A GRANT worth almost £800,000 will help museums bring more major exhibitions and better experiences for young people.

Colchester & Ipswich Museums Service has been awarded £797,000 the cash from Arts Council England which has also won its bird for coveted National Portfolio Organisation status - which means they will be given a £200,000 boost every year from 2018 to 2022. 

The cash will directly benefit attractions in Colchester including Colchester Castle, the Natural History Museum and Hollytrees Museum - and the Ipswich Museum, Christchurch Mansion and the Ipswich Art Gallery.

CIMS’s funding boost will directly benefit the thousands of visitors to the six venues it manages - Colchester Castle, the Natural History Museum, Hollytrees Museum, Ipswich Museum, Christchurch Mansion and the Ipswich Art Gallery.

Colchester Council culture boss Tim Young (Lab) was ecstatic at the news.

He said: "This funding is going to add real value to the number of activities and displays we are able to offer at Colchester Museums.

"Heritage plays a really important role in Colchester’s identity and the award of this funding is something local residents can be proud of.”

Other beneficiaries from Arts Council funding will be Colchester Arts Centre who are set to receive £762,780, the Mercury Theatre which will receive £3,109,512 and Firstsite will be handed £3,258,108.

Hedley Swain, Area Director, South East, Arts Council England said: "This is an exceptionally strong portfolio of organisations delivering great arts and cultural experiences to audiences throughout the East and South East of England.

"Our investment will support inventive, pioneering arts organisations, a range of museums and arts activity in libraries.

"It will reach into more places than ever before, providing more people of all ages and backgrounds with the opportunity to participate in the arts – inspiring them as artists, as audiences, or as a mix of both.

“We are delighted to significantly increase our investment in Essex with some exciting new organisations joining the portfolio.

"All of our National Portfolio organisations will play an essential role in reaching more people, developing local, national and international talent, and making where they’re based great places to live, work and visit.”