Royal Cornwall Museum given £2.1m funding boost

Royal Cornwall Museum has received a £2.1m cash injection

The Royal Cornwall Museum's planned transformation is due a £2.1m funding boost, its bosses have said.

The latest amount follows a series of cash injections that have helped rescue the venue from closure.

They will fund the "transformation" of the Truro museum and gallery, its bosses said.

Bryony Robins, artistic director, said the funding would boost both visitors' cultural experience and the building's accessibility.

The main hall and Heart of Cornwall gallery would improve how the "story of Cornish heritage and culture" was shared, she said.

While the Nature Gallery, which is "extremely popular with families", would also be transformed, Ms Robins added.

Meanwhile, workshops and events teaching science, technology, engineering,and maths, would also be delivered thanks to the funding, she said.

Cornwall Council said it managed the Good Growth Programme, with money sourced from the government's Shared Prosperity Fund, aimed at "levelling up" communities.

It is the latest in a series of successful funding bids, Cornwall Council said.

Previous funding included £460,000 for improvements to the Mineral Gallery

Among them was the council's own contribution of £100,000 while the museum found a longer-term solution.

A £250,000 boost came from the Heritage Lottery Fund, while the Arts Council England provided £1.5m .

The money will "transform" how its collection is presented, safeguard the building and "broaden the appeal" for residents and visitors, the museum said.

Meanwhile, the Truro Town Deal found £460,000 for the venue, aimed at refurbishing its Mineral Gallery.

Councillor Louis Gardner, economy portfolio holder, noted the museum's "extraordinary collection of artefacts".

He said it would "enhance its role as a cornerstone and custodian of Cornwall's cultural offering".

The Good Growth programme consists of £132m from the Government's £2.6bn Shared Prosperity Fund, which aims to help level up communities across the UK, and £5.6m from the Rural Prosperity Fund.