Ceredigion Museum is celebrating its success in securing huge funding from the Heritage Lottery Funding.

A large sum of £916,200 has been secured for the New Approaches project, which will see the creation of a new street level shop combined with the Tourist Information Centre, café, re-equipping the Coliseum auditorium and a range of community focused activities.

The £1.3 million project has already received £154,000 support from CADW, the Friends of Ceredigion Museum, the Community Grant Scheme and the Garfield Weston, Wolfson and HB Allen trusts and foundations.

Ellen ap Gwynn, Leader of the Council, said: “This is fantastic news for the museum, Aberystwyth and the County. We have a much loved museum with fantastic collections in a unique setting, which attracts visitors to Aberystwyth and works closely with the community.

“But the museum struggles with poor visibility and access, it really is a hidden gem. New Approaches will give it a new lease of life and help the museum support itself financially, which is crucial at this time of austerity. Combining resources with the TIC means both services will be more sustainable and the new facility will be a jewel in the crown for the County.”

Carrie Canham, Curator, said: “This Heritage Lottery funding is the culmination of three years’ hard work and we’re delighted. The Friends of Ceredigion Museum have been a tremendous support, as have the WCVA and other supporters in the community.

“We’re not quite there with the funding yet, we’ve still got £45,000 to raise, but now that the Heritage Lottery Fund has come on board, it will encourage other funders to support the project too.”

Richard Bellamy, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales, added: “This project is a great example of a museum working closely with its local community to expand and offer even more to its visitors, helping bring history to life. “

A discussion was held in a Cabinet meeting on January 12 about the secured funding.

Members were thrilled by the investment and prospects it could bring for the community and tourism.

However Cllr Lyndon Lloyd showed concern that all the historic treasures in the south of the county was being taken to the north.

He said: “We have a hole in Cardigan town. Why are the treasures of the south going to the north. I hope that maybe some of the museum will come south. We now have the the newly refurbished castle and other palaces which could be used. The south have great historical treasurers including some of the oldest church in Wales such as Mwnt.”

Ellen ap Gwynn, Leader of the Council responded by stating that if someone put forward the idea and plan for a museum with a suitable location this could be viable in the future.