Government launches £24m fund for museum building projects

The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) has opened the latest round of its Museum Estate and Development fund (MEND), providing £24m of investment.

The fund supports important repairs, improvements to visitor experience and capital projects with grants from £50,000 to £5m.

Since MEND launched in 2021, £40m of grants have been awarded to 67 projects across three funding rounds, including £256,000 for stonework repairs to Scarborough’s Rotunda Museum and £2.3m for Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum to replace its roof and undertake maintenance.

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Successful applicants to the third round of funding worth £22.6m, launched last year, will be announced in the spring. The online portal to register expressions of interest in the fourth round opens on 4 March 2024.

The latest round of MEND funding follows £15.2m of support from the fourth round of the government’s Cultural Development Fund, announced last month. Both funding pots, along with the Libraries Investment Fund, form part of the Cultural Investment Fund. 

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

Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, added: “We're excited to continue delivering the programme on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and look forward to seeing the impact of the projects it supports."