diff --git a/src/AIS/AIS.cdl b/src/AIS/AIS.cdl
index 6373896482..b1885a7c55 100755
--- a/src/AIS/AIS.cdl
+++ b/src/AIS/AIS.cdl
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ is
 
     class GraphicTool;
                             
-    private class LocalContext;    
+    class LocalContext;    
 
     private class LocalStatus;
 
diff --git a/src/AIS/AIS_InteractiveContext.cdl b/src/AIS/AIS_InteractiveContext.cdl
index 57090f2912..bbab4298c0 100755
--- a/src/AIS/AIS_InteractiveContext.cdl
+++ b/src/AIS/AIS_InteractiveContext.cdl
@@ -2038,6 +2038,18 @@ is
     
 	    ---Category: Internal
 
+        ---Category: Internal
+
+    LocalContext(me) returns LocalContext from AIS;
+    ---Level: Internal 
+    ---Purpose:
+    -- This method is only intended for advanced operation, particularly with
+    -- the aim to improve performance when many objects have to be selected
+    -- together. Otherwise, you should use other (non-internal) methods of
+    -- class AIS_InteractiveContext without trying to obtain an instance of
+    -- AIS_LocalContext.
+    ---C++: inline
+
     SelectionManager(me) returns any SelectionManager from SelectMgr;
     ---C++: inline
     ---C++: return const &
diff --git a/src/AIS/AIS_InteractiveContext.lxx b/src/AIS/AIS_InteractiveContext.lxx
index aa334668da..f9226dddc3 100755
--- a/src/AIS/AIS_InteractiveContext.lxx
+++ b/src/AIS/AIS_InteractiveContext.lxx
@@ -77,6 +77,9 @@ inline const Handle(PrsMgr_PresentationManager3d)& AIS_InteractiveContext::Colle
 inline Standard_Boolean AIS_InteractiveContext::HasOpenedContext() const 
 {return myCurLocalIndex != 0;}
 
+inline Handle_AIS_LocalContext AIS_InteractiveContext::LocalContext() const
+{ return (myCurLocalIndex > 0) ? myLocalContexts(myCurLocalIndex) : NULL; }
+
 inline const TCollection_AsciiString& AIS_InteractiveContext::CurrentName() const 
 {return myCurrentName;} 
 
diff --git a/src/AIS/AIS_LocalContext.cdl b/src/AIS/AIS_LocalContext.cdl
index 7245e186c0..bb3a3cb673 100755
--- a/src/AIS/AIS_LocalContext.cdl
+++ b/src/AIS/AIS_LocalContext.cdl
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 ---Copyright:    Matra Datavision 1996
 
 
-private class LocalContext from AIS inherits TShared from MMgt
+class LocalContext from AIS inherits TShared from MMgt
 
         ---Purpose: Defines a specific context  for selection.      
         --          It becomes possible to:
@@ -531,10 +531,10 @@ is
 
 
     FindSelectedOwnerFromIO(me;anIObj:InteractiveObject from AIS)
-    returns EntityOwner from SelectMgr is private;
+    returns EntityOwner from SelectMgr;
 
     FindSelectedOwnerFromShape(me;aShape : Shape from TopoDS)
-    returns EntityOwner from SelectMgr is private;
+    returns EntityOwner from SelectMgr;