The Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in South Kensington, London, has been awarded a £9.75m grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to develop its medieval and Renaissance galleries.

The grant will contribute nearly a third of the total cost of £31.75m – the V&A has already raised £8.8m in private donations. The museum will continue to raise funds for the remaining £13.2m.

The project centres on redisplaying the V&A’s medieval and Renaissance collections in 10 new spaces over at least three floors in a wing at the front of the museum. The majority of the current displays will remain on show until the new galleries open in 2009.

The new Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art was opened at the V&A by Prince Charles this July. Details: www.vam.ac.uk

Photograph: Donatello's Chellini Madonna, circa 1450 © Victoria and Albert Museum