Funding available to support regional museums and galleries to ensure collections are more accessible to the public, open to applications to 14 November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Government UK writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People across the country will soon benefit from a \u00a34 million boost for regional museums and galleries through the joint DCMS\/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund. This is part of the Government\u2019s ongoing commitment to ensure everyone, everywhere has access to arts and culture in the place they call home. The \u00a34 million DCMS\/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund is made up of \u00a32 million in match funding and provides support to local people by improving displays, enhancing collections care and making exhibitions more accessible to visitors. Over the last 20 years, more than 440 projects have benefitted from over \u00a350 million in funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This new round of funding will deliver on both the Government\u2019s Plan for Change by breaking down barriers to opportunity and the new Strategic Framework for the Wolfson Foundation, ensuring that collections are more accessible to the public, whether that be through investment in gallery spaces, accessibility measures and collection care. In the previous round of funding, organisations including People\u2019s History Museum in Manchester received over \u00a3200,000 for their Welcome Project, which focused on key improvements to the building as identified in an independent access audit. In line with the museum\u2019s commitment to improving access for all, the project installed a new accessible front door, full toilet renovation including installation of a changing places facility, accessible furniture and updated all signage around the museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Food Museum in Suffolk received more than \u00a389,000 in funding for the Abbot\u2019s Hall estate and its listed gardens, which feature a canal with an early 18th-century fishing lodge. The lodge had been inaccessible to visitors since the 1990s due to the deteriorating condition of the access bridge. With support from the DCMS\/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, the museum built a new bridge that allows visitors to access the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Experience Barnsley Museum used over \u00a337,000 of funding from the previous round for their Chamber of Treasures project, which transformed an underused space in the permanent main gallery with new displays and interpretation of social history collections created with Barnsley\u2019s communities. The project improved access and interpretation for people with disabilities to enhance visitor experiences, whilst improving care of the collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: \u2018We want everyone, everywhere to be able to enjoy culture and the arts \u2013 and this fund helps us achieve that mission. It is a great example of combining public funding with private philanthropy to help deliver on our Plan for Change by ensuring that people who may find accessing museums and galleries difficult have the opportunity to enjoy the incredible collections we have on offer in this country.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: \u2018Museums and galleries play a vital role in deepening our understanding of the past and our shared culture. For over twenty years we have worked with DCMS to support museums and galleries as they improve access and enable more visitors to discover, understand and enjoy our country\u2019s remarkable collections. We\u2019re delighted to continue our partnership with this new round of funding.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From Friday 5 September, the fund is open for applications until Friday 14 November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n