STUDENTS affected by the fire at Glasgow School of Art will be given funding to allow them to create new work.

The school has announced that it will create a bursary scheme for final-year students whose work was destroyed during the blaze in the Mackintosh Building.

Students had been preparing for their end-of- year degree show in the building when the fire broke out on Friday.

The Scottish Government has also announced it will match up to £5million of the funding raised by GSA for the restoration project as well as assisting with the bursary scheme.

A salvage operation has begun at the charred building to recover art and other items, which are being transferred to the city's McLellan Galleries.

The main damage was to the west wing of the building, built between 1907-09, which included the Mackintosh library.

The 1897-99 part of the site, including the Mackintosh Museum and Mackintosh Room, survived intact.

The whole campus is to remain closed until 10am on Friday to allow the fire-damaged building to be cleared and precious work stored in other buildings.

Professor Tom Inns, director of The Glasgow School of Art said: "In the aftermath of Friday's fire the GSA was overwhelmed with offers of support including offers of studio space from the Scottish art schools and from a broad portfolio of other art colleges in the UK, Europe and USA.

"The beating heart of the GSA is its students and our priority is to ensure that all those most seriously affected by the fire are given the opportunity to rebuild their practice.

"The GSA will therefore create special bursaries which will enable the students to have sufficient studio time to develop their practice and make new work."

The Scottish Government has said it will match fund ing up to £5m raised by the GSA for the building restoration project, in addition to any longer-term funding requirements for building recovery.

A fund has been set-up to allow the public to contribute to the clean-up and restoration of the building.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "The welfare of students is, of course, paramount and we are working closely with GSA staff to offer all necessary support.

"This includes working with the GSA to develop a Phoenix bursary scheme offering bursary support to any student who lost work in the blaze and needs additional time to develop their practice and rebuild their portfolio. Further details of this scheme will be announced shortly once the GSA is clearer about what the students need."

"The 'Mack' is an extraordinary building. It is an architectural gem and the artistic heart of Glasgow. It can and will be restored, and everything which can be done must be done to deliver this.

"That is why the Scottish Government is committed to providing an appropriate level of financial support and we will, in the first instance, provide up to £5 million match-funding for the GSA's The Mackin-tosh Building Fire Appeal.

"We will also promote this appeal through our international networks, encouraging lovers of the 'Mack', at home and abroad, to fund-raise to help restore this wonderful building to its former glory."

The fire service is working with Police Scotland to identify the cause of the fire.

The Charles Rennie Mackintosh building is recognised as being one of the greatest examples of Art Nouveau in the world.

Originally opening in 1909 after an near 12-year construction, the building's dramatic heavy sandstone walls and large glass windows are considered to be key architectural calling cards of a new style in 20th Century European buildings.

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk