Alloway and Peter Watson, Chair of Alloway & Doon foot Community Council added:

“The community is pleased that the Trust is taking this project forward. We are convinced that this needs to be of the highest possible standard and the plans we have seen so far will certainly bring Burns into the 21st century.”

Commenting on the HLF funding decision, Mark Adderley, Chief Executive of the National Trust for Scotland added:

“With HLF funding secure, we are now entering a most exciting fundraising stage of our Burns project, which follows on from the successful completion of the new Culloden Visitor Centre last year.

“We will soon be going out to tender for major parts of the project and hope to be able to confirm shortly that the cottage re-interpretation will be achieved in 2009. We anticipate playing our part in the 250th anniversary of Burns’ birth and the Homecoming Scotland activities throughout 2009. Once our funding is in place, the museum itself is expected to be ready in 2010.”