Galleries at ‘crisis point’ over £40m funding gap

But Ms Lyden told the committee the majority of that would be totally consumed by staffing costs, with the chancellor’s national insurance rise for employers costing it £300,000 and the Scottish government’s public sector pay rise £800,000.

She said the money was “too little, too late,” and told the committee NGS was facing “seismic changes” unless funding conditions improved.

She said: “We’re facing some very unpalatable options here this year.

“We’re actively looking at what does that mean. Is it a change in our operating hours or opening hours for the public? Is it a day closure? Is it closures around our multiple sites? Is it even going to the far extreme of a complete permanent closure of one of our buildings?

“Because, again, if we cannot afford to upkeep the fabric of these listed buildings, then we are at risk. We’re risking colleagues, we’re risking the collection, we’re risking the public, and we, I, cannot take that risk.”