Manchester libraries and Salford and Bury museums to get boost to funding

It will not save Oldham's Coliseum theatre, but culture in Greater Manchester will benefit from a £58.8m pot of grants from the government.

Local libraries an museums will get a much needed financial boost. But the region has missed out on multi-million pound awards given to major projects.

The Coliseum will close for good on March 31, but a cash injection will bring some stability to libraries in Manchester and Oldham and museums in Salford and Bury.

Under the government's Libraries and Improvement Fund, Manchester Libraries will receive £198,872, and Oldham Coucil Librariies £151,520. The Museum Estate and Development Fund will make grants of £143,766 to The Fusilier Museum in Bury; £104,865 to Salford Museum and Art Gallery; and £673,826 to Queen's Park Stores in Manchester.

Bury’s Fusilier Museum and Learning Centre houses the collections of the Lancashire Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. The centre is a listed building with significant architectural features and will use the funding to make structural improvements to prevent water getting into the building.

Manchester City Galleries, owned by Manchester City Council, has three historic buildings: Manchester Art Gallery, Platt Hall and Queen’s Park Conservation Studios. The latter was the city’s first purpose-built museum (in 1884) and is the engine room for the city’s collections of fine art, sculpture, decorative arts, furniture and dress. Funding will enable the temporary relocation of collections at risk as well as the addressing of urgent roof repairs and replacing heating/environmental control.

Salford Museum and Art Gallery’s collection comprises social history, fine art, and decorative art items. Its grant will help pay for urgent repairs such