UK funding body the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has given close to £1m ($1.3m, €1.1m) to a new project that will let young people aged 16-25 curate their own museum exhibitions.

Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF) Kick the Dust programme, which allocates lottery funding to youth-focused heritage projects, awarded the sum to Reimagine, Remake, Replay.

The scheme will give 4,000 young people across Northern Ireland the chance to be involved in the project over four years.

Seven museums and galleries will open up their collections of art, furniture, textiles, heritage, archaeology and archives for the youngsters to reimagine, using new technologies in the displays.

The groups will also have the chance to write, cast and direct their own films, develop interactive exhibitions, create apps and games, as well as use 3D printers, virtual reality and 3D filmmaking technology.

Creative media organisation the Nerve Centre will deliver the project in partnership with National Museums Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen and the Northern Ireland Museums Council.

Announcing the award, head of HLF Northern Ireland Paul Mullan said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this ambitious project will give young people the skills they need to create imaginative, engaging content that gives new perspective and relevance to our heritage.”