The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is to receive a £5m funding boost from the Scottish Government towards its planned facelift.

Culture Minister Linda Fabiani said the grant would allow the new-look gallery to open in 2011 as “one of the most exciting” in Scotland, with twice the exhibition space currently available and new visitor and education facilities.

The move follows a decision by the Heritage Lottery Fund to contribute £5 million to the redevelopment of the gallery on Edinburgh's Queen Street. The total cost of the redevelopment is around £17.6 million, with the balance to be raised from private sources.

Fabiani said the funding reflected the significance of the National Galleries in enriching Scotland’s cultural landscape. “I am very excited about the vision to attract wider audiences and display the Portrait Gallery's outstanding collection to the fullest extent,” she said.

"The National Galleries have worked extremely hard on their proposal to rejuvenate the building, and I'm pleased that the Heritage Lottery Fund has also agreed to award £5 million to this worthwhile project.

"This is an inspiring project which will further enhance the National Galleries' national and international reputation and help realise its full potential as a focal point for exploration of Scotland's art, culture and history."