The two-year Out on the town project, which has received a HLF grant of almost £45,000, will also involve older people in the community, who will work with youngsters to focus on three main themes: day trips, nights out and holidays.

The bilingual project builds on the success of Ceredigion Museum’s popular Young Curators programme, which already sees young people age 13-20 play an active role in the museum’s activities.

As part of Out on the town, participants will receive training in conservation techniques, oral histories, interpretation, events and exhibitions. They will also create  ‘Discovery Boxes', which contain objects, stories and images about youth culture past and present, to be used by the community long after the project is over.

A grand masked ball and a Victorian circus performance involving Aberystwyth University’s Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies, as well as a youth-curated exhibition, will mark the culmination of the project at the end of 2014.

“The HLF’s support of this project will enable us to take forward young people’s activities at the museum and engage more widely with youngsters throughout the county,” explained Carrie Canham, Curator of Ceredigion Museum.

“This project will be driven by the young people themselves, who will form a steering panel of six members - the Ceredigion Heritage Youth Panel (CHYP) - who will decide on the direction of the project and coordinate the contributions of their peers.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for the young people to realise their creative vision for the project, and we’re grateful to the HLF for their backing.”

Pat Riley, 17, a member of CHYP and Ceredigion Youth Forum, who attends Penglais Comprehensive School, added, “Now we can do bigger, do better and do more!”

Jennifer Stewart, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Wales, said: “Out on the town will encourage young people to experience a range of formal and informal learning opportunities as they set out to explore the history of leisure and entertainment in Ceredigion.

“The way in which the project brings together both young and old within the community to share their heritage is exciting and we look forward to seeing the project develop.”

Out on the town will be delivered in partnership with a range of organisations, including RAY Ceredigion, an out-of-school childcare network and open-access play service, Age Concern, and arts in health organisation Haul Ceredigion.  A new part-time post will also be created at the museum to support the CHYP steering panel.