FOUR Sussex museums are set to share almost three-quarters of a million pounds to take them into the 21st century and create a more secure future less reliant on public support.

Brighton-based Culture24, Sussex Archaeological Society, Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft and Hastings Museum and Art Gallery are among 94 museums and organisations across England to receive the latest Arts Council funding.

The money is part of the nationwide Museum Resilience Fund which will distribute £30 million over three years to help museums to become more sustainable.

Brighton-based Culture24 is the biggest beneficiary in the county, receiving £420,000 for "building digital skills with museums".

The non-profit digital cultural publishing organisation will work with museums to "overcome digital challenges in the sector" in improving digital collections, marketing and learning.

Also celebrating is the Sussex Archaeological Society which will receive £160,000 for new computer systems allowing for real-time management of income streams across its six museums including The Marlipins in Shoreham, The Anne of Cleves House in Lewes and Fishbourne Roman Palace.

The new system will help the society to capture data, supporting improved audience development, community relations and customer relationship management.

Hastings Museum And Art Gallery has received £85,000 to "transform its identity and visibility" to the public and staff.

The project is designed to help boost the museum's marketing and promotion, audience engagement, business development and collections and will allow for the appointment of a new development officer, a marketing intern and freelance curator.

Finally, Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft will appoint a development manager for partnerships and philanthropy with the £55,000 it will receive to help the organisation to diversify its income.

The new role is designed to build on the success so far of the museum while freeing up its director to focus on a capital project also designed to contribute to the organisation's long-term resilience.

John Orna-Ornstein, director of museums at Arts Council England, said: “The focus of our investment approach for museums in 2015-18 is on building a more resilient sector.

"The Museum Resilience fund is a key part of that, providing vital support to museums right across the country."

Nathaniel Hepburn, Ditchling Museum of Art+Craft director, said: “Since a major re-development in 2014, for which we became an ArtFund Museum of the Year finalist, the museum has gone from strength to strength.

“The museum remains ambitious for the future and through this grant we will nurture and develop our funding base from which our unique narrative is shared to an ever wider audience.”