THE National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) has been allocated £144,200 by Arts Council England.

The funding will help support the NCEM’s artistic plans for the future, reducing costs for energy use, increasing access for those with disabilities and improving its digital reach.

Delma Tomlin MBE, director of the NCEM, said: "We are truly thrilled to be given this lottery grant which will help to refurbish the NCEM at such a key time. Our artistic plans are as vibrant and exciting as ever and it will be a joy to share these with an ever wider public through live streaming and a new website.

"York audiences will be thrilled when we can provide more comfortable seating, and the many individuals and organisations that utilize the NCEM for recordings, conferences and wedding parties will be delighted when we can upgrade our catering and welcoming facilities. We have a year to find the rest of the monies that we need and fundraising starts now! We anticipate that the project will start in April 2019 and be completed during our 20th anniversary year."