LONDON.- Portrait of the Nation, the project to renovate and revitalise the Scottish National Portrait Gallery has received a £2 million funding boost from Scottish Government. Thanks to this additional grant, the initial target for the first phase of the fund-raising campaign has been reached. The renovations to the building can be completed, the new services introduced and the original features restored, allowing the world’s first purpose-built portrait gallery, which opened in 1889 to be fully utilised. The completed Portrait Gallery will open on 30 November 2011.

Minister for Culture Fiona Hyslop said: “The renovated National Portrait Gallery will be a celebration of Scottish art, culture and history displaying one of our most valued collections in an impressive and innovative space in time for the Year of Creativity in 2012. We have been a strong supporter of the redevelopment of the Portrait Gallery and I am pleased to commit this additional support to complete the building work, enabling the National Galleries to move to their next fundraising phase.”

John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland commented: “The revitalisation of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery has been a top priority for NGS. The project is fully on track and the building is set to re-open on time later this year. The transformation within the building is simply stunning and we are delighted that this boost in funding from Government will now enable us to concentrate on raising funds for the new programmes, activities and displays at the Portrait Gallery.”

This additional grant will allow the fundraising to enter into the second phase of the campaign. A further million pounds is required to allow the Scottish National Portrait Gallery to realise the original vision of the project. The collection will be presented in a reinvigorated and more engaging way, illustrating the richness of Scotland’s history and culture with a dynamic and extensive exhibition and education programme with a new emphasis on photography and Scottish art.