£350K cash boost for Leicester arts and museums

It is hoped the improvements will be completed next year

More than £350,000 has been awarded to improve arts and museums in Leicester.

The city council's arts and museums service successfully bid for the money from Arts Council England.

The funding will support improvements to the main art gallery at New Walk Museum and better equip it for events such as conferences and weddings.

It will also enable a new arts and crafts movement gallery to be created, the authority said. Belgrave Hall Museum will also be improved.

Assistant city mayor, councillor Piara Singh Clair, said: "Securing this funding is wonderful news - it will help us to make the best possible use of our facilities and superb collections."

Leicester City Council said the work is expected to be complete by 31 March 2013.