Image: The Museum of London is one of the recipients

York Museums Trust and the Museum of London have been announced among the nine successful applicants for museum development funding from Arts Council England (ACE).

The fund is part of ACE's Renaissance programme to support the development of regional museums over the next three years, with around £129m to be invested by the organisation in total.

Each of the successful bidders will provide a national network of professional advice, with a particular focus on supporting smaller institutions in order to help improve the sector's sustainability.

A total of more than £8m is being invested by ACE between 2012 and 2015 among the nine applicants. ACE has also now opened the subject specialist network fund to applications.

The largest share of the cash - worth £1.4m - was awarded to Royal Pavilion and Museums Service in Brighton and Hove, while Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery and Archives also received more than £1m.

Elsewhere, recipients include Norfolk Museum and Archaeology Service (£1.14m); York Museums Trust (£840,000); the Museum of London (£650,190); and Manchester City Galleries (£880,000).

Herefordshire Heritage Service (£832,000); Leicestershire County Council (£720,000); and Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums (£416,000) complete the line-up of successful applicants.

ACE chief executive Alan Davey said: "We consulted closely with museums and their stakeholders, and in doing so, recognised the high value that the sector puts on museum development and the essential role it plays in supporting the sector."

Details: www.artscouncil.org.uk

Image: Museum of London