Applications to our Small Grant: Big Improvement scheme 2020/21 are now closed.

If you have any queries regarding future grants or an existing application, please get in touch using our contact page and select ‘grants’ from the list of options.

We know that a small amount of money can make a big difference to museums and the communities in which they work.

We fund projects that address one of the three strands of Arts Council England’s Accreditation Scheme:

• Organisational health
• Managing collections
• Users and their experiences

Grants available:

• Individual museums – up to £1,000 with 25% match funding
• Partnerships of museums or museum networks – up to £7,000 with 25% match funding

Is my museum or network eligible to apply?

Your museum must:

• Be in the South West of England
• Be Accredited, provisionally Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation
• NOT be an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation or be in direct receipt of National Portfolio Organisation funding
• Be in a local authority area whose council financially supports the South West Museum Development Programme*, as it is this additional investment that makes this grant scheme possible. See our funders page to check if your museum is in a local authority contributing area
• Have already completed the 2018/19 South West Museum Development Annual Museum Survey return or submit the survey return as part of the application

If applying as a network you must:

• Be in the South West of England
• Directly serve the needs of museum and heritage organisations e.g. a county museum group
• Have officers elected by the membership
• Hold its own bank account to administer the grant

How can I find out more?

Please see the Application Guidance (PDF)

How do I submit an application?

Applications are to be made using our application form along with a copy of their current Forward/ Business Plan.

Applications to the Small Grant: Big Improvement scheme are now closed. 

For further information please get in touch

*Please note the Local Authority investors shown are for the financial period 2019/20. Investors for the 2020/21 period are currently being confirmed – there are a final few who will confirm in the coming weeks. To double check if you’re Local Authority has confirmed contribution please contact us at [email protected]

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