Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery in Kent has received nearly £2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to help support the development of the site’s east wing.

The money will help the museum – which will be 150 years old next year – carry out its plans to build two new extensions, a new entrance, a shop and a café. Maidstone Tourism Information Centre will also be relocated to the entrance of the museum.

The extensions will increase display space by 30 per cent and new objects that will be exhibited will include a collection of Japanese art and a rare Solomon Islands canoe.

The project forms Phase II of a larger masterplan for the museum, which is operated by Maidstone Borough Council. Phase I, the refurbishment of the west wing, was completed in 2003 with the help of a £250,000 HLF grant.

Fran Wilson, leader the council, said: “This is excellent news and a tribute to all the hard work put in by our bid team. We’ve got a fabulous collection and this will provide an exciting, modern setting to show off more of our exhibits to more people.”