A £36,000 grant has been made by the Arts Council to fund the legacy of the Museum of St Albans.

It will pay for Lyndall Phelps to become artist in residence and create a a series of artworks reflecting the Hatfield Road museum’s history and evolution.

Over the next few years, Lyndall will produce works that document its origins, collections and future changes including a legacy piece for the new museum and art gallery when it moves to the Town Hall in 2017.

The current museum is due to close in September so that the Hatfield Road site can be redeveloped into housing to fund the new museum.

Staff and volunteers are currently packing up museum exhibits to go into storage until they are required for display at the new museum.

Lyndall is working alongside the team, using the experience to provide inspiration for an installation that will go on display in the empty museum later this year.

The artwork will be immersed within the remaining display cabinets and interpretation boards and act as a window on the past, echoing items that have been removed.

Lyndall will also exhibit documents and objects from the museum’s archive and off-site store that relate to St Albans’ past.

In addition, the Cambridgeshire-based artist is working with museum staff on a programme of community engagement events to provide access to the museum collections during the transition period.

One will include a public artwork created by Lyndall in collaboration with a local community group that will go on display in Easter 2017.

Lyndall’s residency is being funded by Arts Council England’s Lottery-funded programme for individuals, arts organisations and other people who use the arts in their work.

The district council’s portfolio holder for leisure and heritage, Cllr Annie Brewster, said: “This wonderful grant from Arts Council England will fund an artist to help keep the spirit of the Museum of St Albans alive during the development of our new museum and art gallery in the heart of the city.”