CRAVEN Museum and Art Gallery is on its way to a major transformation after receiving support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A £98,000 initial grant from the HLF announced this week will pave the way to a further bid for £1.4 million in the next two years.

Craven District Council's ambitious £2.1 million overall plans for the museum and art gallery aim to develop it into a major visitor attraction, drawing in people from all over the region.

The Stories and Treasures of Street and Dale project aims to make the museum, housed in the town hall, more accessible and more visitor-friendly while showcasing the area's vast heritage.

“We’re delighted the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support, which offers us the opportunity to achieve something of the very highest standard for our residents and visitors," said Cllr Simon Myers, the council's lead member for enterprising Craven.

“Redeveloping Craven Museum and Gallery is a cornerstone project in our vision to transform Skipton Town Hall into a cultural and heritage hub. Across Craven, a host of heritage sites are waiting to be celebrated. Many of our partners and organisations are excited about the project and recognise the immense impact it can have on them and their heritage.”

The council, which two years ago decided against handing management of the whole town hall over to an historic trust, will now forge ahead with its plans to apply for a full grant from the HLF of £1.4 million.

Fiona Spiers, head of HLF Yorkshire and the Humber, said “Thanks to National Lottery players, this much-loved museum can plan accordingly, so if successful, its fantastic collections and the heritage of Craven can be explored by all.”

Craven Museum was created in 1928 and includes many significant and diverse collections, archaeology and geology.

It was up against a number of other projects for lottery funding and now has two years to develop its plans.

In addition to the work supported by Heritage Lottery Fund, Craven District Council is currently working on plans for other parts of the building with a view to delivering a vibrant programme of live events and arts workshops, as well as showcasing the area’s heritage in a variety of exhibitions.