A public fundraising initiative inspired by Robert Burns’ first published work has raised £90,000 for the new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

The National Trust for Scotland launched The Alloway Edition in May to help raise the final £1 million needed for the museum - and set about raising the money in true Robert Burns style.

In order to publish his first book, which became known as The Kilmarnock Edition, Burns had to convince the area’s only printer that people would buy it. He subsequently secured the names of 350 people who said they would buy the book once it had been published.

In homage, The Alloway Edition will record the name of every individual, group and organisation that’s donated £30 or more towards the appeal. The book will go on display in the new museum as a tribute to the people who helped create a lasting legacy for the Scottish icon.

The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is due to open in November 2010 to become the first major museum to open in Scotland since 2007. The funding for the museum project included £5.8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a £7.6 million contribution from the Scottish Government.

The museum will house the most significant Burns collection of its kind, including 5,000 historic artefacts, manuscripts and memorabilia of the writer.

A new video podcast is available online that will give an insight into what the new museum will look like when it reopens. To see the podcast, click here

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