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Funding and Awards

This page has information about awards and funding intiatives relevant to museum education.

Useful websites

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New Funding Information Service

MLA South East has commissioned j4b's Open4Funding service to provide museums, libraries and archives in the South East with free access to information on the complete range of funding schemes available in the UK. The service, based on the renowned j4b grants database, will contain over 7500 schemes covering grants and soft loans for public sector, community groups, social enterprises and business from the EU, UK Government, Lottery and Trust Funds. The information is maintained by a team of 14 dedicated researchers and the database is updated every night to ensure that the most accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date information is available. The Trust Funds data is provided under licence from the Directory of Social Change.  MLA South East website.

Google Grants - free advertising for registered charities

For more information Google Grants Website.

Getty Foundation - grants for museums

Under its Grants for Museums strand, the Foundation funds museum projects concerned with: cataloguing of museum collections; conservation; interpretation; publications and research.  Getty Foundation website.

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation will be taking a new approach to its grant making with effect from January 2008, funding a wider range of work.  Esmee Fairbairn Foundation website.

Heritage Funding Directory

The Heritage Funding Directory is a comprehensive online guide to sources of financial support and advice for anyone seeking to undertake projects connected with the UK's heritage. The directory is free and you can either search or browse the entries.  Heritage Funding Directory.   

Wellcome Trust

Entrants are called upon to apply for funding through the Arts Awards backed by the Wellcome Trust, the world's largest medical research charity. All art forms are covered by the programme and the scheme is open to a wide range of individuals and organisations, including museums and other cultural attractions. Projects should have some biomedical scientific input either through a scientist taking on an advisory role or through direct collaboration. Funding can be applied for at two levels. Small to medium sized projects are eligible for grants of up to £30,000 and above £30,000 for large projects.  Wellcome Trust website.

Paul Hamlyn Foundation

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation makes grants to organisations which aim to maximise opportunities for individuals to experience a full quality of life, both now and in the future, in particular children and young people, and others who are disadvantaged. The Foundation has recently altered the criteria of current programmes: the Arts programme and the Education & Learning programme. They have also added a new programme, Social Justice, which aims to help marginalised individuals and communities within the UK become integrated.  Paul Hamlyn Foundation website.

Foundation for Sport and the Arts

The Foundation aims to increase active participation in sport and the arts, especially amongst young people and those with more ability than resources, through the distribution of money subscribed from football pools. Museums are eligible for these awards.  Foundation for Sports and the Arts website.