Museums and galleries to benefit

Regional museums and galleries across the UK are set to share in a new £4 million fund designed to improve accessibility and widen public access to arts and culture.

National partnership

The DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, jointly financed by the government and the Wolfson Foundation, will provide match funding for projects that enhance displays, improve collection care and make venues more accessible. More than 440 projects have already benefited from £50 million over the past 20 years.

Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “We want everyone, everywhere to be able to enjoy culture and the arts – and this fund helps us achieve that mission.”

Past successes

Previous grants have supported accessibility projects at the People’s History Museum in Manchester, the Food Museum in Suffolk, and Experience Barnsley Museum. Improvements ranged from new bridges and accessible entrances to updated displays and facilities for disabled visitors.

Wolfson Foundation Chief Executive Paul Ramsbottom said the partnership “enables more visitors to discover, understand and enjoy our country’s remarkable collections.”

Applications open

Applications are now open until 14 November. Funding will prioritise projects that remove barriers to access and deliver long-term benefits for local communities in line with the government’s Plan for Change.