Thirty-five museums and galleries in England are to benefit from a funding boost after the award of a total of £4m (US$5.16m, €4.49m) by the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and the independent charity, the Wolfson Foundation.

The grants will enable the institutions to increase access, transform displays and enhance public spaces. The amounts awarded range from the £252,500 (US$325,587, €283,605) earmarked for Tullie House, Carlisle, to £25,000 set aside for the People’s History Museum in Manchester. More than 80 per cent of the funding has been allocated to museums outside of London.

The DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund supports national and regional museums across England to improve the quality of displays, enhance exhibition spaces and access, and increase awareness of collections. Since it started in 2001, it has given £48m (US$61.86m, €53.91m) to help 382 projects at 114 museum groups and galleries.

"One of the great treasures of this country is the sheer quality and range of our heritage collections - stored and displayed in wonderful museums and galleries," said Paul Ramsbottom, chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation. "This funding will help to provide even better visitor experiences and greater awareness of these fascinating collections."

The grant awarded to Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery will enable it to create a new fashion and costume gallery featuring examples of key fashions and styles dating from 1720 to the present day, particularly women’s fashion and accessories. Nationally significant items will take pride of place in the display, including an outstanding Court Mantua dress dated 1750 – a rare survivor of the bizarre type of female dress. The exhibition will be brought up to date with a celebration of the diversity of fashion in Carlisle today.

"The grant will allow us to shine a light on a hidden collection whilst also revealing parts of the building’s beautiful original architecture," commented Andrew Mackay, museum director at Tullie House.