SALISBURY Museum has been awarded National Lottery support for its Future Generations project.

The £4.4 million project will enable the museum to transform its displays and facilities – completing the work started with the National Lottery funded Wessex Gallery of archaeology in 2014.

Adrian Green, the director of Salisbury Museum, said: "This is amazing news not only for the museum, but for the people of Salisbury. The city deserves an excellent museum for the local community. Its outstanding culture and heritage also needs to be presented to the wider world in an exciting and dynamic way."

The museum will create new exhibitions dedicated to its collections of art, medieval archaeology, costume, ceramics and social history.

There will be an extensive programme of capital works to restore and repurpose the Grade I listed medieval building. Alongside this the project will introduce a new and exciting programme of learning and engagement that will embed the museum in the local community.

Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded initial support and development funding of £429,400.

This will enable the museum to develop the project plans in more detail and apply for a full grant of £3.2 million.

The museum will have two years to raise £1.2 million in match funding from private individuals, trusts and foundations. An application for the full funding amount will be submitted in the summer of 2021.

Susanna Denniston, the chair of trustees for the museum, said: "This support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund offers powerful affirmation of the relevance of the museum, its collections and its heritage. It also affirms the importance of Salisbury’s regeneration as its cultural institutions work together to create a positive and inclusive reimagining of the city’s history and future."