Community Collaborations

Renovating the Burrell Collection could not have been completed without the involvement and support of the public.

Throughout the renovation, we’ve worked closely with local schools and nurseries in order to anticipate the needs and wants of our younger guests. Museums can be overwhelming for children but also represent a fantastic opportunity to introduce them to new ideas. Taking this into account, we’ve designed our galleries to be accessible (both physically and conceptually) to our youngest guests. Interactive content throughout the museum allows children – and adults - to enjoy and understand the collection at their own pace.

We’ve also been working closely with disability advocacy groups to ensure that the museum is accessible to users who may face physical, sensory or financial barriers to access. The result of these partnerships includes large physical changes to the museum, for example, building 10 accessible bathrooms and increasing gallery floor space. In terms of the museum’s new digital capabilities, we’ve ensured that all of our interactive displays have text available in large, readable formats, and that all of our spoken-word audio content has been interpreted into BSL.

Watch the video of Foxy below, who is a member of the Burrell Collection Access Panel, describe how getting involved has helped with her neurodiversity.

In order to ensure that our museum is as welcoming and inclusive as it can be, we’ve also worked closely with BAME and interfaith community groups across Glasgow when planning the redesign. Their invaluable input has informed both physical and curatorial aspects of the gallery spaces. We’ve worked with these members of the public to ensure that the stories told by our pieces are mindful and representative of the lived experiences of those from minority communities. The input of these groups has also impacted physical design choices, such as including a quiet room that can be used for prayer.

Being situated in Glasgow’s largest park is a privilege that we have not taken lightly, and a huge focus of the redesign has been reframing the role that we play within Pollok Park. To do this, we’ve made physical changes to the building like the inclusion of changing facilities for runners and cyclists, and facilitating direct access to the restaurant and cafe for those who don’t wish to visit the galleries. We’re also mindful of ensuring a visit to the Burrell can be an affordable day out for the public and so as well as having free admission, we’ve also included regular picnic areas for visitors to bring their own food.