A PROJECT by the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton has scooped nearly £16,000 of Government cash to bring learning alive outside the classroom.
The 'Serious Fun Project' is one of 138 new out-of-school learning schemes being created across England with £2.5 million announced by Education and Employment Minister Malcolm Wicks.
Young people from the ages of 11 to 13 are getting the chance to create their own theatre production using information, artefacts and archives at the museum in a way which complements their classroom studies.
The projects, which range from sports activities to musical recordings and archaeological digs, are aimed to boost children's motivation and build self-confidence.
'Fun activities like these which happen out of school hours can help raise achievement back in the classroom and prepare pupils for the world of work,' said Mr Wicks on making the announcement.
Museum curator Maurie Webber said around 600 expressions of interest were received from organisations wishing to participate in the scheme and the museum was competing for funds alongside the likes of The Tate and National Gallery in London.
'We are absolutely delighted — it is really exciting for a museum especially a fairly small one to be given an opportunity like this — I consider it a privilege,' she said.
She has praised the county's museums officer Fiona MacKay for her support in getting the project off the ground.
Twenty-two pupils from feeder primary schools, all joining Okehampton College this term, are already on the road to discovering their hidden talents.
Professional artists, stage managers, theatre designers, script writers and musicians are being drafted in to work with the youngsters.
Mrs Webber said it was giving many children, who had low self esteem and were under-achieving at school, an opportunity to shine.
'If, as a result of this project just one youngster believes in themselves more or it leads them down a different road then it will have been worth it,' she said.
The museum has known for some time it was likely to get funding for the project but was sworn to secrecy. In the meantime links have been formed with Okehampton College through the summer school, head of humanities and community tutors and children have been working on the project throughout the summer.
The pupils will continue to meet once a week after school and the project will culminate in a performance in January at the Octagon Theatre.
Co-ordinator Elizabeth de Tisi, a former member of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company, said the museum had provided one of the fun activities during the afternoons for pupils working on their literacy skills at summer school.'
She said there was a lot of kids who were very talented but they did not realise it: 'They have a lot of give to the group and it is just a case of finding their niche.'
The only other project in Devon to receive funding was a sporting project in Plymouth.
Sessions at the museum will begin again on September 19 at 3.45pm.