Museum redevelopment secures £500,000 grant
Sunderland City CouncilA museum has been given a £500,000 grant to fund its new gallery displays.
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, which is about to undergo a £13.6m renovation, has been handed the money by The Wolfson Foundation.
The museum said the money would be used to share its collection more widely with young people, families and schools.
Sunderland City Council's cabinet member for communities, culture and tourism, Beth Jones, said the four-year redevelopment was set to begin later this year.
"Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens has long been a favourite with generations of families across our city, as well as visitors from further afield," she said.
"And this investment is all about making sure that the building and its historic collections are conserved and protected so it can be enjoyed by future generations."
LDRSIn September the council received £5.2m towards the museum's revamp from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The work is also being supported through finance from Arts Council England's Museums, Estates and Development Fund and The Friends of Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens.
As part of the work the museum's main entrance will be relocated to Mowbray Park and new galleries will be created.
A community learning facility called The Growing Space will also be built to complement the existing community garden.
