The new grants have been developed to help museums, galleries and cultural organisations respond to both the immediate challenges connected to the Covid-19 crisis and the longer-term issues that will require the sector to adapt and reimagine ways of working for the future.
A consultation of the sector helped the organisation pinpoint key areas of priority as: Audiences, Collections, Digital and Workforce.
Respond and Reimagine grants offer funding between £10,000 and £50,000, with applicants seeking 100% funding being considered. Applications for the current phase of the scheme will close on Monday 6th July 2020.
Eligibility
Art Fund is happy to receive applications from UK public museums, galleries, historic houses, libraries and archives that:
- ordinarily have spaces for the public to visit and experience the visual arts or other object-based collections. This could include natural history, maritime and transport, archaeology and social history
- can demonstrate that they usually operate to best practice standards or have a good track record in delivering high quality public activity
- are a visual arts agency or festival (providing they meet the above criteria and have a strong visual arts focus)
Art Fund is unable to provide support to organisations focused on theatre, music, dance or other art forms.
Grants for institutions in immediate need will help support costs connected to re-opening, such as staffing, equipment or training, or planning for future activities. Funding for work further down the line is far more flexible, with Art Fund stating: “if we fund you and it doesn’t work out the way you planned, that’s ok – daring to try something which might not work out quite as planned can provide valuable learning or identify an alternative solution.”
More details about Respond and Reimagine and other Art Fund funding opportunities can be found here.
