The new Covid-19 Adaptation Fund from Museums Galleries Scotland has been launched to ensure the safety and confidence of museum staff, volunteers and visitors.
£270,000 has been allocated to achieve this, with a further £62,720 being provided by Art Fund to bring the total to £332,720. Accredited and non-Accredited museums and galleries across Scotland are welcome to apply, with Art Fund’s support being used to prioritise smaller non-Accredited museums fulfilling specific cultural or local needs.
Funding will be offered to institutions seeking help in purchasing items such as personal protective equipment, additional cleaning supplies, and screens to protect front of house staff.
Museums Galleries Scotland has also launched a survey to build a greater understanding of the sector’s readiness to reopen and what support is required. Findings will be shared with the Scottish Government as the organisation continues to collaborate with various industry stakeholders to develop reopening guidance for the sector.
Criteria
The Covid-19 Adaptation Fund will open for applications as soon as the Scottish Government guidelines are published. It will be open to all Accredited and non-Accredited museums and galleries in Scotland.
Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis. Accredited museums can apply for up to £7,500 and Non-Accredited museums can apply for up to £1,500, with partnerships of museums eligible for up to £10,000.
“Museums and galleries are entering another challenging period as they navigate the process of reopening in a way that is safe for staff, volunteers, and visitors. I hope that our COVID-19 Adaptation Fund will help to plan ways to meet immediate needs and ease some of the pressures of reopening,” notes Lucy Casot, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland.
“Our support and funding will remain flexible to adapt to the needs of the sector, as we learn together how museums and galleries can safely operate in line with physical distancing. We urge museums and galleries to keep us informed of the challenges they face and their needs during reopening, so that our support can remain responsive for the sector.”
Museums Galleries Scotland is also collaborating with Scotland Excel to give museums and galleries the chance to benefit from the procurement contracts – first aid, janitorial and PPE – they provide to Scotland’s 32 local authorities.
More information about the Covid-19 Adaption Fund can be found here.
