Grantham Museum gets Arts Council accreditation

Museum staff said they hoped the backing would open the door to new funding

Volunteer staff who revived a Lincolnshire museum have said gaining full Arts Council accreditation is "fantastic news".

Grantham Museum closed in March 2011 after the county council withdrew funding but it reopened in June 2012.

To gain approval, the museum had to meet standards in organisation, collection quality and user experience.

Managers said attaining the standard would help in fundraising and working with other organisations.

Helen Goral, from the museum, said: "It really just sets us apart, as opposed to just being a community venture, it puts us in serious contention with other UK museums.

"It's an opportunity to go that one step further to prove the sort of exhibitions that we can put on."

About 1,800 museums are part of the UK-wide accreditation scheme.