Manchester Museum has announced funding support of £406,400 for plans to extend and improve the museum.
Work will start in May 2018 on the ‘Courtyard Project’ to build a two-storey extension and new main entrance, along with improved visitor facilities.
It’s expected the finished building will reopen in early 2020.
The Courtyard extension will create a major new Temporary Exhibitions Gallery, providing almost three times as much space as the Museum currently has for temporary and touring shows.
A permanent South Asia Gallery will be created in a new partnership with the British Museum, bringing together South Asian collections and world-class sculpture, textiles and artefacts from the British Museum, and their relationship with communities in the North West of England.
The Treasury announced support of £5 million for the South Asia gallery in November 2015.
The total cost of the Courtyard Project is expected to be £12.4million.
Dr Nick Merriman, Director of Manchester Museum, said: “We are thrilled that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support.
“Manchester Museum has been delighting, inspiring and educating our visitors for over 125 years.
“The Courtyard Project will enable us to realise our potential on a national and international stage, whilst strengthening our commitment to our local communities. Through these measures, more people than ever before will be able to experience our world class collections.”
