THE new director of a top North-East museum is aiming to boost its image all over the world.

Although the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, County Durham, is already known at home and abroad, Adrian Jenkins believes more can be done to team up with museums and galleries far and wide.

Mr Jenkins, 35, who took on the role last week said: "The first thing we are looking at, really, is how we continue to raise the profile of the building on a local, regional, national and international level.

"One of the strategies we are developing is an increasingly ambitious exhibition programme."

This begins with Hidden Treasures, a look at parts of the collection that have not previously been on show, which opens on April 7, coinciding with the launch of the new museum website. "We can develop our profile internationally and become a major player abroad, as well as nationally," he said.

The new website should be up and running in the next few weeks. It would have links to museums and galleries abroad, particularly in France and Spain, the origins of many of the Bowes' finer art pieces.

One aim was how it could work in partnership with other museums abroad.

Mr Jenkins said: "I think that the Bowes is recognised as being internationally significant and I think what we are looking to do over the next few years is to bring out that significance in ever increasing degrees."

The new website will soon be available to visit at www.bowesmuseum.org.uk.