Reopening of Glasgow's People's Palace delayed indefinitely

The reopening of one of Glasgow's most famous museums has been delayed indefinitely.

The People's Palace on Glasgow Green shut in April 2024 for refurbishment work costing just under £36m, with 2027 the targeted date to open again.

However, Glasgow Life, the charity that runs the city's cultural attractions, has now said that timelines - as well as cost estimates for the work - are "continuing to evolve" for the category-A listed building.

It said a revised date for the reopening of the museum - which first opened in 1898 - would be made as soon as practically possible.

The £35.9m revamp was announced two years ago, with money coming via various sources, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Glasgow City Council.

A spokesperson for Glasgow Life said detailed survey works had now taken place at the People's Palace that would "inform the next phase of design development."

The spokesperson added :"When we closed the building in 2024, we indicated an ambition to reopen in 2027.

"As is common with large-scale capital projects involving major heritage structures, timelines, options and cost estimates continue to evolve as more detailed technical information becomes available and as funding discussions progress."

The spokesperson added that the restoration would help to "secures the long-term future of this much-loved cultural space as an inclusive, accessible and world-class museum."

The museum has struggled with structural and safety issues in recent years, including an enforced closure in December 2018.

Sources for about £20m of the total refurbishment costs were detailed in the original 2024 announcement, but the remaining money was listed as coming from Glasgow Life securing deals with other public and private sector providers.

Billy Garrett, the director of culture, tourism and events at Glasgow Life, recently confirmed there would be no Scottish government funding going into the project, despite discussions with ministers.

He told Holyrood's culture committee last month that funding for the city's cultural sector - covering museums such as the People's Palace - was currently "really vulnerable" due to financial challenges being faced by local authorities.

His comments came during a discussion on the Scottish government's budget for 2026/2027, and funding for culture.

He said: "Our museums receive not a single penny from the Scottish government. They are internationally significant assets for this country.

"We are reliant on support from the council, and that support is really vulnerable. While the additional capital for the museums sector is to be welcomed, that is effectively for museums in Edinburgh.

"We were disappointed to see there was no funding for the People's Palace, a capital programme in Glasgow that we have had conversations with ministers about."

The museum was opened with the aim of providing a cultural facility for working people in the east end of Glasgow.

Displays telling the story of the city include a tiny "single-end" flat, recreations of a traditional "steamie" and a Buttercup Dairy, as well as the famous bright sign from the Barrowland music venue and the iconic banana boots worn by Billy Connolly.