Leighton House Museum in Kensington, London, has received a £47,800 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to finance education packs for schoolchildren.

The museum, whose collections explore Middle Eastern and European culture, will use the money to fund a project called Shared Heritages, which will help pupils explore the relationship between the east and the west.

This includes creating ‘civilisation boxes’ which will combine language guides, family guides and hand-held digital assistants with replica objects from the museum’s collections.

Nicholas Paget-Brown, cabinet member for regeneration, environmental management and leisure, said: "For a long time visitors and residents have appreciated the Leighton House Museum and Lord Leighton's unique collection of Middle Eastern objects.

“This opportunity will allow many more people to consider the diverse origin of the collection and gain a greater understanding of the cultures from which it originated."

The grant has been timed to coincide with the 2006 Festival of Muslim Culture and it is expected to lead to the development of further community projects across the capital from next month. Details: www.rbkc.gov.uk