The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has awarded grants of £100,000 to each of The Jewish Museum and The Wiener Library - both in London - to help meet relocation costs.

The Jewish Museum, situated in Camden Town and set to re-open on 17 March 2010 after a major redevelopment project, explores Jewish heritage and identity as part of the wider story of Britain. Four permanent galleries will display a wide variety of objects, films, photographs, hands-on exhibits and personal stories. The Wiener Library, formed in 1933 and at its present home near Regent's Park for 50 years, plans to relocate in 2011 to Russell Square. It is one of the world's leading and most extensive archives on the Holocaust and Nazi era. Its collection includes a pair of contemporary children's games: Adolf Hitler Legespiel (Adolf Hitler puzzle game) where players re-arrange wooden blocks to form a swastika shape, and Juden Raus (Jews Out) where players move around the board rounding up Jews and taking them to a 'collection point' with the first to collect six winning the game.

Culture minister Margaret Hodge said: "These two institutions play a vital part in ensuring that people are aware of what the Jewish community have given to this country and the world - and that we never forget the terrible wrongs suffered during the Nazi era last century. A mature and compassionate understanding of the past can teach us so much about the present, while helping us address issues in the future." Rickie Burman, director of the Jewish Museum said: "This much needed grant recognises the work of the Jewish Museum and we are looking forward to welcoming visitors of all ages and backgrounds to experience our interactive displays, exhibitions and exciting public programmes."

Ben Barkow, director of The Wiener Library, referred to the grant being "a fantastic kick start to the £3.5m building fund" the library is launching. He added: "Our new premises will enable us to continue to protect the truth, house our ever increasing collections and to be a place where people come for debate, enlightenment and exchange of views on subjects in our field of interest through lectures and academic conferences." The announcement was made ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January.

Pic shows History: A British Story at the Jewish Museum, London. Image courtesy of Event Communications