Museum handed £4.4m to unveil 100,000 items

The project would see the 1990s galleries at Tullie in Carlisle updated

A museum has been handed a £4.4m fund to unveil 100,000 collection items for the first time.

Tullie in Carlisle, Cumbria, is being handed the cash to create a studio for school and community programmes.

The money form the National Lottery Heritage Fund will allow the museum to "refresh the existing 1990s galleries".

The building is already undergoing renovation work to its gallery, entrance and cafe and this new phase of redevelopment will start next year for completion by the summer.

The programme, called Breaking Down Barriers, will bring events and changing displays to the museum.

Director Andrew Mackay said: "The funding will allow us to make the historic collections more accessible, engage with more community groups and help provide greater inspiration for people to visit Carlisle."

Other organisations, including Tullie's owners Cumberland Council, have also pledged £1.8m towards the redevelopment, but £200,000 of match funding is still needed.

The museum is expected to remain open while work is carried out.