The Royal Cornwall Museum team is seeking listed building consent to modernise its surroundings, leading to a more enjoyable visitor experience and lessen the risk of damage in exhibition areas.

The refurbishment of the main hall, upper gallery and Nature gallery will be paid for by the Shared Prosperity Fund.

A planning statement claims existing lights “do not meet contemporary gallery standards”. The upper gallery lighting in particular “lacks the sensitivity or flexibility to best reveal both the architectural features of the main hall … or enhance temporary collections”.

The main hall’s acoustics also come in for criticism, described as “presently poor” and “overly noisy and off-putting” for the hard of hearing or neurodiverse when the space is full, thus limiting the hall’s suitability as an exhibition and events space.

Chief executive and artistic director Bryony Robins explained that many of the issues stem from the fact that the building was not originally intended to be a museum.

The Grade II listed former Truro Savings Bank dates back to 1845, and was converted in 1919 to comprise a museum and library, with a significant extension including gallery wings and a caretaker’s apartment.

Concerns have been expressed that individually hung larger pieces risk damaging the wall at upper gallery level. “In most galleries, wall surfaces are cladded so that when you drill holes to hang work, you are not damaging the fabric of a historic building,” said Ms Robins. “That’s what we are proposing here.”

The Nature gallery will remain “family-friendly” and interactive, but will tell more contemporary stories in collaboration with Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

“The whole premise behind the work is to make the gallery more exciting and inviting to visitors, and to tell better stories with our collections.”

The work should be completed by March 2025. It follows the comprehensive revamp of the Mineral Gallery, using Town Deal Funding, which re-opened in July and is currently hosting a series of events.

Proposals have been developed in accordance with pre-application advice received from the council. For more details, visit Cornwall Council’s planning portal and search for application PA24/05941.