The Museum of Hartlepool is set to provide enhanced exhibition and storage after being awarded a £218,000 grant.

The investment, secured by Hartlepool Borough Council, will create a new gallery for temporary exhibitions and pay for major upgrades to the museum’s storage facilities.

The funding is part of £4 million by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Wolfson Foundation in 2025-27 to support museums and galleries across England to improve displays, protect collections and make exhibitions more accessible.

Gemma Ptak, of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “This grant is yet more fantastic news for the Museum of Hartlepool and for local people.

The Museum of Hartlepool has been awarded more than £2.5m in government grants in recent weeks.

placeholder image — The Museum of Hartlepool has been awarded more than £2.5m in government grants in recent weeks.

“It will allow us to significantly enhance the quality of our exhibition spaces and enhance the way our collections are cared for, helping us to attract new exhibitions, tell more powerful stories and ensure our heritage is preserved to the highest possible standards.”

The grant will enable the creation of new secure, climate‑controlled storage areas, and the installation of high‑specification display cases, modern lighting, new flooring and advanced environmental controls.

It will allow the museum to host a wider range of high‑quality temporary exhibitions.

The grant follows more than £2.4m awarded to the museum last month from the government’s Museum Estate and Development Fund for a range of improvements to the building including heating, lifts and new toilets.

It is part of the council’s wider Tides of Change Project aimed at transforming the museum and renovating the former paddle steamer Wingfield Castle.

Initial work to develop a proposal using National Lottery Heritage Fund money is underway.