MA scheme launches third round of funding
Geraldine Kendall, 14.05.2010
Effective Collections welcomes applications from interested museums
The third round of funding for Effective Collections, the MA’s flagship collections programme, is now open.
The scheme offers main fund grants of up to £10,000 and special project grants of up to £25,000 to museums looking to overhaul their stored collections.
Main fund grants enable museums to identify underused parts of their collections and find creative ways of increasing their use. In some cases the grants may also facilitate disposal of unwanted objects.
Following consultation with previous applicants, there have been some changes to the criteria this time round. Under the new guidelines, descriptions of the legacy and sustainability of a potential project are now combined in one criterion.
There is also a new section asking applicants to demonstrate their proposal’s value for money. MA collections coordinator Sally Cross said: “We have had so many good applications that, with competition, it’s fairer to applicants to set this out at the start.”
Special project grants are available to museums looking to take a more radical approach to their collections, primarily through engaging wider partners in the community and setting up sharing schemes and long-term loans.
According to Cross, the selection panel is particularly encouraging innovative proposals for special projects this time round.
She said: “We’re happy to advise applicants how to tweak an idea for a better fit with the grant criteria, but we’re also very interested to be involved in developing ideas at an earlier stage.
“If people have the seeds of a project, maybe we can help find partners, encourage ambitions and add experience from other projects.”
The deadline for applications to either fund is 3 September 2010.
For more guidance and to apply, click here
The scheme offers main fund grants of up to £10,000 and special project grants of up to £25,000 to museums looking to overhaul their stored collections.
Main fund grants enable museums to identify underused parts of their collections and find creative ways of increasing their use. In some cases the grants may also facilitate disposal of unwanted objects.
Following consultation with previous applicants, there have been some changes to the criteria this time round. Under the new guidelines, descriptions of the legacy and sustainability of a potential project are now combined in one criterion.
There is also a new section asking applicants to demonstrate their proposal’s value for money. MA collections coordinator Sally Cross said: “We have had so many good applications that, with competition, it’s fairer to applicants to set this out at the start.”
Special project grants are available to museums looking to take a more radical approach to their collections, primarily through engaging wider partners in the community and setting up sharing schemes and long-term loans.
According to Cross, the selection panel is particularly encouraging innovative proposals for special projects this time round.
She said: “We’re happy to advise applicants how to tweak an idea for a better fit with the grant criteria, but we’re also very interested to be involved in developing ideas at an earlier stage.
“If people have the seeds of a project, maybe we can help find partners, encourage ambitions and add experience from other projects.”
The deadline for applications to either fund is 3 September 2010.
For more guidance and to apply, click here
