EXETER'S award-winning museum today received a welcome financial boost with news that the Arts Council will continue to contribute crucial funding towards the Queen Street facility.

Arts Council England (ACE) announced today that they have renewed the Major Partner Museum status of a partnership between the museums in Devon’s principal cities. Comprising Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM) and Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery, the peninsular partnership will continue to be supported under ACE’s Renaissance Major Grants Programme until 2018.

One of only 21 successful applications nationally, the award recognises the museums’ commitment to excellence and innovation, their central position in the cultural life of the Southwest and the strength of local support.

Cllr Rosie Denham, Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, expressed Exeter’s delight: “This is great news for the Southwest. RAMM is much loved by the people of Exeter and Devon. Over three quarters of a million people have visited the museum since it re-opened in 2011 and it has achieved the nationally-recognised levels of excellence that we aim for in all fields. With continued Arts Council England support Exeter and Plymouth will be well placed to serve the wider region and put the Southwest firmly on the nation’s cultural map.”

Councillor Peter Smith, Deputy Leader for Plymouth City Council said: “We are thrilled with this decision, which recognises Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery’s role as a leading cultural organisation, and which also has an important part to play in the development of the City’s plans for a brand new History Centre.

"We have already achieved so much over the last three years. The renewal of the MPM status for our partnership means we can continue to build on our success, pursue new collaborations, develop innovative practice and extend the opportunities for people to participate in cultural activities right up until at least 2018.”

The peninsular partnership shares the goals of Arts Council England: ensuring that excellence is thriving and celebrated in museums, more people experience and are inspired by museums, that museums and libraries are sustainable, resilient and innovative, that the leadership and workforce in museums and libraries are diverse and highly skilled and that every child and young person has the opportunity to experience the richness of museums and libraries. The 2015 to 2018 support will focus upon resilience, leadership and diversity.