Danny Boyle next to the Beyer-Garratt articulated steam locomotive, on display in the soon-to-reopen Power Hall: The Andrew Law Gallery at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester.
We are delighted to announce that Abby Mather has joined the NMDC team as our new Executive Assistant. Abby has a wealth of experience in project management and administration, and previously held various roles at National Museums Liverpool prior to more recent experience working in the IT sector. She has a keen interest in archaeology, regularly volunteering at Merseyside Archaeological Society, and holds a degree in Egyptology.
On 8th October DCMS announced the recipients of the £20m Museums Renewal Fund. The Fund is part of the £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund announced by the Culture Secretary in February 2025, and will be shared between 75 civic museums across England. The aim of the Fund is to improve public access to collections, protect community and educational programmes, and help to ensure regional museums are fit for the future.
NMDC Chair Laura Pye said: "We are delighted to see so many museums, including many of NMDC’s members, benefit from the Museum Renewal Fund. It’s fantastic to see Government’s commitment to protecting our world-class civic museums, which are facing an unprecedented set of economic pressures. This new funding will enable them to survive and thrive, continuing to provide vital services to their local communities and supporting growth and opportunity for people all over the country."
Jon Finch, Chair of the English Civic Museums Network, said: “Museums continue to face a range of unprecedented and long-term challenges that pose serious risks to their sustainability. Recent changes to national insurance contributions, coupled with rising inflation and increases to the minimum wage, are among the pressures intensifying the wider economic uncertainty at local, regional, and national levels. In addition to their cultural and social value, museums play a vital role in the economy. As a sector, with many institutions that are civic in nature, museums have been shown to deliver over £1.45 billion of economic output locally, regionally and nationally. This equates to approximately £3 of economic return for every £1 of public sector investment. We are especially grateful to ACE and DCMS for recognising the needs of the sector and for moving swiftly to establish and administer this fund.” Read full details on gov.uk
Have Your Say: 2025 Lending and Borrowing Survey now open
In 2021 NMDC and The Exhibitions Group (TEG) launched the Principles and Guide to Lending and Borrowing, a shared commitment to making museum loans across the UK more open, practical, and accessible. Four years on, we want to know: how’s it going?
This short survey — 'Lending and Borrowing Today: 2025 Review' — is for anyone involved in lending or borrowing between UK collections. Responses will help assess how widely the Principles have been adopted, where challenges remain, and how future guidance can better support the sector. It takes around 15 minutes to complete and is open until 5pm, Monday 10 November 2025.
Please answer based on your organisation’s UK loans, and feel free to consult colleagues if needed. Your insight will help shape the future of lending and borrowing in the UK. Access the survey here.
National Gallery announces plans for a new wing and international architectural competition
The National Gallery announced it has already attracted £375m of cash pledges towards plans for a new wing and transformation of the surrounding public areas. An architectural competition has been launched alongside the announcement, which is the third stage of an ambitious masterplan commissioned in 2018. The new wing will be built on the site of the last remaining part of the Gallery’s current campus, St Vincent House. The property was acquired nearly 30 years ago for the purpose of expanding gallery space and currently houses a hotel and office complex. The funding will also support the Gallery's move to extend its historic collection, and marks the beginning of a new collaboration with Tate and other museums in the UK and around the world.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “This landmark investment is fantastic news for the National Gallery and the arts in general. It boosts the economy, opens doors for educational experiences for young people and will make great art accessible for generations to come. As set out in our Civil Society Covenant, this government values the role of philanthropists and institutions like the National Gallery in creating a better, fairer future for all." NG, BBC, Times (£), Telegraph (£), FT, Museums Journal
Also: Art lovers rejoice: the National Gallery can finally show us when painting really gets exciting, Guardian
Also: Can museums really give power to the people? Apollo Magazine
David Bowie Centre at V&A East Storehouse opens to the public
On the 13 September The David Bowie Centre at V&A East Storehouse opened which allows the public to access the musician’s archive for the first time. The Centre incorporates nine displays featuring 200 items that spotlight key moments across Bowie’s career, his influences and collaborations, with never seen items including ‘The Spectator’, an unrealised musical he was working on until his death in 2016. Visitors can book one-on-one time with their selections from the 90,000+ items in Bowie’s archive through the new 'Order an Object' service and via appointments with the V&A Archives team. Access to visit the David Bowie Centre is free but ticketed, with new tickets released every six weeks. V&A, FT (£), Art Newspaper (£), Evening Standard, Times
Birmingham Museums Trust to create ‘Cultural Citizenship Research Centre’
Birmingham Museums Trust (BMT) has published its five year strategy to 2030. Entitled ‘Laying the Foundations’, it outlines plans to 'reshape the city’s museum landscape, ensure long-term sustainability and greater community engagement.' Included in the strategy is a new Cultural Citizenship Research Centre which will integrate collections, audiences and participatory research and enhance university and community partnerships. In a joint foreword, the trust’s co-chief executives Sara Wajid and Zak Mensah outlined the financial issues facing BMT: “Currently we don’t have the funding to open all our venues, or even all of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BMAG).” The statement goes on to explain the aims of the strategy in stabilising the future of Birmingham's museums, with plans to fully reopen BMAG in 2031: “This business plan attempts both to address the worst financial crisis in the history of Birmingham’s civic museums, and to set out a vision of the world class and world changing institutions they have the potential to become.” BMAG, M+H Advisor, Museums Journal, Express & Star
Tate plans for new green spaces go to Westminster Council
Funded by the Clore Duffield Foundation, Tate is working with celebrated garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith and the Royal Horticultural Society to transform Tate Britain’s surrounding landscape along Millbank. Scheduled to open in 2026, the proposal also includes a "garden classroom" in a timber-framed pavilion, clad in stone, for hands-on learning. It would be placed between the Tate Lodge and Clore Gallery, and act as a new learning space for schools, community groups and volunteers. Tate, BBC,Arts Professional (£), Evening Standard
British Museum plans fundraising ball inspired by Met Gala
The inaugural British Museum Ball will be held in the autumn. Planned as an annual event to celebrate London's status as a leading cultural capital, and timed to coincide with the close of Frieze London art fair and the BFI London Film Festival, it will include a silent auction to raise funds to support the British Museum's international partnerships. British Museum, Independent, Times (£), Telegraph (£), Museums Journal, Art Newspaper (£)
Stars show their support for Sheffield Museums at 150th anniversary fundraiser, 19 September 2025, Star
Bronze Age hoard acquired for Scotland exhibition, 1 September 2025, National Museums Scotland, M+H Advisor
BFI National Lottery Funding Plan launched with 3 year investment of £150 million representing a 10% increase to support UK screen culture and industry, 18 September 2025, BFI
V&A East director: My biggest ask is for government to reinvest in creative education, 18 September 2025, Arts Professional (£)
Breathing new life into the old at Amgueddfa Cymru, 15 September 2025, Museums Journal
Two men arrested after burglary at St Fagan's National Museum of History, BBC
Rest assured, the Bayeux tapestry will be transported here safely, British Museum, 5 September 2025, Guardian (letter from Nicholas Cullinan)
This month we celebrate the reopening of the Science and Industry Museum’s Power Hall in Manchester. Power Hall: The Andrew Law Gallery is due to reopen on Friday 17 October and highlights a unique collection of historic 19th and early 20th century working engines, showcasing Manchester as an epicentre for the engine-driven ideas and industry that shaped the world. SMG
Also: Science Museum launches Space gallery, Museums Journal
Also: National Railway Museum in York reopens Station Hall, BBC
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that the Autumn Budget will be delivered on Wednesday 26 November. HM Treasury has launched the Budget representation portal where you can submit comments on existing policy for consideration in the Budget which will be collated and shared with HMT policy officials. The portal will close at 23:59 on Wednesday 15 October. Gov.uk (announcement), Gov.uk (portal)
As part of the reshuffle following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, former DCMS Minister Chris Bryant moved to the Department of Business and Trade on 6 September. Baroness Fiona Twycross has taken over the brief for museums and cultural property, as well as heritage, libraries and the National Archives, becoming Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling. Former Scotland Secretary Ian Murray was appointed Minister of State for Creative Industries, Media and Arts, jointly in the DCMS and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and Stephanie Peacock as Minister for Sport, Tourism, Civil Society and Youth. Gov.uk (Twycross) Gov.uk (Murray) Gov.uk (Peacock) Arts Professional (£)
The Government has announced the Local Regeneration Fund, which consolidates the existing Levelling Up, Town Deals and Simplification Pathfinders Pilot Funds together into a single funding pot. The change has been made following feedback from local government on the need for less bureaucratic micromanagement and more local control. Local authorities will still benefit from the monitoring burden reduction and simplified payments. Gov.uk
The Government has also announced investment in six mayoral regions to grow their creative industries. The Creative Places Growth Fund will see Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, North East, West of England, West Midlands and West Yorkshire each receive £25m. £8m in grants will also go to more than 100 small and medium-sized creative businesses across 12 UK regions including Cornwall, Devon, Hull and East Midlands as part of the Create Growth Programme. Gov.uk, BBC
Building on the success of the UK City of Culture scheme, the UK Town of Culture programme will see multiple towns competing to win the title with the winning town delivering a cultural programme. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced that the competition will run in 2029 with more information to be published soon. Gov.uk
Also: Arts Council England building fund demand outstrips budget by £620m, Arts Professional (£)
View of inside Power Hall. Credit Dave Bewick Science and Industry Museum.
New research on children and young people's engagement with museums
Arts Council England has published two new reports commissioned to look at the impact of museums on children and young people:
Research by the Group for Education in Museums (GEM) 'Children and Young People Engaging with Museums' features ten in-depth case studies and sector insights demonstrating how important informal museum learning is for children and young people. The research was carried out between January and March 2025 and highlights the powerful and positive impact that museums can have providing enrichment, enhancing learning, creativity and wellbeing for children and young people of all ages. Caroline Marcus, Chair of GEM, said: “These examples show the breadth and huge potential of informal engagement for children, of all abilities, in their early years through to young adulthood. We are delighted to be sharing these impactful case studies and supporting the sector to develop their practice through connecting and learning together." GEM, ACE (full report PDF)
Research to understand the lifecycle of children and young people’s engagement in museums by Verian aimed to understand how children and young people engage with museums and explore the influences that shape or prevent engagement. Headline findings include:
52% of children aged 0-15 had visited a museum in the last year and 37% of 11-15 year olds reported visiting museums to spend time with family or friends.
Parents and carers find museums to be important avenues for recreation and bonding with children, with 75% visiting museums to spend time with family and friends.
However barriers remain for some children and young people in accessing museums – most commonly money (38%) and time (36%).
Children and young people in London were the most likely to have visited a museum (63%), with the lowest engagement being in the West Midlands (39%). ACE (full report PDF)
Aysha Afridi, Interim Director (Museums) at ACE, has also written a blog reflecting on the findings of the two reports. ACE (summary of research) ACE (blog)
Also: GEM Museum Learning Research Survey – take part in this survey which aims to understand research areas that would be most useful for museum learning professionals and to gauge existing ongoing research. GEM
Museums Association new Code of Ethics prompts debate
The new Museums Association Code of Ethics was ratified by members at the MA Conference on 7 October. It has prompted a renewed debate on how the sector is funded. Former Culture Secretary, Lord Vaizey, called the proposals ‘misguided’ and ‘ill-formed’ in a piece for Arts Professional (£): “..in practice it (the Code) raises more questions than it answers. The real opportunity lies not in drawing up rigid prohibitions, but in helping museums navigate complexity, share best practice and build confidence in their own decision-making.” This piece for Artnet ‘Why corporate sponsorship is getting riskier for museums’ uses the UK as a starting point in taking a global view. The MA published a round up of recent developments in this analysis piece. MA (Code of Ethics)
Innovators, thinkers and leaders are needed for the Happy Museum Steering Group! Happy Museum’s mission is to re-imagine museums for a sustainable future, by fostering wellbeing that doesn’t cost the earth.The Happy Museum is a volunteer and freelancer-led group that works in partnership with Julie’s Bicycle who hold legal and financial oversight. Steering Group members are needed who want to find new ways to support museums to creatively face the challenges the sector is dealing with, supporting them to positively address the climate and ecological emergency, systemic inequality, social polarisation and social injustice. The Steering Group meets approximately 6 times a year. Expression of interest are requested by 10am on 10th November to [email protected]. Happy Museum Project
Bayeux Tapestry National Programme – Call for partners
The British Museum is calling for partners to join a Bayeux Tapestry National Programme that will complement its “once-in-a-generation” exhibition of the 11th-century tapestry. Partners will be a part of a programme which will include digital assets, participative artworks and happenings, and a platform for myriad other Bayeux Tapestry-related events and programming. For more details contact John Stokes, Dorset Foundation Head of National Programmes, [email protected], Museums Journal
Postal Museum to work on legacy of Post Office scandal
Announced on the 18 September, the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry said it will work with London's Postal Museum on an upcoming Legacy Project to mark the Horizon scandal. The Legacy Project will mark the Horizon scandal in history and pay homage to the people it has impacted, ensuring its effects cannot be forgotten. Postal Museum, Museums Journal, Post Office IT Inquiry Legacy Project
Government publishes research into the impact of local authority funding cuts on heritage
Published on 25 September, the ‘rapid evidence review’ by DCMS was commissioned to gather case study evidence of the impact that increased budgetary pressures on local authorities (LAs) can have on small to medium heritage sector organisations (HOs) including museums, natural heritage and historic landmarks. Case studies include Kirklees Museum and Galleries, Brontë Parsonage Museum, and the Calderdale Industrial Museum, and the findings show that several council-run museums, galleries and heritage sites had experienced significant cuts resulting in site closures, reduced hours and reduced programming. In part, this has led to the curtailment of some public access to heritage, impacting more deprived areas and communities. The review highlighted that intangible heritage in particular is at significant risk due to its dependency on annual funding and unpaid labour, as well as how networks of support and advice are key – for example, Museum Development North were almost universally praised by all interviewees and sites, and several of the case studies had directly accessed their events, advice or contacts. Gov.uk
Also: Wakefield Council votes to withhold museum’s funding in support of striking workers, Arts Professional (£), BBC
Sector overview of closures and a reprieve for one museum in Scotland
The River and Rowing Museum in Henley finally closed its doors on the 21 September due to financial pressures, with the BBC reporting on the uncertainty over the 35,000 artefacts held in the museum collection. Kevin Sandhu the museum director said: "The idea would be to keep all of those collections together, though with 35,000 things – including some rather large boats – that may not be practically possible. What follows next will be exploring other ways and possible future destinations for those collections but there's still more work to be done on fleshing out the details." Museums Journal. Difficult financial conditions facing museums were also reflected in the decision by Aberdeenshire Council to put ambitions plans for a new Peterhead museum on hold whilst they re-tender in a bid to find cost reductions. Its transformation forms part of the £20 million Peterhead Cultural Quarter Project. Grampian.
In Manchester the Lowry arts centre is looking to secure £10m needed for ‘critical upgrades’ to its infrastructure via Arts Council England's Creative Foundations Fund. If the venue’s bid is successful, Salford City Council will provide an additional £1.5m to deliver the project which will tackle problems with escalators, lifts and boilers and upgrade their fire response systems. BBC, Arts Professional (£) Also in the news this month English Heritage have a public ‘Your Places’ appeal to raise some of the money required to cover the £4.2m conservation costs associated with its free to enter sites. M+H Advisor, English Heritage
In more positive news, the Falconer Museum in Forres, north-east Scotland has been given renewed hope of reopening after a six year closure. The museum was closed in 2019 after Moray Council cut its £800,000 annual grant due to budget pressures. A new operating body is hoping to open the museum with a gradual five year transition process from the ownership of the council. Museums Journal
New research focussed on Glasgow and Plymouth has shown the impact of culture as a tourism draw with the associated economic benefits that visitors bring. Research into the impact of tourism on the local economy of Glasgow has highlighted 4.72 million visitors stayed overnight during 2024 – an increase of over 20% on the previous year. The economic impact delivered was £1.84 billion and the data shows the ‘Discovering Degas’ exhibition at The Burrell Collection attracted around 42,000 visitors, with ‘Beyond Van Gogh’ at the SEC recording record-breaking attendances of over 50,000. GlasgowLife. Meanwhile The Box in Plymouth has published an independent research report which estimates that the arts venue has boosted Plymouth's economy by £244m since it opened in September 2020. The Box added that it had generated £100m in health and wellbeing benefits, with £43m in estimated benefits from reduced incidences of depression and dementia as a result of the attraction and its exhibits. Arts Professional (£), BBC
Diversity, inclusion and tackling the legacy of slavery
Symposium on transatlantic slavery at National Museums Liverpool
The Transatlantic Slavery and Legacies in Museums Forum has announced that it will be hosting a Symposium at the Museum of Liverpool on 20-21 November looking at preparing for the bicentenaries of the Abolition of Slavery in the 2030s. The in-person event will also be available online. The Forum has analysed and critiqued the 2007 bicentenary commemorations and planned a first day that will focus on ‘Legacies, Collaboration and Reflection’. The second half-day will serve as a sector planning session, focusing on ‘Reckonings, Relationships and Responsibilities’, where the aim is to create a clear roadmap of recommendations for the sector to apply in preparations for the bicentenaries. This event is free and the Transatlantic Slavery and Legacies in Museums Forum offers a bursary scheme to support travel costs for delegates who would not be able to attend otherwise. NML
Creative PEC report looks at Leadership Diversity in the creative industries
A new report from Creative PEC aims to provide a benchmark for diverse leadership in the sector, marking a line in the sand from which progress can and should be made. The report highlights that 88% of the arts, culture and heritage workforce is White, only 37% of the creative industries workforce are women, just 17% have a disability and working class representation is well below the wider UK economy (22% versus 35.2%). As a whole the report shows that workforce diversity in the creative industries has stalled and in some cases is going backwards. Recommendations include tracking leadership progression, not just workforce entry, and ensuring public investment is conditional on inclusive governance. The report also compares data from the creative industries and cultural industries (which includes the museum sector). Creative PEC
Museums Association names Anti-Racist Museums Programme participants
The Museums Association has named the six museums which will be taking part in this year’s Anti-Racist Museum Programme, which presents an opportunity to create meaningful change in the UK museum sector through organisational and professional development. The aim is to create a thriving network of museums and leaders that are committed to personal and organisational change, collaboration and peer learning, and being at the forefront of anti-racist practice in UK museums. The museums involved are:
Unesco launches virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects
This Unesco project, launched on the 29 September in Barcelona, is dedicated to digitising stolen cultural objects. The website aims to contribute to raising awareness among the general public of the consequences of illicit trafficking of cultural property as well as contributing to the recovery of stolen objects. Visitors will be able to explore virtual spaces as in a real museum and get access to educational digital materials. The museum will also include stories and testimonies from local communities. It will be conducted jointly by UNESCO and INTERPOL in collaboration with other key technical partners and local communities. Interpol’s database lists more than 52,000 stolen cultural pieces, about 600 of which are expected to be displayed in the virtual museum. UNESCO, Museums Journal
Also: After Blythe House: What do the nationals’ new facilities tell us about the future of storage? Museums Journal
Also: Don’t mention the war? It’s not an option for museums or the art market, Apollo Magazine
Rethinking environmental responsibility in public programming – new toolkit for museums and galleries
Art Fund and the Design Museum have produced a new toolkit to help museums and galleries reduce the environmental impact of their learning, outreach and public programmes. From finding language that resonates with local audiences, to thinking about the life cycle of materials and connecting with local partners, the toolkit is designed to equip museums with useful skills, knowledge and resources to enable them to initiate and facilitate climate conversations, making this global issue locally tangible. The new resource is an outcome of Art Fund’s collaboration with THE HERDS, which supported 44 museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK to deliver activities inspired by THE HERDS' global journey, including workshops and events from puppetmaking to nature walks, and inviting their local communities to come together to explore, learn about and appreciate local nature and the challenges it faces due to the climate crisis. Rethinking Environmental Responsibility Toolkit
COP30, the United Nations Climate Conference, will be held in Belém, Brazil, from the 10 November. ‘We Make Tomorrow’ is a global campaign uniting artists, artivists, creative industries, cultural heritage keepers, organisations and networks to celebrate and unite in a commitment to protecting our earth with the aim of putting culture at the heart of climate action. Supported by Julie’s Bicycle you can add your signature to the global call to help leaders and decision makers recognise that the creative industries can be part of climate solutions. We Make Tomorrow, COP30
Running over 5 days from 12-16 November to coincide with COP30, the London Art+Climate Week, presented by the Gallery Climate Coalition, will include a public programme of discussions, family workshops, guided tours and activations on the topics of climate and environment, produced by several of the capital’s most popular galleries and institutions. Tate Modern, Barbican and Design Museum will participate in events, alongside other organisations including the Horniman Museum & Gardens. There is a dedicated website to find out more and sign up for a newsletter for more details. The complete programme will be announced by mid-October. London Art+Climate Week, Arts Professional (£)
ICOM Sustainable Museums Practice shortlist announced
ICOM has announced the museums and projects that contribute meaningfully to sustainable development within the international museum sector. The global award recognises innovative initiatives and exemplary practices. From a pool of 130 long listed projects spanning 60 countries, 25 shortlisted candidates represent the ICOM Award Jury’s selection of projects that reflect exemplary museum practices. Included in the shortlist is Roots & Branches from Manchester Museum and Museum Development NW which focuses on exchanging climate change skills and knowledge across the sector. The winners will be announced at the inaugural ICOM Award ceremony at the 27th ICOM General Conference in Dubai in November. ICOM
Also: Birmingham museums’ net zero deal saves sites £182k in costs, Arts Professional (£)
A new report from One Further, which specialises in digital services for arts and culture organisations, looks at the impact that Google’s AI-powered search means for visibility, traffic and audiences in the UK arts and culture sector. These AI-generated summaries sit right at the top of results, pulling together information from multiple sources and answering questions instantly. They often give people what they need without ever needing to visit a website. To analyse the impact of the new AI search, One Further looked at search traffic data from 100 UK cultural organisations. The report shows that 80% of organisations have seen decreases in search traffic. Informational content has been hit hardest. Visitor information, beginner-level articles, glossaries, and even online collections are seeing fewer clicks. Another issue is the visibility of arts and culture organisation websites in the search results, appearing on average in only 6% of relevant AI overviews. One Further
MuseumNext have shared a case study on the 2024 National Museum of the Royal Navy cyberattack and the impact it had on their entire digital infrastructure, as well as the financial and organisational impact. There are also recommendations for the sector: ‘Perhaps the most sobering takeaway is the acceptance that cyberattacks are no longer a question of if, but when. As George (Wilson, Head of IT) reflects, “Even though we’ve been through it, there’s a good chance we’ll face it again. What matters is having bulletproof backup and recovery solutions in place.” MuseumNext
The Archives & Record Association also have a Friday Lunchtime webinar: Living Through a Cyber Attack: Pain, Positivity and Patience by Louisa Blight, Head of Collections and Research, National Museum of the Royal Navy on Friday 21 November from 1-3.30pm. The webinar is free to attend and the closing date for Eventbrite bookings is Wednesday 19th November 2025. ARA
Unlocking the potential of digital collections event
On the 30 October Rebecca Bailey, Programme Director of Towards a National Collection, will deliver a lecture at the Society of Antiquaries of London. Highlighting the achievements from the Towards a National Collection programme's first five years and introduce the new National Research Infrastructure for Cultural Heritage (N-RICH) Prototype project. The event is free and open to all, in-person and online from 5-6pm. Society of Antiquaries of London
Interactives inside Power Hall, Credit Dave Bewick Science and Industry Museum.
The 2025 Museums Change Lives Awards were announced at the Museums Association Conference in Cardiff on 8 October. The awards recognise and celebrate outstanding work by UK museums delivering social impact. Congratulations to all the shortlisted individuals and museums whose hard work has been recognised. The winners are:
£67K awarded to support arts and mental health initiatives across Scotland's museums
Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) has awarded £67,810 through the Creative Minds Fund to support museums and mental health organisations in creating engagement opportunities for people facing mental health issues. Projects include £18,020 awarded to the University of Glasgow for a Collections Creative Project which will see The Hunterian collaborate with Impact Arts, bringing together a group of young people experiencing mental health issues and social anxiety to engage with The Hunterian’s collections through a series of workshops. This fund has been made possible by support from The Baring Foundation. MGS
Museums Galleries Scotland award £56K to community groups in collaboration with museums
Community groups in Shetland and Dundee will benefit from £56K funding to amplify underrepresented voice through the Delivering Change: Community Catalyst programme. ZYA Community will use its funding to collaborate with Shetland Museum and Archives, showcasing the work of four artists who have been systemically excluded, culminating in an exhibition at Shetland Museum and Archives in October 2026. Dundee International Women’s Centre will work with the McManus Art Gallery and Museum to showcase the stories of women from migrant communities in Dundee. Delivering Change is delivered by MGS and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, and the Scottish Government. MGS
The Royal Society provide the ‘Places of Science’ grants of up to £3,500 for small museums, funding projects that share the stories of science and scientists relevant to communities across the UK. They strongly welcome applications from projects that align with the themes of the Natural History Museum’s Fixing Our Broken Planet programme and in particular are interested in experiences of historically underrepresented groups. The Royal Society are also interested in projects that reach audiences who do not normally engage with science. The deadline for applications is 12pm on Wednesday 12 November. There are also case studies on the website for further guidance. Royal Society
National Lottery Project Grants from Arts Council England
This open access programme for arts, libraries and museums is now open with grants ranging from £1k to £100k. There are two strands to apply for: £30,000 and under, and £30,001-£100,000 strand. The application forms for National Lottery Project Grants are hosted on a different platform and you will need to create a new applicant profile before you can make an application – information on how to do this is included in the new guidance on the ACE website. ACE
Equality and Inclusion grants scheme for Welsh museums now open
The equality and inclusion grant programme from the Welsh Government is offering funding streams. The first stream is an ‘Innovation and Partnership’ fund working to tackle inequality and promote inclusion with a total fund of £450,000 and awards starting at £40,000 which is ideal for collaborative bids. The second stream is for ‘Awareness and Engagement’ grants, with a total fund of £750,000 and two tiers available (£2K-£9,999 and £10K to £100,000). The application deadline is 16 November 2025. Third sector organisations (for example, community groups, registered charities, social enterprises) are welcome to apply and Local Authorities and other public bodies can apply as collaborators. Gov.Wales
This autumn the Happy Museum are running two online workshops:
Playful Approaches for Museum Teams, on 14 October from 12.30-2pm, will explore how playful approaches might open up new ideas and creativity in your work, within your organisation, and with your communities
Tending to Endings, on 11 November also from 12.30-2pm, explores how to close, dispose and end well with partners.
Sessions cost £10. Eventbrite (Playful Approaches), Eventbrite (Tending to Endings)
Dementia, Museums and Wellbeing Conference 14 October
The Wallace Collection in London is hosting this free conference on Tuesday 14 October from 10-4pm which will also be accessible online, exploring how heritage and the arts can support people living with dementia. From the museum sector, Historic Royal Palaces will revisit their 2017 Rethinking Heritage dementia-friendly toolkit; Amgueddfa Cymru–Museum Wales will share insights from their Museums Inspiring Memories partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society; and National Museums Liverpool will highlight the international reach of their House of Memories programme and its pioneering digital resources. The full conference programme is available via the link. Wallace Collection
Heritage Debate 2025 – Closer to home: Is local decision making the future of heritage?
This year’s Heritage Debate from the Heritage Alliance will take place on Thursday 6 November from 12-2pm. With local government reorganisation on the horizon, new mayoral powers emerging, and communities gaining new rights to shape their places, the question of who makes decisions about heritage has never been more critical. Speakers include Sara Wajid, Co-CEO of Birmingham Museums Trust. The online session via Zoom is free to join. Heritage Alliance
Time to reboot your digital fundraising this November
Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy are running this online workshop across two half days on 6 and 13 November from 10-1pm. Suitable for all levels, this course supports participants to take their next steps in raising money through digital channels. The sessions will help you refresh your approach, stay ahead of the latest trends and plan for how to fundraise online in volatile, rapidly changing times. Tickets cost £75+VAT with a concessionary rate of £50+VAT. Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy
Facilities Management event from the Museums Association
The Museums Association are running this online day called ‘Building Foundations: Transforming Facilities Management’ on 19 November 2025 from 11-4pm. Through a mix of panel discussions, case studies and audience participation, delegates will have the chance to share their own experiences and hear more about innovative practice across the sector. Speakers include Beth Hodges, Head of Estates at the Horniman Museums & Gardens, Simon Halliday, Head of Facilities at the Fitzwilliam Museum and Dan Miles, Sector to Net Zero Project Lead at Historic England. This online event costs £67 for non-members and £46 for members. Museums Association
Running on 20 and 21 November, the Museum Next Social Media Summit is a virtual conference with sessions on TikTok, trying new things and building sustainable influencer partnerships. Speakers include staff from the Natural History Museum and National Museums Scotland as well as providing an international perspective from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Tickets cost £130 for an individual ticket. You can also buy an unlimited ticket for £260 for organisational access. MuseumNext
View of inside Power Hall. Credit Dave Bewick Science and Industry Museum.
On the 28 September The Harris museum, art gallery and library in Preston opened to the public following a four-year redevelopment. The £19m transformation has created new galleries, community facilities, learning spaces, cafe and shop. One of the temporary exhibition spaces is opening with an exhibition on Wallace & Gromit in creator Nick Park’s home town. ‘Wallace & Gromit in A Case at the Museum’, features a recreation of Wallace’s living room, closely based on Park’s grandmother’s Preston home. The Harris hopes to welcome at least 450,000 visitors a year after the reopening, an increase of 100,000. The Harris, BBC, Lancashire Post, Museums Journal
The new £2m Schroder Gallery, located on the lower ground floor of the Holborn Museum in Bath, opened on the 10 September and was designed by Eric Parry Associates with Real Studios. The Schroder family have loaned nearly 200 Renaissance pieces to the Holburne, including an early 17th-century bronze by Italian sculptor Giambologna depicting the abduction of Hercules' wife Deianeira. Holburne Museum, Art Newspaper (£), Guardian, Blooloop
News on new museums, exhibitions spaces and redevelopments
The Design Museum in London and History of Science Museum in Oxford have both announced plans for new galleries. The Design Museum is planning an overhaul of their permanent gallery in time for their 40th anniversary in 2029. The project has secured development funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund with a two-year development phase that will culminate in a full grant of over £2,700,000. Design Museum, Times (£)(interview Tim Marlow)
Oxford University’s History of Science Museum has received Listed Building Consent and Planning Permission for a major project, the refurbishment and building strategy will make the museum fully accessible and will preserve the building’s heritage and world-famous collections. Built as Britain’s first public museum in 1683, the historic building on Broad Street became home to what is now the History of Science Museum just over 100 years ago. HSM, BBC
Work has also begun on the DNA (Derry-Londonderry on the North Atlantic) Museum at the city’s Ebrington Square which will house 6 galleries, a discovery zone and a genealogy service. The £15m project is due to be completed in the spring of 2027. BBC, Museums Journal
NMDC members National Museums Liverpool (NML) and the Black Country Living Museum (BCLM) have named new Chairs to help lead their organisations. Professor Martin Levermore is joining BCLM from October 2025, chairing a Board of Trustees of 15 with ultimate responsibility for the award-winning Museum’s operation, performance and development. Levermore is Visiting Professor for Health, Education and Life Science at Birmingham City University. Andrea Nixon has been appointed as the new Chair of the NML board. Nixon was formerly Executive Director of Tate Liverpool, where she led the management and development of the gallery, and prior to establishing her own consultancy in 2018 she worked at Tate in London. BCLM, NML
The Freud Museum has named Anna Jobson as Director, succeeding Acting Director Dan Feeney who has been in post since April 2025. Jobson is an independent strategist with over 25 years’ experience of working in the arts, culture and education sectors. Her previous roles include leadership positions at Tate, Arts Council England and University of the Arts London, where she was Director of Change. Museums Journal
Baroness Jan Royall, former Labour Cabinet Minister, is to become Chair of the Board of Directors at ALVA (Association of Leading Visitor Attractions), beginning her role in September as she steps down from Principal of Somerville College after 8 years. Baroness Royall was also the former Leader of the House of Lords and replaces Co-Chairs, Simon Addison and Lorraine Rossdale. ALVA, Arts Professional
Historic Environment Scotland have named former Director of the V&A Sir Mark Jones as Chair. Jones also served as Chair of the National Trust Scotland from 2019 to 2025. He took up his role at the end of September. HES,M+H Advisor
Paul Griffiths has been appointed the new Chief Executive at the Association for Cultural Enterprises, returning to the UK after serving as CEO overseeing the site of Al Jazeera Al Hamra. Griffiths was previously director of Painshill Park Trust and has held senior leadership roles with English Heritage and Mary Rose Trust. M+H Advisor
Caroline Norbury has announced she is leaving her role as Chief Executive of Creative UK, the independent network of creative industry professionals and organisations that was formed from the merger between Creative England and the Creative Industries Federation. She has led the organisation since 2021 and Managing Director Laura Turner Laing will fill the role while recruitment for a permanent successor takes place. Creative UK
India plans world’s largest museum within historic Government complex, 23 September 2025, Experience UK
Bath museum workers win ‘real living wage’ guarantee, 17 September 2025, Arts Professional (£), BPT
Gold worth 600,000 euros stolen in Paris museum heist, 17 September 2025, France 24
UCF (Ukrainian Cultural Foundation) and the British Council signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of inclusive culture, 12 September 2025, IFACCA
Major French museums close amid labor Strikes, 10 September 2025, Hyperallergic
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