Nine heritage and arts projects have received a total of £300,000 worth of grants from Museums Galleries Scotland's new Strategic Investment Fund.

The individual grants range from £17,000 to £40,000 and include £22,654 for Caithness Horizons in order to develop an early medieval sculpture exhibition while Highland Council will receive £40,000 develop regional events for the Homecoming 2014 celebrations.

There was also a £39,350 grant for Robert Burns Birthplace Museum to work with a visual arts company to produce exhibitions by contemporary artists.

Douglas Connell, Chair of Museums Galleries Scotland said: "With this first round of the Strategic Investment Fund we see the sector really getting its teeth into delivering the National strategy aims.

"We have excellent examples of cross sector collaboration, explorations into new ways of working and pursuing increased sustainability through additional revenue sources."