19 June 2023
Funding for Small Independent Museums to Tell New Stories and Attract New Audiences
AiM members in the small museum category can apply for funding for projects that seek to tell a new story and attract a new audience to their organisation.
The Association of Independent Museums (AiM), in partnership with the Heritage Fund, is offering grants of up to £15,000 for smaller independent museums across the UK that wish to increase and widen their audiences, enhance their sustainability, and increase participation from groups that are currently under-represented.
The New Stories New Audiences Fund will support projects that result in a wider range of people being involved in heritage, as well as at least one or more of the following objectives:
- Heritage will be better identified and better explained.
- People will have developed skills.
- People will have learnt about heritage leading to a change in ideas and actions.
- People will have greater well-being.
- The organisation will be more resilient.
- The local area will be a better place to live, work, or visit.
Funding can be used to cover direct project costs such as:
- Volunteer expenses.
- Training costs.
- Events costs (including room hire, refreshments and equipment).
- Small capital works (including purchasing equipment, digitisation, and minor building work).
- Costs to improve access.
- Professional fees.
- Interpretation and display costs.
AIM members in the small museum category (up to 20,000 visitors) that seek to work with new partners and try new ideas can apply. This includes both not-for-profit organisations and private heritage collections. Examples of new partners include schools, local history groups, universities, local charities, communities, social or volunteer groups, or individuals such as artists.
The deadline for applications is 31 October 2023.