The government has made more than £8m of funding available for museums and galleries to bid for, as part of its new strategy to match philanthropic donations.

The DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, financed equally by the government and the Wolfson Foundation, has been set up to improve displays, increase access and enhance public spaces.

Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said: "The DCMS/Wolfson Fund is an excellent example of what can be achieved when public funds are matched with private philanthropy and I am extremely pleased that we have been able to secure its future.

"It is often the major, one-off philanthropic donations that make the headlines, but the myriad of grants and improvements that the fund supports are just as vital to museums and galleries and the Wolfson Foundation is equally deserving of our gratitude."

The Fund was originally set up in 1990 and ran for five years, distributing £19 million to more than 200 projects across England. Awards from the fund have often acted as a catalyst for further funding, which has been particularly useful for smaller museums.

Its current incarnation began in 2001 and has to date awarded £28m to 217 projects over an eight year period with the last allocation in August 2009.

The fund will hold two bidding rounds in the 2011-15 spending review period, each awarding £4m. Bids will be invited for the first round of funding in April 2011.