Caring for the Collection

The Collection was gifted to the people of Glasgow, and their children, and their children’s children, so protecting this incredible gift is vital.

As it has done for more than 30 years, the building will continue to store and display the treasures from the vast collection Sir William Burrell donated to the city of Glasgow in 1944.

Many of the rarest, most delicate, popular and well-known works of art are textile-based, like tapestries and carpets. Proper care ensures they are not damaged by insects, such as the Common Clothes Moth. As a buffer between the Collection and the outside world, the building plays a key role in protecting the objects. As well as keeping out the wind and rain, it helps to keep out these insects.

Around a million of you are expected to visit in the first year of opening. For your comfort and to conserve the Collection it is crucial the museum is spotlessly cleaned at the end of each day. To make this easier, inside has been designed to remove spaces that trap dust, such as gaps behind cabinets or underneath displays. Where there is space, it is deliberately large enough for cleaning equipment to gain easy access.