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• 67 projects across England have already benefited from the scheme
• Fourth round of the Museum Estate and Development Fund launched

Museums are set to benefit from 拢24 million of funding as part of the Government鈥檚 ongoing commitment to supporting world-class culture in all corners of the country.

Museums across England which are accredited by Arts Council England are encouraged to apply for a share of 拢23.8 million funding in the latest round of the Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), which has been launched today by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The fund is part of the Government鈥檚 long-term plan to support local economic growth and will support capital projects at museums, fund important repairs, and improve the visitor experience with grants being available from 拢50,000 to 拢5 million to ensure local history has a home for years to come.

Since it was launched in 2021, 67 projects have received a total of more than 拢40聽million, with funding having already benefited a wide variety of museums. Among the successful applicants were Scarborough鈥檚 Rotunda Museum, where it has funded stonework repairs, and the Framework Knitters Museum in Nottingham, where it supported urgent repairs to its roof, chimneys, windows and gutters.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

Museums across the country form the heart of their community, helping people to learn about our shared heritage, and attracting tourists to the local area.

Over the past two years I鈥檝e been delighted to see how this fund has provided vital support to museums across the country, enabling them to improve their buildings and share their wonderful collections with a wider audience.

The additional funding we are announcing today will mean that even more museums can fund major infrastructure projects, demonstrating the Government鈥檚 strong commitment to supporting culture and making sure that everyone has access to brilliant arts and heritage, no matter where they live.

Previous projects which have benefited from the Museum Estate and Development (MEND) Fund include the following:

• Warwick District Council was awarded 拢2.3 million in 2022 to deliver vital maintenance to Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum, based in the town鈥檚 Grade II-listed Royal Pump Rooms. Works include replacing the roof, improving environmental conditions within the gallery and allowing previously closed galleries to reopen, replacing rooflights, and repairing ceilings and walls.
• Derby Museum and Art Gallery, a landmark building in the heart of the city which dates from 1879, received 拢750,000 in 2021 for a project to undertake the replacement of roofs, address rainwater problems, install accessible toilets and handrails, and make improvements to lighting levels.
• The London Transport Museum, the world鈥檚 leading museum of urban transport, has a collection including famous design icons such as the Tube Map, the black cab, and the Routemaster bus, as well as a world-leading collection of poster art and urban design. It received 拢277,093 in 2021 for essential upgrades to its visitor lifts, making them safer, more energy efficient and more reliable.
• The Grade I-listed Harewood House in West Yorkshire boasts interiors by the designer and architect Robert Adam and furnishings and fittings designed by Thomas Chippendale. Its 拢497,474 grant, awarded in 2022, is working to address the deterioration of the external joinery, including roof lanterns, windows and doors. Further masonry repairs will protect the fabric of the house from water ingress.
• Bletchley Park, the museum and former top-secret Second World War code-breaking centre near Milton Keynes, was given 拢468,000 in 2021 to pay for essential maintenance works to its electrical and water service.
• Scarborough鈥檚 Rotunda Museum, one of the world鈥檚 first purpose-built museums, which was designed to showcase William Smith鈥檚 geological collections in the early 19th Century, received a grant of 拢256,054 through the first round of the fund in 2021 for stonework repairs to the facade of the Grade II listed building.
• The Framework Knitters Museum in Nottingham, which tells the story of early mechanical sewing and how it gave birth to Nottingham鈥檚 lace industry, was awarded 拢62,925 in 2021 for urgent repairs to roofing, chimneys, windows and gutters on its historic building.

The successful applicants to the third round of funding launched last year worth 拢22.6 million are due to be announced in the spring.

Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said:

Museums bring huge benefits to towns and cities across England and the people who live in them.聽 By investing in the infrastructure they need, we can make sure our museums are fit for the future, and can make an even greater contribution to their local economies and communities.

We鈥檙e excited to continue delivering the programme on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, and look forward to seeing the impact of the projects it supports.

This funding builds on 拢15.2 million of support from the Government鈥檚 Cultural Development Fund which was announced last month. Both the Museum and Estate Development Fund and the Cultural Development Fund form part of the Cultural Investment Fund, along with the Libraries Investment Fund. Through the first two rounds of the , 134 organisations across the country have received a share of 拢106.8 million.

Notes to editors:

Arts Council England delivers this fund on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Guidance has been published today by Arts Council England to provide further information for accredited museums considering making an application.

The online portal to register Expressions of Interest opens on 4th March 2024.