Argyll and Bute Council remains committed to supporting the Kilmartin Museum Company and has agreed £400k of capital funding to help with the redevelopment of the important archaeological museum.

At its meeting on Friday, 8 December 2017 members of the council’s Policy and Resources Committee were updated on the proposal to redevelop Kilmartin Museum to provide more space to curate its expanding collection. The committee acknowledged the challenging nature of the £6.7 million project and agreed a capital grant of £400,000 from the council.

Councillor Aileen Morton, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council, said:

“Kilmartin Glen and Museum are incredibly important to Argyll and Bute and the wider area attracting visitors from all over the world and it offers archaeology and landscape interpretation, investigations, heritage and cultural activity.

“Members of the committee recognised that this is a challenging project and there is still considerable work to be done to secure all the necessary funding which includes a substantial financial contribution from the council.

“We are also happy to continue to support the museum in helping it access other sources of funding to provide a world-class facility.”

Kilmartin Glen is regarded as an internationally important archaeological location, where some of the most important prehistoric archaeological objects in Scotland have been found.

Kilmartin Museum is located at the heart of Kilmartin Glen and offers a facility for those interested in the landscape and cultural heritage of Mid Argyll and indeed Scotland. The museum staff also collect and care for archaeological artefacts from across Argyll and Bute. However, the current museum building is no longer regarded as being fit for purpose, by the registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

Applications for funding have been submitted to a number of other organisations, including the Heritage Lottery Fund, and it is expected to be confirmed during the spring 2018 whether these have been successful.