The Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum has received a £77,400 development grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to plan a significant redevelopment of its permanent exhibition.

The project, called Home Front Museum: Northern Ireland 1939-1945, aims to create a more accessible and engaging space for visitors to explore the region's role in the Second World War. The funding covers the planning phase before the museum submits a full delivery funding application.

Museum Chairman Don Bigger said the grant enables the institution to move forward with redesigning the gallery. The vision is to highlight human stories, particularly during the 85th anniversary of the Belfast Blitz. The redesigned exhibition will follow environmental best practice and help the museum connect with wider audiences.

Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, noted that the museum is Northern Ireland's only facility dedicated to the Second World War. The project will share first-hand accounts of how people were affected, from a location central to the Blitz narrative. Making the museum more accessible will expand its education and community outreach.

The museum holds nearly 7,000 artefacts but only a fraction are on display. The redevelopment will allow more items to be shown, including material from west of the River Bann and items related to international forces such as Canadian and Belgian troops stationed in Northern Ireland.

The development phase will detail plans for exhibition redesign using modern museum technology and standards. The museum intends to strengthen its sustainability and the conservation of wartime heritage for future generations.