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HEFCE will fund 33 higher education museums, galleries and collections which provide a unique and significant contribution to research and scholarship.

University of Leeds Art Collection at the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery

This funding was agreed following an independent review drawing on experts from the museum and higher education sectors. The review was chaired by Diane Lees CBE, Director-General of the Imperial War Museums.

The review panel considered 50 submissions from 33 higher education institutions.

The process was highly competitive, and the panel noted the outstanding quality and compelling evidence provided in the submissions.

Diane Lees said:

‘As a panel, we found a truly inspiring array of case studies which demonstrated the range of research that university museums, galleries and collections carry out. The total funding requested exceeded the total funding available, and the quality of the submissions did not make this an easy process. As a panel we delivered recommendations to the HEFCE Board based on the evidence provided in the submissions. We are very pleased that HEFCE has continued to provide this invaluable support to the university museums, galleries and collections sector.’

The funding announced yesterday recognises the substantial extra cost incurred by universities supporting museums and galleries which provide significant services to the higher education community.

David Sweeney, Director of Research, Education and Knowledge Exchange, said:

‘We recognise the unique and significant contributions university museums, galleries and collections make to research, scholarship and research impact in the UK and internationally. Our funding recognises that their important work entails extra costs. We value the support they offer the research community and are delighted to fund 33 of these important collections.’

See the complete list of funded museums and galleries