British Museum gets more funding

The British government on Tuesday announced hikes in its annual funding for the British Museum that will help the cash-strapped institution move forward with reforms and reopen galleries now closed to the public, the BBC reported.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it would give the museum nearly $57 million in 2004, an increase of 1.5%, plus an extra $619,000 in 2003 for opening more galleries. Government funding will rise to $58.5 million in 2005-06.