KIER Construction is the preferred bidder for the main building work on the revamp of the Burrell Collection.

Glasgow City Council’s Contracts and Property Committee has confirmed the appointment.

Kier Construction Scotland is set to start onsite at the Burrell early summer 2018 with procurement for the Burrell’s 'visitor experience' contract taking place later this year.

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The Burrell Renaissance campaign, which is raising money to pay for the extensive revamp of the museum in Glasgow's south side, has received an additional £1.4 million funding from four major supporters.

The Wolfson Foundation and The Headley Trust have each pledged £500,000.

The Gannochy Trust has pledged £250,000 and The Taylor Family Foundation has pledged £150,000.

The cost of the project is estimated at £66 million with Glasgow City Council agreeing to fund up to 50% of the overall project cost.

Brian McQuade, managing director of Kier Construction Scotland said: “It’s an honour to be working with Glasgow Life in the restoration of the home of the Burrell Collection - a national treasure for Scotland.

“We have a solid record of successfully working on major heritage projects of this scale, including the restoration of The Mackintosh building at Glasgow School of Art and the refurbishment of Edinburgh College of Art and Aberdeen Music Hall."

www.glasgowlife.org.uk

A PLASTER cast of Robert Burns' skull, a lock of hair belonging to The Bard’s wife and Burns’ draft of ‘Scots wha hae’ are some of the personal linked to Scotland’s national poet in Edinburgh’s museums and monuments.

With Burns Night 2018 approaching, Museums & Galleries Edinburgh is highlighting items linked to Robert Burns across the capital where he made his name.

The Writers’ Museum holds a collection of personal objects, published works and manuscripts.

On 25 January, The Writers’ Museum will host an informal tribute to Robert Burns with an afternoon of fiddle music and poetry.

The event will take place from 2pm to 3.30pm with no need to book in advance.

The Burns Monument will be opened up to visitors from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 27 and 12 noon to 5pm on Sunday 28 to mark celebrations this month as part of the Burns Unbroke Festival.

Overlooking the city on Regent road, the 70-foot high Grecian-style temple was designed by Sir Thomas Hamilton and funded by public subscriptions.

www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk

AN Lanntair's festival of South Asian Art and Culture, Purvai is to travels to India for special events and live performances.

The Purvai Festival looked at the history that exists between India and Scotland.

It was originally inspired by the life and collection of Stornoway born Colonel Colin Mackenzie, who became the first Surveyor General of India.

A concert from the festival, Yatra (meaning Journey), which told the journey of Mackenzie from the Hebrides to India through a confluence of Gaelic vocal traditions and Indian Rag, will be performed to audiences in India.

First at the Queen Elizabeth Cup Reception on the 9 February and a large scale performance will take place at The India Museum on February 10.

Alongside the live performances Purvai, in partnership with The Edinburgh International Book Festival, will continue its New Passages Project.

Scottish writers, having travelled to the Hebrides to view the collection and birth place of Mackenzie, Nalini Paul and Abir Mukhrjee, are now writing on their discoveries and personal responses to that journey.

www.lanntair.com