Glasgow City Council has introduced a bill to the Scottish parliament that would overturn Sir William Burrell’s wish that his art collection would not be loaned overseas.
Burrell donated his internationally important collection of 8,000 artworks to Glasgow in 1944. But the Glasgow-born shipping magnate, who died in 1958, was concerned that items might be damaged if they were transported overseas.
The Burrell Collection is housed in a museum that was built in 1983 and now needs refurbishment.
Glasgow City Council hopes to tour the collection internationally while the museum is redeveloped, and has introduced the private bill to lift the restrictions on overseas lending.
The Burrell Collection is managed by Glasgow Life, the trust that runs sport and cultural facilities in the city on behalf of the council.
Both organisations and the Burrell Collection’s trustees have been involved in talks about the refurbishment of the museum and the private bill.
The explanatory notes to the bill state: “The restrictions are considered by the promoter to be outdated and unduly restrictive in terms of promoting the collection (by way of lending or touring) as one of Scotland’s most important cultural assets.”
Burrell donated his internationally important collection of 8,000 artworks to Glasgow in 1944. But the Glasgow-born shipping magnate, who died in 1958, was concerned that items might be damaged if they were transported overseas.
The Burrell Collection is housed in a museum that was built in 1983 and now needs refurbishment.
Glasgow City Council hopes to tour the collection internationally while the museum is redeveloped, and has introduced the private bill to lift the restrictions on overseas lending.
The Burrell Collection is managed by Glasgow Life, the trust that runs sport and cultural facilities in the city on behalf of the council.
Both organisations and the Burrell Collection’s trustees have been involved in talks about the refurbishment of the museum and the private bill.
The explanatory notes to the bill state: “The restrictions are considered by the promoter to be outdated and unduly restrictive in terms of promoting the collection (by way of lending or touring) as one of Scotland’s most important cultural assets.”
