The fit-out and installation programme for Paisley Museum is scheduled to finish by the end of this year, with the venue set to welcome the public again early in the new year.

Community input has been central to the redesign. More than 1,800 Renfrewshire residents have contributed to shaping the building's facilities and the design of new installations and exhibitions, working alongside over 70 local organisations and groups, including more than 500 pupils from schools across the area.

An opening programme is being prepared to bring communities, businesses and partners together to celebrate what is described as one of Scotland's leading cultural regeneration projects, which is projected to draw more than 127,000 visitors each year.

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Renfrewshire Council's culture spokesperson and Chair of OneRen, said: "I'm delighted that the fit-out and install programme for Paisley Museum will be complete by the end of this year as I know how excited people are to see the transformation inside for themselves and it will be a fantastic start for the new year.

"With more than 1,800 local people having contributed to the redesign of the museum and the stories it will tell, it will be a welcoming place for all our communities to call their own.

"It will also act as an anchor institution for Paisley – attracting visitors to the wider area, supporting local businesses and the economy, and strengthening the town's national and international profile."

The reimagined museum will offer a bold new perspective on Paisley, Scotland and the wider world, preserving and presenting local stories in inclusive, engaging ways. It forms part of a wider museum campus incorporating the historic Coats Observatory, Transit House and Oakshaw buildings.

More than 100 curated displays will feature—many co-produced with local people and partners around the globe—including:

- The story of the world-famous Paisley Pattern and how it became synonymous with the town

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- One of the few surviving copies of Audubon's Birds of America, an extraordinary four-volume elephant folio

- Rare Cook Islands 'Staff Gods', among the last surviving examples worldwide

- The return of the life-sized and much-loved Buddie the Lion

- Alexander Wilson, the Paisley-born "Father of American Ornithology"

- Fashion icon Pam Hogg and Paisley's textile legacy

- Artwork by John Byrne, Steven Campbell and the Glasgow Boys

Renfrewshire Council, in collaboration with OneRen, expects the transformed attraction—combining internationally significant collections, award-winning architecture and co-produced storytelling—to create a distinctive visitor experience and bring more than 127,000 people to the town each year.

A report to Renfrewshire Council's Leadership Board notes that the fit-out has progressed across all areas, with most selected objects packed and ready for installation. When complete, the museum will display more than double the number of objects shown previously.

Around 80% of the items chosen for display required conservation, which has now been completed thanks to national and international partnerships with the American Museum of Natural History in New York, The Royal Armouries in Leeds, and The People's History Museum in Manchester.

Harry Coughlin, Managing Director Museums UK - HUB Build, said: "We're delighted to be playing a key role in the transformation of Paisley Museum and to see the galleries really beginning to come to life.

"A particular focus for our team has been developing the flexible story display systems, working hard to ensure they are practical while remaining true to OPERA Amsterdam's beautiful design. This adaptability will allow the museum to reconfigure displays in the future, helping to keep the visitor experience fresh and engaging over time.

"It has been a hugely detailed project, involving the manufacture and installation of a wide range of bespoke exhibition elements to display the vast array of objects, as well as hands on interactives. Our team is continuing to work closely with Renfrewshire Council and the wider project team as we progress the remaining works, and we're looking forward to seeing the completed museum open its doors to visitors."

International architects AL_A—led by Stirling Prize winner Amanda Levete and Matt Wilkinson—have delivered an ambitious, striking concept realised by Kier, creating a destination intended to place Paisley among Europe's leading museum locations.

A dramatic red-glass accessible entrance and panoramic extension now define the frontage, while the A-listed main building and Coats Observatory have undergone significant internal and external upgrades. The result is refreshed, modern galleries on every floor and double the space available to showcase the museum's unique, internationally significant collections.

A newly landscaped garden and public realm open up previously hidden views of the observatory and knit the buildings into a cohesive campus. Dedicated learning spaces and a heritage centre will enhance the offer further—alongside a new café and shop.

The museum's completion and reopening will cap a decade of Renfrewshire Council investment in Paisley's cultural buildings, creative groups and performers, and its major festivals and events—shifting perceptions of the town, drawing new visitors and contributing to its current status as Scotland's Town of the Year.

The project is funded by Renfrewshire Council with additional support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, the Scottish Government and private fundraising.

For more on the Paisley Museum transformation, visit www.paisleymuseum.org.