WILTSHIRE Museum in Devizes is to benefit from £1.24 million of funding over the next four years thanks to an award just announced by Arts Council England.

Museum director David Dawson said: "This is great news. It is really exciting for us in Devizes and will also help tourism in the town as we are able to bring new top quality exhibitions."

He said that his museum had gone into partnership with Salisbury, Poole and Dorchester and the £1.24 million would be spent by the four museums on projects such as employing community curators and putting on high profile exhibitions.

The partnership has also become part of the Arts Council's National Portfolio as recognition of their quality of work. Mr Dawson said: "It is fantastic for us to be up there with some of the most famous names in the arts such as the National Opera House. It puts us in a completely different ball park and we are very excited about it."

A spokesman for Arts Council England said: "Arts and cultural organisations in Wiltshire will together receive around £7.3 million in funding over the four years from 2018 to 2022.

"As part of this Salisbury and Wiltshire regional museums enter the portfolio, bringing great culture to more people. They have excellent local, archaeological collections and new partnership working will enhance the scope and scale of future exhibitions, meaning more great art and culture for audiences across Wiltshire.

"The new National Portfolio consolidates and builds on much of the exceptional work being carried out by South West arts and cultural organisations during the current three-year funding period.

"In addition, the new portfolio invests in a wider range of organisations than ever before, giving more people in more places the opportunity to experience exciting art and culture on their doorstep.

"The investment in National Portfolio organisations in the South West for 2018-19 will be £27.4 million.

“We’re delighted to be able to consolidate our investment in Wiltshire as well as to welcome to the portfolio Create Studios and the museums that form part of the Wessex Consortium."

Also included in the funding is The Pounds Arts Trust in Corsham and Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon.