Museums across England can now apply for a share of £20 million
to safeguard community access to their collections and invest in
upgrading their services.
The new £20 million Museum Renewal Fund, which is now open to
applications, is designed to support valued regional museums,
with a local authority link. It will improve public access to
collections and buildings, as well as community and educational
programmes which will help ensure they are fit for the future.
These museums help keep memories alive across generations through
their broad, diverse public collections. As well as being a
crucial resource for schools, they help communities to connect
with their local story by highlighting an area's distinctive
industrial, archaeological, natural and artistic heritage.
The money will boost community programmes, support and grow
schools activities, driving more visitors to museums. It will
also enhance revenue generation, investing in organisational
change and IT upgrades, whilst also supporting jobs in the local
community.
This follows the announcement from the Culture Secretary last
month of the £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund, delivering on the
Government's Plan for Change to boost economic growth and
increase opportunities for people across the country.
Arts Minister Sir said:
Our local and civic museums are the storytellers of our nation's
history, with a shared mission to educate, inspire and
entertain.
They are key to preserving our national heritage at a local level
through their collections and creative programmes, which draw in
thousands of people from across the country, driving the growth
and opportunity central to our Plan for Change. I am delighted
that we have been able to provide this support, helping them to
continue to flourish.
The programme will be delivered by Arts Council England and will
run from April 2025 until March 2026. It will be open to regional
and local museums, with a funding or governance link to a local
authority, across England to support them to safeguard access and
services and invest in resilience measures.
The government is committed to working in partnership with local
councils and leaders, as co-investors in culture.
Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England,
commented:
Regional museums make a vitally important contribution to the way
people engage with culture where they live and gain a deeper
understanding of their communities and place. It is therefore
vital that access to their collections is protected for
generations to come. The Museum Renewal Fund will help these
cherished institutions address immediate pressures and enable
them to look ahead and plan a sustainable future serving their
communities.
Notes to editors:
-
In February, Culture Secretary, announced more
than £270 million in
funding for arts venues, museums, libraries and the
heritage sector in a major boost for growth.
-
The online
portal to apply for the Museum Renewal Fund will
open at 10am on 9 April 2025. Full guidance, including
eligibility criteria and details of how to apply can be found
on the Arts
Council England website.
-
This Fund is intended to safeguard public access to
nationally and regionally significant collections at risk, as
set out in the eligibility criteria.
Museum Renewal grantees will be expected to undertake
additional work to boost business and financial
sustainability beyond 31 March 2026.
