National funding boost of more than £1 million awarded to Midlands' museums through new partnership
The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust is set to receive a national funding boost thanks to a partnership with Leicestershire County Council.
As current providers of the West Midlands Museum Development programme, The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust are set to develop a new Midlands Museum Development programme in partnership with Leicestershire County Council, which runs the current East Midlands Museums Development programme.
The partners will receive a grant of £1,142,840 over a period two years from Arts Council England (ACE).
The funding will enable the two programmes to combine forces and deliver a region-wide Museum Development Midlands project between 2024 and 2026.
It is hoped this project will support all 265 museums, encouraging them to consider and mitigate risks, to explore and respond to opportunities, while simultaneously benefitting communities and the heritage and culture sector.
Karen Davies, director of Museum Development at Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this grant, which will enable us and our partners, Leicestershire County Council, to continue to provide much-needed services to museums across the whole of the Midlands.
"We look forward to combining our experience and resources to improve further the support we are able to give museums and their workforces in this vital sector.”
Councillor Christine Radford, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for adults and communities, said: “We are delighted that Arts Council England (ACE) have recognised the eclectic cultural offer that the Midlands has to offer.
"The partnership with the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, located in a World Heritage Site, will strengthen our strategic thinking so that we are able to extend the reach of quality resources and opportunities, encouraging people to explore and enjoy rich cultural offers on their doorstep in ways that work for them.”
From April 2024 to 2026, the Arts Council England will invest more than £3.3 million per year in the Museum Development programme across the country which will provide business-to-business support from museums.
Emmie Kell, director of Museums and Cultural Property, Arts Council England, said: “We know how important museums are to their communities and all they do to help tackle isolation, build connections, foster creativity and instil a strong sense of place.
"The Museum Development Programme is an essential part of the Arts Council’s development offer for museums.
“We are delighted to be announcing our Museum Development partners across England who will help to deliver a refreshed Museum Development programme from April 2024.
“All the partners within the programme have extensive skills, local knowledge and on the ground relationships which will be vital in helping museums respond to challenges and opportunities to face the future with confidence.”
Now the partnership has formed, both organisations will work with Arts Council England over the next few months to finalise details, with funding due to commence in April 2024 until March 2026.
