THE National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port has received a funding boost of more than £30,000 to "unlock hidden stories" in its collection.

It was chosen as one of five museums and libraries across the North West to receive a share of a £350,000 pot from Arts Council England.

The money was made available as part of the third round of the Designation Development Fund, supported by the National Lottery and aimed at supporting designated collections.

The Canal and River Trust’s National Waterways Museum will receive £33,451 for their project which will “draw on the specialist knowledge of a diverse selection of Canal and River Trust staff, inland waterways experts and enthusiasts and academics to develop the museum’s knowledge and understanding of its object collection”.

Recognising the importance of maintaining excellent collections across the country, the Designation Development Fund supports projects to ensure their long-term sustainability, maximise public value and encourage the sharing of best practice across the sector.

This round was open to designated library collections for the first time, with four such collections successfully applying for funding.

The Designation Development Fund provides funding for organisations already recognised by the Designation Scheme, which champions national and internationally significant collections held in museums, libraries and archives.

Graham Boxer, Head of Collections & Archives for the Canal & River Trust, said: “We are delighted to be awarded the Arts Council grant of £33,000 to unlock the hidden stories in the museum collection and share how these have impacted and influenced work today in looking after our waterways.

“The museum collection contains over 10,000 artefacts including over 60 boats that tell the story of people that lived and worked on our inland waterways. Amongst these artefacts are fascinating stories that resonate with many roles of staff and volunteers today.

“Throughout the project, we will draw on the years of experience and specialist knowledge within the Trust and amongst our stakeholders to engage both internal and external audiences to rediscover the past, through our collection. We think this will provide a fascinating insight for visitors to understand the important work of the Canal & River Trust today.”

Besides the Port museum, the other beneficiaries in the region were: Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle; The Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester; The University of Manchester Library; and People’s History Museum in Manchester.

Alison Clark, Director, North, Arts Council England, added: “Congratulations to all of the successful applicants for the Designation Development fund across the North. It is fantastic that five collections in the North West have received funding in this round of the programme, including the University of Manchester Library’s collection as this is the first time the fund has been available to library collections as well as museums.

“It’s also exciting to see so many applicants embracing digital technologies as part of their plans, to ensure that their collections are more accessible for the public. I look forward to seeing the progression of the different projects and how this investment helps to support both public and academic engagement with these collections.”