£20 million to keep museums open

£20 million from the Museum Renewal Fund is to be shared between 75 civic museums.

The funding will be used to improve public access to collections, protect community and educational programmes, and help to ensure treasured local and regional museums are fit for the future.

Beneficiaries include Birmingham Museums Trust, Barnsley Museums and Discover Bucks Museum.

Birmingham Museums Trust will receive more than £994,742 to deliver family-friendly and community-centered exhibitions, including its summer family show ‘Giants’, and its pop-up tribute to Ozzy Osbourne.

Barnsley Museums will receive £266,273 to support opening hours, public programming and employment across its five free-to-visit sites, including Experience Barnsley and the Grade II* listed Cannon Hall.

The Museum Renewal Fund is part of the £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund, announced by the Culture Secretary in February 2025.

Museums Minister, Baroness Twycross said: "Museums offer a place where people from all backgrounds can learn, be inspired and delve into our rich history, helping to understand the stories that led us to where we are today.

"The Museum Renewal Fund is contributing to the delivery of our Plan for Change. It ensures much-loved civic museums can remain open and continue to provide opportunities for future generations to learn about our shared heritage and how their local community has played its part in our national story."

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England said: "Travelling through cities, towns, and villages across the UK, I have seen that museums and art galleries are often a proud focal point in communities, telling important stories about history, people and place. This funding will provide a crucial lifeline for local museums in stabilising their financial situation and building towards a sustainable future.”