Arts Council England
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We announce further details of our Renaissance Strategic support fund for museums

Yesterday ACE announced further details of their Renaissance Strategic support fund, which is part of their wider Renaissance programme for regional museums.

The funds will be invested in geographic locations not served by other Major partner funding, and will support specific areas of work that demonstrate innovation, resilience and sustainability, encouraging collaboration within the museums sector in England.

Funding in two stages

There will be two stages to the Renaissance Strategic support fund. In the first stage in 2012/13, there will be approximately £7 million available, and in the second stage, up to £15 million a year in both 2013/14 and 2014/15.

Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England commented:

'We have been supporting innovation, developing sustainability and encouraging collaboration through the various parts of the Renaissance programme since October 2011.

'In announcing this final part of Renaissance, I hope that museums who have not already benefitted from the programme will be able to use these funds to help ensure a healthy future'.

Stage one

In 2012/13, ACE will commission bids in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire - both of which they have identified as geographic areas that would benefit from Renaissance strategic support.

During this first stage, they will work closely with national bodies such as the Association of Independent Museums and the Museums Association to ensure commissioned projects promote resilience in the sector as well as research around governance models and workforce.

The remaining funds in 2012/13 will also be offered to Accredited museums to meet other strategic and geographic gaps.

ACE will be announcing the full list of museums and organisations that will benefit from the Strategic support funds as part of stage one by September 2012.

Stage two

The second stage in 2013/14 and 2014/15 will be an open application process, with up to £15 million available in both years. Second stage awards will take place in two rounds - one beginning in September 2012 for activity starting in April 2013, and the other in September 2013 for activity starting in April 2014.

Strategic support in these years will be for specific activity that will contribute to the Arts Council's goals, as laid out in Culture, knowledge and understanding: great museums and libraries, particularly demonstrating resilience, sustainability and innovation.

Any Accredited museums based in England (except Major partner museums and National museums) with more than 15,000 visitors per year will be able to apply for between approximately £50,000 and £500,000.

Wider Renaissance programme

Renaissance - the Arts Council's £43 million investment in the development of regional museums between 2012 and 2015 - includes: Accreditation, Designation, the Designation development fund, PRISM, the provision of national security advice, Major partner museums, Museum development providers, Renaissance strategic support, and a suite of national programmes.

Further information

Find out more about our Renaissance Strategic support fund.

Find out more about Renaissance and how we support museums.

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