The opening for the new home for Glasgow’s collection of transport and technology will be at 10am on Tuesday, 21 June 2011. The Tall Ship Glenlee which will be berthed alongside the museum will also open to the public on the same day.

The Zaha Hadid designed museum will be home to around 3,000 exhibits in around 150 displays. It is the third home for the transport museum since Glasgow first opened it in the1960’s. Riverside Museum is the first purpose built Transport Museum in Glasgow and is the first major museum Glasgow has built since The Burrell Collection opened in 1983.

The former Museum of Transport at the Kelvin Hall closed in April 2010 to allow the move of objects to the Riverside Museum. The Museum of Transport was one of the most popular visitor attractions in the city with nearly 500,000 visitors per year.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, said: “Glasgow’s position as Scotland’s cultural powerhouse can only be enhanced by the opening of the Riverside Museum. Zaha Hadid’s breathtaking design has already been transformed into an iconic building that will bring visitors to the city from all over the world. That vision and ambition is being matched inside the building where new displays are being created which will celebrate Glasgow’s rich transport heritage and inspire generations to come.” 

Glasgow City Council has spent £50.9 million on the project which also received £18.1 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The remainder of the funds for the project come from donations to the Riverside Museum Appeal. It has already raised £4.1 million of its £5 million target despite the worst downturn in living memory.

Lord Smith of Kelvin, Chairman of Trustees for the Riverside Museum Appeal, said: “The Riverside Museum is already among the most recognisable buildings in Glasgow and I am sure people will be delighted by the displays inside. The appeal has already been wonderfully well supported in the most difficult of economic climates and still donations are pouring in. Everyone who gives money to the appeal will be recognised in the museum when it opens but time is running out to become a part of Britain’s most exciting museums project.”

Commenting Colin McLean, Head of HLF in Scotland, said: “In just three months time everyone can see for themselves this amazing international museum which has been designed to excite and delight them. Here at HLF, we are passionate about preserving Scotland’s heritage in a way that makes it appealing for people to explore. This new home for a much-loved transport museum in a building of world-class design surpasses all expectations. We are very proud to be a partner in making this happen and am sure that every Scot that visits Riverside will be justifiably proud of it too.”

Notes to editors

The Riverside Museum Appeal (RMA) is a charitable trust established to raise £5,000,000 in sponsorship and donations from companies, trusts and individuals for the development of the new Riverside Museum. To date, it has raised around £4.1 million.

The Riverside Museum Appeal is the second major capital appeal undertaken with Glasgow Museums. It follows the hugely successful refurbishment of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

The £5 million fundraising target is a fundamental element of the partnership-funding package. It represents the private and voluntary sector’s contribution towards this exciting and innovative project.

Of the £74 million needed for the development of the Riverside Museum, Glasgow City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund have committed £69million.

The Riverside Museum Appeal Trust is recognized as a Scottish Charity SC 033286. www.glasgowlife.org.uk  / www.riversideappeal.org/

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. To date it has invested over £500 million in Scotland's heritage.