Grant News
The Museums Association has reopened the Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund, which supports museums and community organisations using museum collections to strengthen communities.
The fund focuses on inclusion, equitable partnerships and the role museums can play in advancing social and climate justice.
Funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and administered by the Museums Association, the programme supports inclusive, community-led work with museum collections. Funding is available through two streams:
Partnership project grants support museums and community organisations working together on inclusive collections projects. Projects should respond to local needs and contribute to shared goals around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Core grants support museums using their collections to create longer-term change within their organisations or the wider sector. The grants focus on DEI, social justice and climate justice, with an emphasis on lasting impact and stronger relationships with communities.
Projects can address issues such as wellbeing, decolonisation, anti-racism and the climate crisis. Previous grants have supported community-led exhibitions, oral history projects, more inclusive interpretation, work with under-represented communities and initiatives that give communities greater influence over museum collections.
Key points:
- Open to museums and community organisations across the UK.
- Funded activity must involve museum collections.
- Both partnership project grants and core grants are available.
- There is a strong emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Projects should involve communities meaningfully and as equal partners.
- Two funding rounds will be offered each year in 2027, 2028 and 2029.
The next deadline for expressions of interest is 20 January 2027.
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