The Harris Museum ambitiously plans to equal top national attractions for its future. Councillors fancy building Preston's cultural crown jewel a tourist lure to rival world-renowned services in London, Manchester and Liverpool.

A panel of councillors and council officers are working on proposals that include plans to transport legendry, mainstream works of art to the museum in exhibitions, a restore of the service's shop and café, new facilities customized to schoolchildren to permit large school groups to visit the gallery, the hiring of exhibits to the private sector and promising private sponsorship and a massive marketing drive promoting the museum's facilities and exhibitions.

Proposal to re-open the admired service on Sundays is encouraged by councillors.

Leisure portfolio holder Coun Kate Calder and Greyfrairs ward councillor Stephen Thompson have been asked by council leader Ken Hudson, to work with museum officers to sketch out a business and marketing plan to bring the Harris into the 21st century.

"It is early days yet, but what we are trying to do is give the Harris Museum a stronger image and a stronger brand. If you mention the Tate in Liverpool or the Hayward in London, people know exactly what they are and what sort of things are there and that is what we want for the Harris", said, Coun Thompson.

Uncertainty of funding is the major task to prevail, agreed Coun Thompson. He emphasised that a major part of the reassess will be to observe how to finance the plans.