Museums will hold a series of events

Scotland's museums are launching a month-long festival in a bid to boost visitor numbers.

It forms part of the UK-wide national museums and galleries month.

The event, which lasts throughout May, aims to raise awareness of local museums.

Tours and exhibitions will be held at over 1,500 museums and galleries.

The museums are also wanting to raise awareness of funding issues among politicians.

Funding

Last summer, the first national audit of museum collections highlighted problems with funding and an over-reliance on volunteers.

Museums had hoped a new strategy with extra funding would have been in place by now, but it has been postponed until after the election.

The Scottish Museums Council, which represents more than 300 museums in Scotland, said it was anxious that the issue is not forgotten or momentum lost.

It is publishing its own manifesto calling for emergency funding, ring-fenced budgets and more investment in staff and volunteers.

It intends to distribute the publication to prospective parliamentary and council candidates.