Seventy-five civic museums and cultural organisations across England are set to receive a share of a £20 million funding injection as part of the government’s Museum Renewal Fund.
The fund will help secure the longevity of civic museums in regions across the country, helping to protect jobs and opening hours, and ensure that their vital role in celebrating local heritage can be maintained.
Organisations across the country are set to receive a share of the funds, including London’s Fulham Palace, the Birmingham Museums Trust and Manchester’s People’s History Museum.
Smaller regional organisations will also receive funding as part of the package, including the Lake District’s Lakeland Arts and The Cromwell Museum in Cambridgeshire.
The Museum Renewal Fund forms part of the government’s wider £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund, which aims to boost growth within the cultural sectors as part of the government’s wider efforts to drive growth within the UK economy through their Plan for Change.
According to government estimates, around 660,000 people work in the cultural sectors across the country, while the creative industries as a whole contribute £124 billion to the UK economy.
Museums Minister, Baroness Twycross said: “Museums offer a place where people from all backgrounds can learn, be inspired and delve into our rich history, helping to understand the stories that led us to where we are today.”
“The Museum Renewal Fund is contributing to the delivery of our Plan for Change. It ensures much-loved civic museums can remain open and continue to provide opportunities for future generations to learn about our shared heritage and how their local community has played its part in our national story.”
One of the key beneficiaries from the funds, the Birmingham Museums Trust, is set to receive over £994,000, which will help improve access to the museum’s collections. This includes the Staffordshire Hoard – the world’s largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork.
The funds have been welcomed by many within the cultural sector.
Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair of Arts Council England said: “Travelling through cities, towns, and villages across the UK, I have seen that museums and art galleries are often a proud focal point in communities, telling important stories about history, people and place. This funding will provide a crucial lifeline for local museums in stabilising their financial situation and building towards a sustainable future.”
Featured image via HM Government.
