THE council has welcomed a £1.4 million grant for the museum on the Royal Pavilion Estate to cover the cost of urgent repairs.

Brighton Museum and Art Gallery will use the money from a government fund, which is  to protect cultural venues across the country, to repair a Georgian glass lantern above the central main gallery.

Councillor Martin Osborne, who co-chairs Brighton and Hove City Council’s tourism, equalities, communities and culture committee said: “This is fantastic news, not just for the museum but the whole Royal Pavilion Estate.

“As the Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre renovation project nears completion, it’s wonderful that work can begin to enhance and preserve another of our unique and important historic buildings.”

A survey in 2019 found that the roof of the museum needed repairs to the glass lantern above the main gallery, essential to ensure the safety of the galleries, exhibits, staff and visitors beneath.

The grant for the Grade II listed Georgian building will allow work to be carried out urgently, with repairs expected to take around four months, starting this autumn.

Work will see the construction of a new glazed lantern over the main circulation hall along with structural support, and a metal staircase and timber-boarded walkway to provide access for maintenance.

Bird protection will be provided and lightning protection installed, along with new thermal insulation and fire safety systems.

The museum is set to remain open during the work, but the 20th century gallery will close during repairs.

The historic building, part of the Royal Pavilion Estate, is among several galleries, museums, libraries and other cultural venues across the country to benefit from almost £50 million of government funding to support the UK’s vital cultural organisations.

Arts minister Lord Parkinson said: “This raft of new funding for treasured institutions up and down the country will help them continue their great work, advance our work to level up access to arts and culture so they can be enjoyed by people no matter where they live, and protect these cherished institutions for future generations to enjoy.”