A Royal visit for British Museum’s Bayeux Tapestry exhibition
King Charles and Queen Camilla celebrated the opening of the British Museum’s Bayeux Tapestry exhibition, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with an early preview to see the 70-metre long tapestry. The BBC reported King Charles’ comments praising the "unprecedented loan" which represented the "best possible symbol" of the closeness between the UK and France. Also among the first to see the 11th century artwork before the exhibition opened on 10 September were school children from East Sussex. The loan agreement will see treasures from the British Museum representing all four nations of the UK – including Sutton Hoo and the Lewis chess pieces – travel to museums in Normandy in exchange for the unique loan. Early tickets for the exhibition have sold out but the next ticket release will be on 21 October with priority booking opening on 6 October. British Museum, BBC, BBC (school children)
Reviews:
The Bayeux tapestry: a stupefying, thrilling, horrifying masterpiece that shakes the earth, Guardian
A triumph or act of cultural recklessness? The Bayeux Tapestry comes to London, Telegraph (£)
The Bayeux Tapestry review — a magnificent, spine-shivering experience, Times (£)
‘More penises than expected’: the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum review, Time Out
Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum: An extraordinary masterpiece showing pity and brutality of war, Standard
Meet the Brits who brought the Bayeux Tapestry home, Times (£)
The Science Museum Group Academy, established in 2018 to provide research-informed science engagement training and resources for teachers, museum and STEM professionals, has finished its partnership with BP at the end of its agreed term. Ian Blatchford, Director and Chief Executive of the Science Museum Group, said: “BP’s generous contributions helped us to inspire more than 11,000 education, museum and science professionals through research-informed science engagement training, supporting vital work to spark curiosity and bring science to life for more than a million young people across the country.” Science Museum, Guardian
The V&A have resolved the dispute over staff breaks at V&A East Storehouse, but Prospect members took strike action on 4 and 5 September over wider issues on pay, terms and conditions. The strike action is being coordinated with PCS union members who are also striking on those days in a parallel dispute. Meanwhile, National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) staff carried out four days of industrial action in August which coincided with the opening of their Catherine Opie exhibition. PCS said action was a response to NGS management imposing detrimental changes to working practices and their failure to consult with the union. Prospect members at Royal Museums Greenwich also took industrial action on 11-12 August seeking London Living Wage accreditation this year; protection of existing Christmas closure annual leave arrangements; paid breaks for security workers; stronger policies on fixed-term contracts; and improved training and development opportunities. BBC (V&A), Museums Journal (V&A), Prospect (V&A), Museums Journal (NGS), Museums Journal (RMG)
Royal Navy Museums will open a new £15m Royal Marines Experience at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on 24 October. The Royal Marines Experience is set within the 1840’s Grade II* listed Boathouse 6, which was previously home to the ‘Action Stations’ visitor attraction. It will incorporate VR and AR technology, alongside physical and mental challenges. The project has been supported by a £4.4million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation, Royal Navy Museums reserves and private donations. Royal Navy Museums, M+H Advisor
Brighton & Hove Museums announced on 2 September that Chief Executive Hedley Swain will be stepping down after six years in charge. Swain joined Brighton & Hove Museums in October 2020 after a notable career in the cultural sector, including over seven years as Area Director South East at Arts Council England and senior leadership roles at the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and the Museum of London. Current Deputy CEO Abigail Thomas will step into the role of Interim CEO at the end of October to ensure continuity while the Board of Trustees conducts the recruitment process for a permanent successor. Swain will be leaving at the end of October and relocating to Sweden where his wife, Helen Persson, has secured a senior position at a museum in Stockholm. Museums Journal
Members in the news:
CCA archives 'saved for the city' after £75,000 funding agreed, Glasgow Life, Herald
Oxford University museum to return remains of 39 people taken during British colonial rule in India, Pitt Rivers, CBS News
Hidden museum gallery to reopen after 83 years, Natural History Museum, BBC
Natural History Museum's 'living laboratory' garden unlocks new biodiversity insights, Blooloop
Science Museum: Star Trek fans break Vulcan salute record, BBC
National Portrait Gallery Partners with Pandora for Tim Walker Exhibition, HENI News
Images this month come from the RAF Museum Midlands and feature a new community-led display called Displaced. It brings together the personal experiences of civilians who endured the Second World War Blitz in West Bromwich and the wider Black Country, alongside the journeys of people displaced from Ukraine to the Midlands, following the 2014 and 2022 Russian invasions. The Displaced Display was officially opened on 24 August, Ukraine Independence Day, the display is free of charge to visit.
Mayors and local leaders given power to introduce Overnight Visitor Levy
Mayors and local leaders will be handed the power to introduce an Overnight Visitor Levy – a fee on overnight stays – to help maximise the benefits of tens of millions of people visiting England every year. The government will protect budget holidays by requiring the levy to be charged as a percentage of the cost of accommodation, rather than as a flat fee, shielding families from disproportionate costs for cheaper holidays. Mayors and leaders of Foundation Strategic Authorities can decide whether to introduce a levy and how the revenue should be invested in their area, in consultation with their residents and local businesses.
Laura Pye, NMDC Chair and Director of National Museums Liverpool said: “Liverpool City Region has a vibrant and varied tourism offer, including arts, culture, music, sports, nightlife and more – which is one of the reasons it’s an increasingly popular choice for tourists. Historically we are a city which embraces visitors from the world over. We’ve already seen through the Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) model the benefits for the visitor economy by being able to invest in marketing and cultural activities. By building on this and working with our business communities, a Tourism Tax can continue to further improve the region for local people and tourists alike.” Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A,said: “The culture sector now looks forward to working with mayors and councils to access much-needed investment to expand national and international audiences.” Gov.uk
Also:BBC: Labour mayors in England vow to cap tourist tax at 5%; BBC: London tourism tax capped at 5%; Guardian: Tourists in England face nightly levy on hotel and Airbnb-style stays under new plans
Government names Freelance Champions for the sector
Leila D’Aronville and Lizzie Crump have been named as the Government’s Freelance Champions, marking an important step towards recognising the vital contribution freelancers make to the UK’s creative industries. They are both freelancers with a combined 40 years of experience working in and representing the creative industries. D'Aronville is the founder of the North East Cultural Freelancers, a network supporting freelancers and small organisations across the region and Crump is one of the Co-Directors of What Next?, the UK’s largest free-to-access network for arts and culture. They will be supported by Dave O’Brien, Professor of Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of Manchester, who joins the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on an academic secondment to provide research support. Gov.uk (press release), Gov.uk (terms of reference)
The Welsh Government are asking people, organisations, communities and partners to help them understand the current state of culture and sport to shape a shared national vision. In order for culture and sport to be recognised as a powerful force for individual health and wellbeing, community connection, economic opportunity, international profile and national confidence, they need your input. The call for evidence is open until 18 December 2026. Gov.Wales
Ambitious for Scotland plans from the Scottish Government
The Scottish Government have published ‘Ambitious for Scotland’, their plans for the next five years from 2026 to 2031. The plans focuses on eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, tackling the climate emergency, and delivering high quality and sustainable public services. There are a number of commitments on culture including underpinning investment by a long-term funding settlement of an additional £100 million annually for culture by 2028-29. There are also plans for a Youth Culture Pass, a focus on creative career paths and piloting a Scottish Artists Minimum Income. Gov.Scot (press release), Gov.Scot (full document, pdf, 80pgs)
Rebecca Paul appointed as Shadow Culture Secretary
Following Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s cabinet reshuffle, Rebecca Paul has been appointed as Shadow Culture Secretary. She has been the MP for Reigate since 2024 and has previously worked in tax management for businesses and charities. She replaces Nigel Huddlestone who was appointed in July 2025. Arts Professional (£), UK.Parliament (Profile), Personal website
Lonnie Bunch announces retirement after sustained conflict with President Trump
Lonnie Bunch, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution which comprises 21 museums, 20 libraries, the National Zoo, research centres and multiple education units, is to retire at the end of the year after 38 years of service. Bunch was named Secretary in June 2019, making him the first African American and first historian to serve in the role in the Smithsonian’s history. His announcement follows the US President’s executive order in March 2025 accusing the museum of coming “under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology” and outlining steps to “restore the Smithsonian Institution to its rightful place as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness”. Bunch said: “It is with very mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude that I announce my retirement from the Smithsonian. I have spent nearly half of my life working at and being part of the Smithsonian family, and what a privilege it has been. There is no place like the Smithsonian—it has been one of the great loves of my life, and I am extraordinarily proud of what we have accomplished together. I leave with pride and sadness, gratitude and joy, and with enormous confidence in the people who will carry this remarkable institution forward.” Smithsonian, Guardian
Freelands Award winners for championing art education announced
The new Freelands Foundation £1.5m awards scheme recognises progressive art education approaches with demonstrable impact. The inaugural three winners will receive £100,000 each and produce case studies to share with the wider sector. The winners are: The Burton at Bideford in North Devon, for Burton Futures, an outreach programme working with schools to remove barriers to arts engagement; SIGNAL in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria for its Artist Development Lab developing artists through workshops, expert mentoring and exhibition making; and Wolverhampton Art Gallery for two stand-out projects in its Arts and Culture Youth Programme inspired by the collection and temporary exhibitions. Every year until 2030 this scheme will award three organisations £100,000 to spend as they wish. Freelands Foundation, BBC, Guardian
Commissioned by Historic England and the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, this report by Heritage Innovation focusses on the sustainability and resilience of designated industrial heritage sites that are accessible and interpreted to the public in England. The report looks at industrial sites that are open as heritage attractions, including both museums and monuments, with sections on ownership, governance, function, finance, management, access, conservation and interpretation. There is lots of useful data in the report including the fact that nearly two-thirds of the 45 sites which responded to the questionnaire have less than six months’ reserves, governance arrangements are sometimes weak, with limited succession planning, and a concern for the future availability of ‘heritage’ fuels alongside fuel and energy costs. The report makes 10 recommendations including:
Greater advocacy with government and other stakeholders
Heritage fuel research consortium to develop sustainable alternatives for a global market
Create a baseline of key sites for long-term measurement of improvements. Historic England (website), Historic England (report, pdf, 181pgs)
Skills Exchange is a service connecting heritage organisations with people looking to share their time and talents. Whether you need assistance with conservation, digital, leadership, marketing, or any number of other specialisations, Skills Exchange aims to make it easier for heritage groups to find the expertise they need. Likewise, if you’ve expertise you’d like to offer to the sector – either as a volunteer, freelancer, or peer-to-peer, you’re invited to create a listing on the Exchange. Skills Exchange
The Audience Agency to Enter Voluntary Liquidation
The Audience Agency (TAA) announced on 11 September that it will be entering a voluntary liquidation process. In a statement on its website TAA said the decision follows “sustained financial pressures and extensive efforts to identify a viable way forward”, and that "after exploring various options with the team, the Board has concluded that the Charity can no longer continue operating in its current form."
Founded in 2011 TAA was a non-profit research and development organisation which helped cultural organisations understand, reach and engage their audiences. It collated audience data for Creative Scotland and Arts Council Wales and had previously performed the same job for Arts Council England, which commissioned the organisation in 2012 to develop Audience Finder – a free national data-sharing programme that combined audience data from cultural organisations with population information drawn from all UK households – and from 2018 onwards TAA joined ACE's National Portfolio as a Sector Support Organisation. However, a new ACE contract was put out to tender in 2022 for £1.6m and later awarded to global consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to develop Illuminate, a new online data collection and analysis platform and associated services.
TAA CEO Anne Torreggiani told Arts Professional: “After 14 years of often pioneering work, I can’t pretend I’m not gutted that we have to close the doors. TAA has been a champion and guide for cultural organisations who wanted to be more evidence-based, more tuned-in to their communities, more ready to adapt with them. We made these ways of working both accessible and expected: I hope we have raised the bar and left a lasting mark.” TAA, Arts Professional
From 1 September 2026, the law about regulated activity with children is changing. The current rule about the supervision of paid staff and volunteers carrying out specific activities with children will be removed from the legal definition. This means some people will be in regulated activity with children from 1 September 2026 when they were not before, because they were sufficiently supervised by someone else. This will apply if they do the work often enough, or overnight. Gov.uk,Museums Journal
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation came into force on 12 August and applies to organisations around the world, including museums and galleries, that send packaging through EU countries. The Museums Journal have outlined the impact that under the new law, any organisation that pays to transport packaging through any EU country will be legally deemed a “packaging producer”, with requirements to start measuring, reporting and improving the sustainability of their packaging. Exemptions apply to organisations that send less than 1,000kg of packaging a year, and “micro-organisations” with fewer than 10 employees or a balance sheet of less than €2m. Museums Journal, European Commission (fact sheet)
Also: Rokbox is hosting a free online workshop ‘New Packaging Laws: What Museums, Galleries and Artist Studios Need to Know’ outlining key requirements around documentation, recycling and reuse for new EU Regulations. The workshop takes place on 23 September 12-1pm, tickets are free and bookable via Eventbrite. EU Commission, Eventbrite
Multiple art thefts reported from European museums
News broke this month of the theft of two Renoir paintings from the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, worth £7.7m. Two further paintings were recovered after being abandoned during the escape. BBC, Sky News. The high profile thefts come as Europol, the EU’s law enforcement agency, published a new report ‘Changing Tactics, Changing Targets: The evolving nature of museum heists, which outlines how art crime is becoming increasingly aggressive, with a shift towards more violent and forceful methods. Other key findings include suggestions of a strong criminal market demand and ease of illicit resale. Europol
The Museums Journal reported on recent thefts from European Museums on 18 August after a set of four rare renaissance artworks were stolen from a museum in Sicily. Other recent thefts on the continent include:
A 1939 diamond necklace, designed by Van Cleef & Arpels, valued at £3m was stolen from the Vienna Museum of Applied Arts. Museums Journal
A Bronze Age gold collection, known as Treasure of Villena, worth at least €1.7m, was targeted in a ‘very well planned’ raid from the Villena Museum in Spain. Guardian
On the 14 August the Guardian reported on the recovery of paintings by Cézanne, Renoir and Matisse after they were stolen earlier this year from a private museum near the northern city of Parma.
On Friday 24 July a 2,500-year-old gold collar was stolen from Musée du Pays Châtillonnais an archaeological museum in Châtillon-sur-Seine, France, after thieves paid the admission fee and entered the museum as tourists. Artforum
Over 200 miniature statutes of Mozart from a public art installation in Austria were also stolen. Each Mozart statuette is worth roughly $100, putting the value of the loss around $23,000. Smithsonian
The Collections Trust have a number of resources offering security advice from Arts Council England: Security Advice
Nine museums, archives and libraries awarded designated status
Established in 1997, the Designation Scheme recognises a particular collection as being of national and / or international importance based on their quality and significance, as assessed by the Designation Panel run by Arts Council England. A record nine collections were awarded designated status in September including:
Dorset Museum and Art Gallery – Thomas Hardy Memorial Collection
Durham Cathedral – Durham Priory Archives and Library
Durham University Oriental Museum – Japanese Collection
Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery – Peterborough’s Prehistory Collection:
Brunel Museum London – Thames Tunnel Collection
Charleston Trust – Charleston Collection
University of Exeter – Bill Douglas Cinema Museum Collection
University of Liverpool – Science Fiction Collections
World Rugby Museum – Rugby Union Football Collection.
Funding awarded for research into plastics conservation
£100,000 has been award to researchers at Arts University Bournemouth to study how cleaning solvents affect museum plastic artefacts and to develop guidelines for the conservation sector. The one-year project, Nano-Curation of Heritage Plastics: Solvent Cleaning and Ethical Conservation, is funded by a Curiosity Award Research Grant from UK Research and Innovation’s Arts and Humanities Research Council. The project aims to establish standardised protocols across the heritage sector, along with guidelines, training and knowledge-sharing for conservators. M+H Advisor, AUB
The Government have placed a temporary export bar on Portrait of Caterina, by the Dutch artist Rembrandt, which has been in the UK for more than 250 years. The painting, which dates from around 1657, has a £71m price tag. The artwork as been on loan and on public display at the National Museum of Wales, Penrhyn Castle, North Wales and at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. The export bar lasts until 26 December 2026. The painting was also placed under an export bar in 2015 when it was valued at £35m. Gov.uk (2026), BBC (2015)
Collections Trust call for sector to get to grips with collections
Laura Pye, in her role as Chair of Collections Trust, writes in Museums Journal that all museums should commit to 100% inventory-level documentation ahead of their next NPO applications. Urging museums to deal with backlogs and achieve robust inventory documentation, she writes: "Imagine what could be achieved if every museum committed to the simple but powerful goal of 100% inventory-level documentation. Imagine the research opportunities, the increased public access and the ability to share collections nationally and internationally. The sector talks a great deal about transformation. Perhaps one of the most transformative things we could do is return to the fundamentals of knowing what we hold, where it is and why it matters. That is why we believe achieving 100% inventory should become one of the defining ambitions for museums over the next decade – and why we hope to see it reflected prominently in NPO applications across the country." Museums Journal
The Museums Journal reported on concerns that natural history specimens lack the protection of other cultural goods after a world-class fossil collection was sold overseas. The 318 fossils from Dorset’s Jurassic Coast were first offered to the Natural History Museum in London and Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales. Neither institution had sufficient funds to acquire the collection, both UK institutions were required to sign a non-disclosure agreement and the wider museum sector was not informed that the collection sale was underway.
Also: One of UK’s best fossil collections sold overseas in ‘loss to the nation’, Guardian, Guardian (editorial)
Arts Council England launches Responsible AI Cultural Leaders Academy
The Responsible AI Cultural Leaders Academy from ACE isdesigned for cultural leaders in order to build knowledge, confidence and capability in engaging with AI, enabling participants to bring that learning back into their organisations and share it across the wider sector. Applications for the Executive Leadership Programme opened on 8 September. This in-person course is designed for senior leaders in cultural organisations (Chief Executives, Chief Operating Officers and Executive Directors). Through expert-led sessions and peer learning, participants will explore AI’s opportunities, risks and limitations, helping them make informed, values-led decisions and engage confidently with emerging technologies. This is a free programme with funding to support smaller organisations to participate. Applications close at 5pm on 25 September. The programme offers two cohorts with 20 spaces in each. ACE (Programme), ACE (application and information)
More than 1,000 charities and organisations who use Beacon CRM, a secure database system, were exposed to a security breach at the beginning of August. Museums impacted include the Foundling Museum, London; Sheffield's National Videogame Museum; and York Museums Trust. The Paul Mellon Centre; UP Projects; and the English National Ballet are among the arts organisations affected. The Digital Culture Network also shared the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) advice for individuals and families on how to protect yourself from a data breach which may be useful for organisations to share with those affected. Museums Journal, NCSC
The Museums Association has announced members of a new AI and Ethics Expert Working Group, who will work towards creating new resources and guidance to support the sector with ethical decision-making around AI. Chaired by NMDC member Sonia Solicari, Director of the Museum of the Home, members include Fiona Bushfield from the V&A, Janet Dugdale, Chair of the MA’s Ethics Committee, Dan Hudacheck from Beamish Museum and Mia Ridge, British Library and Museum Data Service. Museums Association
The Network of European Museum Organisations has launched a community-curated resource hub on AI, digital transformation and museum futures. The hub includes recommendations across several different formats and topics, including: Podcasts exploring technology, museums and society, video and conference recordings and online courses for developing AI skills. NEMO
Also: Digital detox: Is social media still worth it for museums? Museums Journal
Also: Museums face growing cyber threats but security remains an afterthought, The Conversation
The World War Two codebreaking site in Buckinghamshire, Bletchley Park, is looking to voluntary redundancies to reduce its overall staff cost base by around 12%. The site currently employs 105 paid staff, equivalent to around 86 full-time positions. The Museums & Heritage Advisor reported that the site had experienced lower visitor numbers in a challenging economic environment, resulting in reduced income, and is forecast to make a loss in 2026.
Round up of other sector funding pressures:
Inverness Castle was reportedly facing a £1.4million loss in its first year according to the BBC because of lower than expected ticket sales. The castle, a former sheriff court, officially opened to visitors in February following a transformation project costing about £47m.
A freedom of information act by the BBC confirmed that Kent County Council, run by Reform, had sold off 418 artworks in total between May 2025 and April 2026, Much of the art was sold at auction in July for about £40,000. As of 30 April, the county council owned 1,231 works and said none of its collection was on display.
The family-run On Your Marques Model Car Museum in Mumby, Lincolnshire opened for one final time over Bank Holiday Monday in order to raise funds for Dementia. Closed since 2023 and created by Jane and Chris Dring, the museum houses more than 1,200 model cars and motorsport items, plus a cafe and a four-lane Scalextric circuit. BBC
The Cinema Museum in Elephant and Castle, South London is Crowd Funding for the opportunity to buy their own building to secure the future of the museum. They need to raise £500,000 to secure the historic Grade II listed Lambeth Workhouse. Museums Journal
Historic parks, gardens and cemeteries at risk of climate change
A new report from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England has highlighted how the UK’s historic parks, gardens and cemeteries are becoming more vulnerable to climate change, with managers unprepared for its impacts. It’s the first research to show how these 2,700+ registered natural heritage sites are coping. Key findings include:
The most critical need of heritage managers is climate adaptation guidance specifically designed for historic parks, gardens and cemeteries.
Climate conditions are more severe and less predictable, affecting parts of the UK in different ways.
Pests and diseases are thriving in the milder and wetter conditions, sometimes resulting in the loss of entire plant groups.
Management responses are inconsistent for a variety of reasons.
The research also identified opportunities to increase public engagement with environmental issues and increase funding for work such as water management, carbon reduction and nature-based solutions. NLHF (press release), NLHF (executive summary), NLHF (report, pdf, 86pgs) M+H Advisor
The National Library of Wales have launched a Culture and Climate Cymru resource to help Wales’s culture sector respond to the climate crisis. The website and networking platform also includes upcoming events and was developed as part of the National Library of Wales’s Climate Action Programme and made in partnership with the Welsh Government. Judith Musker Turner, the library’s Climate Action Programme lead, said: “Culture and Climate Cymru will make it easier for people working in the culture and heritage sectors to take collective action to protect Wales’s culture and heritage from climate change and will raise the profile of all the outstanding work that is already being done.” Culture and Climate, Museums Journal
Museums Association event on conservation and climate sustainability
This one-day online event from the Museums Association will seek to address the increasing focus on climate sustainability balancing preservation with accessibility, and a more proactive, holistic and ethical approach to caring for objects. Talks include Sarah Klopf, Senior Conservator, RAMM, and Paul McLaren, M&E engineer on reconsidering environmental conditions in the age of climate crisis. The event costs from £37 for concessionary MA members and will run on 14 October 2026 from 11-4pm. MA
Museum Transformation Programme for regional museums opens
Arts Council England have opened the Museum Transformation Programme to develop work which will enable the increased long-term financial resilience and operational sustainability of regional museums. The Programme responds to the ongoing challenges local authority supported museums face and the opportunities which local government reorganisation and devolution present to museums. Location in a DCMS Culture Priority Place will be considered as a key part of the assessment process for applications to this programme, with the aim of proactively supporting eligible museums in areas with lower levels of cultural investment. The total budget is £13.6 million, with a £50,000 minimum and £1million maximum amount to apply for. To be eligible you need to be an Accredited Museum in England (excluding National Museums) that can evidence an established relationship with your Local Authority. Activity funded through the programme can include digital transformation, organisational change, organisational restructuring, income generation and resilience, community and inclusion, and sustainability. The application deadline is 12pm on 30 September 2026. ACE, Museums Journal, Gov.uk (Priority Place)
Bank of America Art Conservation Project funding 2027
Launched in 2010, the Bank of America Art Conservation Project™ has funded hundreds of projects across the globe. Nonprofit museums and cultural organisations are invited to submit an application to conserve works of art that meet the following criteria: Significant to the cultural heritage of the country or region, or important to the history of art, On view to the public (or will be after conservation), paintings, works on paper, photographs, sculptures, architectural or archaeological pieces, important books or manuscripts, textiles or works of decorative or applied art that are in danger of degeneration. There are no funding levels set, conservation funding is dependent on the expected amount needed to complete the conservation project. In 2025 the National Gallery received funding to conserved Bacchus and Ariadne by Titian. The deadline for expressions of interest is 30 September 2026. BoA (2027 applications), BoA (2026 projects)
Applications are open for The Art Society grants with a theme of Community Engagement. Theywelcome applications from organisations seeking funding for projects that meet all of the following criteria:
Focus on public arts or heritage events and festivals.
Centre on community participation and cohesion.
Bring the arts or heritage into shared public places.
Applicants must be UK registered charities. They cannot fund charities with an annual turnover of over £1million (please note, reserves will be taken into account). Grants of up to £3,000 are available with a deadline of 30 September 2026 for applications. The Arts Society
The Creative Minds Fund from Museums Galleries Scotland will support museums and organisations in Scotland working with people experiencing mental health issues to create engagement opportunities. Projects can last up to 18 months and will involve participants in creative activities related to the museum and its collection. Supported by the Baring Foundation, is open to both Accredited and non-Accredited museums, but they cannot accept applications from museums whose collections are entirely in private ownership. All museums must apply in partnership with an organisation which provides support or services to those experiencing mental health issues. Museums can apply for up to £40,000 and they can apply for 100% of the cost of the project. Expressions of interest open in October with a deadline in January 2027. MGS
Guests view the new Displaced Display at RAF Museum Midlands.
'Sacred Treasures from Kyiv' opens on Monday 14 September at the V&A with a display of seven objects from the National Preserve ‘Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra’ which will be shown in the UK for the first time. On 15 Sept a day-long conference on Ukrainian Heritage in UK Museums takes place followed by a lunchtime lecture about the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra on 17 September. The Friday Late: Awakenings on 18 September which takes place during 'V&A x LDF' as part of London Design Festival 2026 also features Ukrainian artists and includes an immersive audio-visual performance by Andriy Kyrychenko called Down to Earth. V&A website links: Sacred Treasures, Conference, Lunchtime lecture, Friday Late
The full programme for the Family Arts Leadership Symposium, taking place on 29 September at Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham, has been announced. With a focus on Resilient Futures, whether you’re preparing for future investment opportunities, looking to diversify income, strengthening relationships with communities, or simply trying to create a more resilient organisation, this year’s programme has been designed to provide the time, space and practical ideas to support your next steps. Sessions include making a clear and compelling case for family engagement — connecting your organisation’s purpose with evidence of need, audience insight and the impact of your work. Tickets are available until 16 Sept (or until sold out) and cost from £143. Family Arts Campaign
Bridging Worlds Course on International Projects from Culture Connects
The Bridging Worlds Course is a practical introduction to cultural diplomacy in action, and an opportunity to develop cultural intelligence and deep-listening skills, as well as practical tools to assess potential partners, manage multiple stakeholders across different countries, and make cross-cultural collaboration a success. The CPD accredited course provides practical tools to embed collaboration into daily practice, the next available sessions will be held on 25 September 2026 (8:00 - 12:00 BST) and 2 October 2026 (14:00 - 18:00 BST). The masterclass will be delivered via Zoom. To accommodate participants across different time zones, they are offering two session options. Please select the date and time that best suits your location. The full price of tickets is £150. Culture Connects
Keynote announced for the 2026 Collections Trust Conference
Dan Hicks, Professor of Contemporary Archaeology from the University of Oxford, Curator at the Pitt Rivers Museum, and a fellow of St Cross College Oxford, will be giving the keynote speech for the Collections Trust Conference which will be held online on Thursday 8 October from 10-4pm. He talk will be on ‘Curation as accountability’, the full conference programme is available on their website and tickets cost from £39 with 100 inclusive places available. Collections Trust
The Association of Independent Museums has opened a call for proposals for breakout sessions for next year’s AIM Conference at The Historic Dockyard Chatham on 9 and 10 June 2027. 2027 sees AIM celebrate its 50th anniversary, they want to recognise and showcase 50 years of independent museums and their communities, an opportunity to learn from the best of each other: what you’re most proud of, your career highlights, and your museum’s standout moments. Such moments don’t have to be recent – and they don’t necessarily have to have been an unqualified success. Examples where something didn’t work and the valuable lessons learned are worth highlighting, as much as those that went to plan. The deadline for nominations and submissions is 5pm on Friday 25 September. AIM
Kids in Museums have a number of online training sessions planned for the autumn including how to create a museum access page with VocalEyes, creating a family friendly museum shop and a free ‘afternoon cuppa’ session on museum career programmes for young people. Places cost from £6 - £42 and run from 30 Sept (free session) through to 3 December. Kids in Museums
The new autumn training programme from Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy is now ready for booking. Sessions include AI for Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy running online in November across two half days, Building your Donor Community and Trustee Leadership: Arts, Culture & Heritage running in February 2027. Sessions cost £82.50 plus VAT. Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy
Art Fund’s Empowering Curators programme supports 20 multi-year curatorial roles for senior to mid-career curators from Global Majority backgrounds. Museums and galleries committed to nurturing diverse curatorial talent, increasing equity within their organisations and engaging new audiences through greater representation of the communities they serve will participate in the programme and host the curatorial fellows. Alongside hosting fellows, each organisation will undertake a programme of change to advance equity, diversity and inclusion, facilitated by external experts People Make It Work. The first 10 fellows have been placed and Art Fund are looking for host organisations to take part in the next round. A pre-application workshop for potential host organisations is on 18 September, 12-1pm and pre-application conversations are available from 1 September to 12 October 2026. Applications must be submitted by 12 October 2026. Art Fund
New leadership training opportunities with People Make It Work
People Make It Work have a series of 90 minutes webinars this autumn to help arts and culture sector professionals navigating change with a focus on transformation, the road to National Portfolio Organisation and leadership. The sessions are free and all run from 12-1.30pm. The details are:
15 September - Creating the Conditions for Transformation: What does it really take to create meaningful organisational transformation? Looking beyond plans and structures to the mindsets, relationships and behaviours that make change possible.
22 September - The Road to NPO: A practical conversation about organisational readiness ahead of the next National Portfolio round — looking beyond the application itself to governance, leadership, culture and strategic positioning.
29 September - Everyone Comes to you. Who do you go to? An honest conversation about leadership, responsibility and what it’s really like to carry organisational responsibility, hosted by Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu and Prince Taylor. People Make it Work
The Association of Independent Museums are running their Trustee Induction training online on 7 October from 4-6pm. The training includes an introduction to the museum sector and outlines the roles and responsibilities of trustees. It costs £165 for members and £220 for non-members. They are also running their Spark! Leadership programme from October 2026 to January 2027. This is a programme for those who are motivating and leading the overall team in their museum. They particularly welcome people with a significant leadership role including individual museum directors and other senior leaders. You must be an AIM member to apply for this programme. Contributions of £150 are requested with the deadline for applications Wednesday 30 September. AIM (Trustees), AIM (Spark)
Migration Museum awarded £600,000 from the Wolfson Foundation
The Wolfson Foundation has become a Founding Partner of the Migration Museum, awarding them £600,000 in funding to support plans for the UK's first permanent museum dedicated to migration to life. The funding will support the fit-out of their new permanent home in the City of London which is due to open in Spring 2028. Migration Museum
Wrexham Museum, which includes the new Football Museum and is housed in a Grade II-listed building, is set to open their doors on the 25 September. Funding for the project has come from Welsh Government, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns, UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund, The Wolfson Foundation, V&A Purchase Grant Fund and Wrexham Council. The museum will be free to access. The Derwent Pencil Museum has also announced it will be moving to Rawnsley Hall, a short walk away from its current home in Southey Works. The larger premises closer to the town centre in Keswick will create space to grow its exhibitions and enhance visitor experiences. The museum will close in its current location on 1 November and reopen in its new home in March 2027. Wrexham Museum, Museums Journal (Wrexham Museum), Museums Journal (Derwent Pencil Museum)
Daria Pyrozhenko features in the Displaced Display
English Heritage has appointed V&A Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, Tim Reeve, as its new Chief Executive. Reeve will join the charity in November, returning to the organisation where he started his career. He joined the V&A in 2013 and was awarded a CBE in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours for services to museums. English Heritage, Museums Journal
Steven Poliri will be joining National Museums Scotland as Strategic Lead in the scoping and development of a project to refresh the Scotland Galleries at the museum. Polar is a chartered architect and an experienced programme and project manager, he has held senior project leadership roles with the Scottish Government, the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. NMS
Towner Art Gallery have named Camden Art Centre’s Martin Clark as their new Chief Executive Officer, taking up post in 2027. Clark’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Towner ahead of the development of Towner Seven Sisters at Black Robin Farm, a new cultural destination for art, nature and heritage near Eastbourne and in the South Downs National Park. Museums Journal
Spencer Hancock, Head of Visitor Experience and Commercial at Bath’s Holburne Museum, will be joining Bath Preservation Trust as Chief Operating Officer. The newly-created role will help provide operational leadership across the trust's museums, including No. 1 Royal Crescent; Beckford’s Tower and Museum; the Herschel Museum of Astronomy; and the Museum of Bath Architecture, which is due to reopen in 2027. Museums Journal
Winner of the Museums Association’s Radical Changemaker award, Elizabeth Scott, has been named as Director at The National Museum of Computing in Milton Keynes. She joins the independent museum from Guildhall Art Gallery and London's Roman Amphitheatre, which she has led on behalf of the City of London Corporation since 2017. Museums Journal
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