In a cramped room full of pirate treasure under glass at Alloway Hall, it was announced Wednesday that $5.3 million will go towards the expansion of the Manitoba Museum's main exhibit gallery.

The province is contributing $3.8 million, the federal government $1 million, and the Winnipeg Foundation, $500,000.

Alloway Hall will almost double in size, from about 5,000 sq. ft. to 9,700 sq. ft., with the tendering process to start immediately. It is expected to be finished in time to showcase a major international exhibit by early 2017, museum executive director Claudette Leclerc said.

"The Alloway Hall Renewal and Expansion Project will allow the museum to bring in the biggest and best travelling exhibits from around the world," Leclerc said. "The success of our past exhibits, like Dinosaurs on Earth, Wrapped: the Mummy of Pesed and the current exhibit, Real Pirates, have been a real tipping point for the museum. We believe that a new, enlarged exhibition space is necessary to building a bright and bold future for our Manitoba Museum.

"Visitors have told us that they want to experience major travelling exhibits here at the museum. In turn, these exhibits allow us to sustain ourselves financially ... It also supports our tourism industry."

Major travelling exhibits usually need at least 8,000 sq. ft., she said. In fact, only two-thirds of the current Real Pirates exhibit is being shown, due to the lack of space at Alloway Hall.

"It is important that we support our museums because they really do tell the story of where we come from, who we are and where we are going," Canadian Heritage Minister Shelly Glover said. "Not only that, but they are a huge economic driver in this country, Manitoba in particular."

The walls will be pushed out into the little-used patio area to make room for the expansion.

"The project is a small stepping stone to the museum's much larger capital renewal plan that's going to see significant changes to the Manitoba Museum," Leclerc said.

The cost of that plan is currently estimated at $160 million and will likely include a science centre, Leclerc said.

The expansion plans are not in response to the opening the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.

"We haven't seen any dip in our attendance at all since they have opened," said Leclerc, who advised CMHR officials for 15 years.

Leclerc declined to elaborate when asked what the opening exhibit might be in 2017.

jim.bender@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @bendersun