Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries has announced the three English regions selected to spearhead a new government-funded programme to revitalise regional museums and galleries.

The north-east, west-midlands and south-west will be in the first phase of the 'Renaissance in the Regions' initiative, in which Resource is channelling a total of £70m of new investment to the regions over four years.

Under the 'Renaissance' programme a new framework has been established with leading institutions serving as 'Hubs' in each of the nine English regions. Working with other museums and galleries in their region they are to lead a 'drive to raise standards, attract new visitors, boost programmes for schools and improve the interpretation and accessibility of collections and displays.

Resource's acting chair, Mark Wood, said: 'This new funding will allow these three regional Hubs to prove the enormous capacity of museums and galleries to inspire, inform, engage and educate people of all ages.

'We are convinced that if we can demonstrate this potential in these three regions we will have a powerful case for additional funding in the government's next spending review, so that museums can deliver these wonderful benefits to communities across the nation.' Details: www.resource.gov.uk