Apply now to join this year’s cohort

We are delighted to open the Anti-racist Museums Programme for applications from museums to join our 2026 cohort. Continuing our partnership with Talk Listen Create, the MA is supporting the leadership teams of another six UK museums to progress towards becoming anti-racist organisations. We are open for applications until 2 September 2026 – see the timeline below for more details.

The Anti-racist Museums Programme presents an opportunity to create meaningful change in the UK museum sector through organisational and professional development. It is our hope that it will create a thriving network of museums and leaders that are committed to personal and organisational change; collaboration and peer learning; and being at the forefront of anti-racist practice in UK museums.

The Anti-racist Museums Programme is part of the MA’s long-term commitment to dismantling racism in UK museums. We are making small changes to the programme this year in response to evaluation, for example introducing a longer, in-person induction session on 2 November 2026 at Birmingham Museum.

“I am delighted that we are able to run this programme again and support successful applicants on their anti-racist journey. We have worked with sector experts to design a programme that is thoughtful and thought-provoking and we are looking forward to working with a new cohort of museums that are determined to become anti-racist organisations.”

Sharon Heal, director, Museums Association

To apply to join the Anti-racist Museums Programme, please read the recruitment pack and complete the application form before 2 September 2026. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your application, please contact Sally Colvin, head of policy and programmes at sally@museumsassociation.org. You can also book a consultation call directly using Calendly.

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Timeline

  • 27 July: Open for applications
  • 2 September: Deadline to submit an application to join the Anti-racist Museums Programme
  • 15 to 24 September 2026: Selection interviews to create the 2026 cohort of museum leadership teams
  • October to November 2026: Participants complete preparation for the programme, including MA online learning course Supporting Anti-racism
  • 2 November 2026: Induction meeting at Birmingham Museum. Please note that MA Conference 2026 is being held in Birmingham on 2-4 November
  • December 2026 to May 2027: Monthly workshops, action learning and coaching led by TLC
  • May 2027: Final in-person event

To read more about the programme and its impact so far, please see the summary and longform evaluation reports from Tiggy Allen.

For more information about the programme, please contact Sally Colvin, head of policy and programmes, via sally@museumsassociation.org.