Dundee's McManus Galleries and Museum's £8.75m refurbishment project is now half way to completion.

With essential underpinning complete, the contactors are now working on the roofs and the spectacular new entrance area and Atrium.

The building will be handed back to the Leisure and Communities Department in March next year and will then undergo a complete re-display, showing the best of the collections in new exhibitions with improved interactivity and access. The building is sheduled to re-open late 2008.

Meanwhile, the city art collections are touring. After successful showings in Edinburgh and London they arrive in Kirkcudbright. The 'Consider the Lilies' exhibition, is a collection of Scottish masterpieces (1910-1980), many of which have never been shown outside Dundee, giving art- lovers around the country, the chance to view the treasure trove.

The exhibition runs at Kirkcudbright Town Hall from 7 July to 27 August, and is the highlight of the summer programme staged as part of the Artists' Town initiative.

For information and updates on the project and touring exhibition visit www.mcmanus.co.uk