ONE of the region's most popular museums is launching a multi-million pound appeal to help bring it into the 21st Century.

The Bowes Museum is hoping to raise millions of pounds to improve the fabric of the building and also the range of exhibitions on offer.

However, the first phase of the appeal involves raising nearly £1.6m to mend the museum's roof.

The roof is leaking badly and has caused the building, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, to be placed on English Heritage's register of buildings at risk.

Museum director Adrian Jenkins is seeking to create extra galleries with more exhibits on display.

He is also hoping to attract more exhibitions along the lines of the Boudin-Monet exhibition, which attracted visitors in record numbers this year.

He said: "When people first see the museum, they think 'wow'. We want to replicate that wow factor throughout the museum.

"We have three picture galleries on the second floor which could have many more paintings on display and there are rooms on the first floor which are only for staff use.

"We want to get a lot more exhibitions, such as tapestries and textiles.

"But we need to create 21st Century conditions in a 19th Century building."

Mr Jenkins estimates that the costs of new galleries and exhibits could top £6m.

But he stressed that the problems with the roof of the museum must be tackled before any other projects can begin.

It is hoped work on the roof can begin next spring.

Mr Jenkins said: "If nothing is done on the roof, there could be serious consequences in the future.

"We're putting together an appeal and hoping to generate support for the museum and want the public to get behind us."

Mr Jenkins hopes to receive grants from English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and European funding.

Some funding has already started to come in. The Northern Rock foundation has already donated £500,000.

Since the museum was taken over from Durham County Council as a charitable trust in 2000, visitor numbers have risen from 65,000 a year to a record 110,000 last year.

Mr Jenkins said: "We're very aware that we also have an economic responsibility to the area.

"We want to work with the community.

"What's good for us can be good for Barnard Castle, Teesdale and County Durham."

Published: 22/11/2004