A museum in Ipswich which is currently undergoing a multi-million pound refurbishment has been awarded a further funding boost with an educational grant.

Ipswich Museum is set to benefit from a £200,000 grant from the Clore Duffield Foundation to the Friends of the Ipswich Museums (FoIM).

The funding is for the development of a new learning space at the museum, which will be officially named the Clore Learning Studio and extend future educational facilities and programmes.

The grant will also cover the enhancement of the courtyard access to the new learning space, and support towards travel costs for schools.

Redevelopment work is underway at the museumRedevelopment work is underway at the museum (Image: Ipswich Borough Council)

The studio is set to become a cornerstone of the museum's educational outreach, providing a dedicated environment for learning and engagement.

Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council portfolio holder for planning and museums, said: "This is wonderful news for Ipswich and for the redevelopment of our much-loved museum.

"My thanks go to the Clore Duffield Foundation, and also to the Friends of the Ipswich Museums for – yet again – their success in getting this award, which will improve both education facilities in the new museum and its external spaces."

Cllr Carole JonesCllr Carole Jones (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Richard Wilson, chair of FoIM, added: "I’m delighted that the Clore Duffield Foundation have awarded us the full £200,000 we applied for.

"This not only secures essential resources for our educational programmes but reinforces our commitment to excellence."

The entire museum has been closed since October 2022 while work is carried out to redevelop the venue.

The money will go towards a learning area at the museumThe money will go towards a learning area at the museum (Image: Ipswich Borough Council)

The project is costing about £11.4m - £2.7m more than the original project cost of £8.7m.

Internal plans were recently approved which includes the raising of timber flooring in places, the opening of existing walls and landscaping works.

A sum of £165,070 of the grant will go towards the leaning studio, with the remaining money going towards the courtyard, reinstating the amphitheatre seating, a railed enclosure around the courtyard and the travel costs for schools.