People across the UK are set to benefit from a £4 million funding boost aimed at improving accessibility and increasing public access to regional museums and galleries. This initiative is part of a partnership between the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Wolfson Foundation and aligns with the government’s Plan for Change as well as the Wolfson Foundation’s charitable objectives. The funding seeks to ensure that everyone, everywhere, has the opportunity to enjoy arts and culture in their local communities.
The £4 million DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund includes £2 million in match funding and supports initiatives to enhance displays, improve collections care, and make exhibitions more accessible. Over the past 20 years, the fund has supported more than 440 projects with over £50 million in funding. This new round will continue to break down barriers to cultural participation by investing in gallery spaces, accessibility measures, and the care of collections.
Previous funding rounds have delivered tangible improvements across the country. For example, the People’s History Museum in Manchester received over £200,000 for its Welcome Project, which included the installation of an accessible front door, updated signage, renovated toilets with a changing places facility, and accessible furniture. The Food Museum in Suffolk received over £89,000 to build a new access bridge, allowing visitors to reach the historic Abbot’s Hall estate and its canal island, which had been inaccessible since the 1990s. Experience Barnsley Museum used £37,000 to transform an underused gallery space, improving access, interpretation, and collection care for people with disabilities.
Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant emphasized that the fund helps ensure everyone can enjoy culture and the arts, particularly those who may face barriers to access. Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, highlighted the longstanding partnership with DCMS, noting that it enables museums and galleries to improve access and allow more visitors to engage with the UK’s remarkable cultural collections. Applications for this funding round are open from 5 September until 14 November, offering regional museums and galleries the opportunity to enhance accessibility and visitor experience nationwide.
