Art Fund opens grants scheme to museums for its nature-based Great Escape programme 5 Oct 2022

The Art Fund’s major Great Escape programme is inviting museums to use their collections to engage primary school children with the natural world. It culminates in the unveiling of a collective work of art on Earth Day, April 22nd 2023. The work coincides with the BBC’s Wild Isles programme presented by Sir David Attenborough, and has partners ranging from the RSPB to the World Wildlife Fund. All museums are encouraged to register their interest to take part, but for those in need of funding, Art Fund is setting up local provision with Museum Development UK, with options across the four nations:

• Grants of £500 - £3k are available to individuals, or £24k for consortia.
• Up to 50% of costs can be to deploy existing staff, and no match funding is needed.
• Work must take place between 21st November 2022 – 1st May 2023.
• Activity can include creative work with 7 – 11 year olds at local primary schools, in family settings or local community settings at any point in the project period. It could also mean creating an Earth Day event that connects back to workshop activity.

The deadline for applications is 9am on 2nd November. Art Fund (overview), Art Fund (grants guidance)
NB: Cornwall Museums Partnership is interested in creating a consortium bid, reducing both admin and the risk of museums in the region competing against each other. Details here: CMP

Museum VAT reclaim scheme now open for applications

As announced last month, the Government has reopened its VAT Refund Scheme for museums and galleries to new applicants for the first time since 2018 – 19. Museums open free to the public for over 30 hours per week can apply. The process is now open, and the deadline for applications is 5pm on 3rd January. Gov.uk