£1m grants boost for museum

Five London Museums are to share more than £1million in special grants for major improvements, the Government announced today.

The National Gallery, is being given £296,300 to restore its grand Staircase Hall to its Victorian glory as part of its £100million refurbishment.

The Imperial War Museum will receive £186,000 to improve lighting across its galleries, the Courtauld gets £63,000 to renovate its Prints and Drawing Room and the British Museum receives £150,000 to improve access to the building.

Just over £250,000 goes to the Geffrye Museum for new 17th and 18th Century rooms and the London Transport Museum will be given £200,000 towards building the First Metropolis Gallery of 19th Century displays.

The cash is part of a £4 million nationwide handout.

Half of the money comes from the Department of Culture Media and Sport and half from the Wolfson Foundation.