A total of 36 museums and galleries throughout England are to receive a share of £4m from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Wolfson Foundation.

Culture minister Ed Vaizey announced details of the awards, which include a £140,000 grant for the renovation and redisplay of Manchester Museum's Birds and Insects gallery.

Other recipients include Hampton Court Palace (£150,000) for a new permanent display of Baroque art and furniture, and the London Transport Museum (£100,000) for a new gallery.

Oxford's Ashmolean Museum (£215,000); the British Museum (£200,000); and Chatham Historic Dockyard (£300,000) also receive funding in support of a wide range of projects.

Vaizey said: "This announcement shines a light on the breadth and diversity of museums and galleries in England.

"The Wolfson Foundation has an ongoing dedication to improving museums and galleries both large and small, across the whole country."

Details: www.culture.gov.uk

Image: Manchester Museum - DCMS