Redecoration, reinvention and rebranding are in order for a town centre museum after it was handed over to new occupiers.

The Times Guardian was granted a behind the scenes peek of Sheerness Heritage Centre’s odd assortment of artefacts last Wednesday.

Swale council, which owns the Grade II listed building, granted a 12 month licence to Big Fish Arts to take over the building but it will be passed on to Sheppey Promenade, the group behind an annual arts festival, on a 25-year lease once it gains charitable status.

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There are grand plans in place for the Rose Street, Sheerness, site including turning the two front rooms into space for local artists and a venue for workshops.

Artist Laurie Harpum, who is also on the Sheppey Promenade committee, said they hope to engage the younger generation through the arts to get them interested in the Island’s history.

The rear will be kept like a traditional dock worker’s cottage – the site’s original use – while it is hoped to change the exhibits according to any anniversaries.

The group’s task begins with cleaning up the place and cataloguing its myriad contents.

It is believed many of them were donated by families over the years and Sheppey Promenade would like to hear from anyone who can prove they have done so.

Chris Reed, chairman of Sheppey Promenade, said: “It’s a place which over the years has been well loved by people and by Sheerness but it needs now to be brought up to the 21st century. Museums now are more interactive, lively and that’s the sort of thing we want to do.

“We want to change it a little bit but we don’t want to change the atmosphere. We don’t want to make it feel like a completely different place.

“We are really excited. What we needs now is lots and lots of people who share our enthusiasm to come along and volunteer.”

She added there will be jobs for everybody, such as learning and sharing the “wonderful stories” Sheppey has to offer while they do not want to do “exactly the same” as other places promoting local history.

It is hoped the site will reopen by late Spring when it will be renamed Rose Street Cottage.