Roundup: British museums, heritage collections to receive grants of 98 mln pounds

The home of a rare collection of art works from China, Asia and the Middle East won more than 23 million U.S. dollars Wednesday in a cash handout from Britain's National Lottery.

The award winning Burrell Collection in Glasgow is one of nine British museums and heritage collections to receive grants of 98 million pounds (152 million U.S. dollars) from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The awards were announced by newly appointed Culture Secretary John Whittingdale.

The 8,000 items in the Burrell Collection were gifted in 1944 to the City of Glasgow by wealthy shipping magnate Sir William Burrell. Burrell started collecting Chinese antiques from around 1910, acquiring items from all periods of Chinese history, including Neolithic burial urns, carved jades, porcelain from the Tang Dynasty, bronze ritual vessels, earthenware figures, and antique furniture. The money will be used to refurbish the home of the collection in Glasgow, one of the city's main cultural attractions.

The award to the Burrell Collection was welcomed Wednesday by Dr. Chung Yupin, curator since 2009.

Chung said: "The quality of the items at the Burrell is comparable to what is in the British Museum so they are of national and international importance. It is the only complete Chinese collection in the country because a lot of collectors decided to give different pieces to different museums."

Other projects set to receive grants range from Britain's ground-breaking role in science and industry to the invention of radio astronomy at the Jodrell Bank radio telescope near Manchester and the country's unique railway heritage.

Secretary Whittingdale said Wednesday: "National Lottery money continues to make an absolutely vital contribution to our culture and heritage in the UK. I'm thrilled that 9 exciting projects across England and Scotland will benefit from this significant 98 million pounds investment.

"Whether it's a new railway museum in Leicester, the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank or saving the UK's most vulnerable sound recordings at the British Library - these grants will not only make a lasting difference to local areas and the UK's wider heritage, but will also use culture to inspire young people to learn more about science and technology for generations to come."

Chair of HLF, Sir Peter Luff, said: "I am particularly pleased that the Lottery can help inspire young people to take a greater interest in science and technology. From the awe-inspiring Lovell Telescope to the Lombe brothers' first fully mechanised factory, these sites will enhance local tourist economies as well as educate and entertain."

The nine projects awarded funding are: 12.1 million pounds to revitalize Jodrell Bank, home to the Lovell Telescope, 8 million pounds to revamp the Science Museum's extensive Medicine Galleries in London, 9.3 million pounds to restore and open up Derby Silk Mill in the Derwent Valley, 10 million pounds on a preserved railway, part of the famous Great Central Railway, 9.5 million pounds to digitize the British Library's Save our Sounds Collection, 10.3 million pounds to redevelop Dorset County Museum, 12.4 million pounds to restore Lincoln Cathedral, 15 million pounds to refurbish Glasgow's award-wining Burrell Collection, 11 million pounds to transform East London's Geffrye Museum. Endit