FOR the leader of Renfrewshire Council, it’s the Paisley Terrier – a stuffed, intriguing relic from the Victorian age.

For the chief executive of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, it’s a powerful painting of Paisley Cross in 1864, depicting the town’s then business leaders.

In the splendid surroundings of Paisley Museum yesterday, Mark Macmillan and Bob Davidson highlighted some of the exhibits in the museum, which will be the centrepiece of the town’s multi-million pound regeneration plans – including their own personal favourites.

The museum, which opened in 1871, is to be turned into a national museum of textile and design.

Tomorrow and Saturday, Paisley launches its official bid to become the UK City of Culture for 2021, following – it hopes – in the footsteps of Derry-Londonderry, which won the 2013 accolade and Kingston-upon-Hull, which will be the holder in 2017.

Besides the stuffed dog, Paisley’s museum is home to many artworks, the world’s largest collection of Paisley pattern shawls, and a complete set of John James Audubon’s stunning Birds of America collection.

Mr Macmillan said of the City of Culture 2021 campaign: “We’re not reinventing Paisley, or making up something new. The bid is utterly authentic – it’s about Paisley’s history and its culture. We’re retelling the story of the fantastic things we have here.

“The many exhibits in this building and other places are a big part of that. It’s about the history of the town itself, from the 850-year-old Paisley Abbey to Coats Memorial Church. Outside Edinburgh, Paisley has the highest number of A-listed buildings in Scotland.

“PACE Youth Theatre Company is the largest in the UK. There are more young people involved in cultural activities in Renfrewshire than any other council area in Scotland.

“Add to that a brand, the Paisley Pattern, which everybody knows worldwide.

“We are telling the world that that comes from here. The town isn’t named after the pattern. The geographical link has been lost over the years.”

For a town of its size, he added, Paisley had made an “absolutely massive” contribution to the world. Local people were already “intrigued” by the bid and its possibilities.

In terms of Paisley making a successful bid, Mr Davidson, of the Chamber of Commerce, said he believed there would be a “massive benefit from a business perspective for Paisley and the wider Renfrewshire area and possibly even further beyond that, across the west of Scotland”.

He added: “We’re already seeing examples of people riding a swell of anticipation and positivity around the bid, in terms of announcing new businesses that are opening in the area, especially around restaurants and cafes, which are getting in early.”

It was put to him that, win or lose, Paisley would be in a position to benefit from the bid.

“‘Lose’ is probably not a word I am going to use,” he responded.

“I’m an ‘in it to win it’ sort of guy. But you’re right – in terms of all the things that are going to happen in preparation for the bid ... even if it got to a point where we didn’t win, these things will still be done in a manner that is ideally sustainable, and Paisley and the wider community – business, students, visitors – will all benefit from it.”