The Royal Cornwall Museum reopened on Saturday with a fresh look and a new name.

Now known as Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery, it has enjoyed investment worth £2.3-million, taking the 200-year-old institution into an exciting new phase.

The newly developed Heart of Cornwall Gallery in the museum's spacious atrium places Cornish identity, history and culture at the forefront of the visitor experience. Stories are told through artefacts, art, photography and film about the people, powers, and places that helped shape the Duchy.

The Nature Gallery has been revamped in collaboration with Cornwall Wildlife Trust to showcase Cornwall’s wildlife and landscapes, with exhibitions explaining the impact of people and climate change on nature, and immersive areas and new costumes for children to play with .

The balcony has been transformed into a salon-hung art gallery featuring work from medieval to modern eras, by artists including Cranach, Constable and Hepworth.

Museum co-director Bryony Robins said: “There are so many different stories to explore through the museum’s collections, and we’ve worked hard with our communities to re-imagine and re-display some amazing and surprising objects, along with providing fun and interactive activities.”

The £2.3-million cash injection formed part of a wider £17.2-million package of Cornwall Council funding for arts and culture through the Good Growth Programme, which has benefited 28 establishments throughout the county.

The museum’s official launch will take place on St Piran’s Day, when more than 500 guests will gather to mark the new era in the museum’s long history.

Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery opens seven days a week, 10am to 4pm. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or on the door and include all exhibitions.