This funding call was developed to complement other Covid-response funding and to harness the potential of digital innovation. Many high-quality applications reflected this by offering digital alternatives to in-person engagement inspired by quick response work undertaken in the first lockdown.
This captures a point in time in the development of museums as they begin to think about reopening and the start of their recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. It also contributes to our collective understanding in the museum sector of the skills and needs involved in such rapid digital growth.
Some applicants have taken their digital innovation much further than replacing physical visits. They will deliver experiences for people that are only possible because of digital innovation.
More museums will need to think and work this way as the sector begins to reopen. They will need to consider how to create digital experiences that are meaningful and worthwhile, either reaching audiences who cannot visit or offering something that is appealing enough to rival in-person engagement and stand out in a world of digital offers.
Museums that have a strong audience development plan and community relationships to help them understand demand are in a good position to do this. The projects in this funding call will provide useful case studies and evaluation to inform sector thinking and the MA will disseminate learning through our website, events and networks.
Uncertainty around opening and social distancing means that museums will likely suffer reduced visitor numbers and financial instability for some time.
Reopening will take capacity from digital engagement work undertaken over the last 12 months and the sector has already lost a proportion of its workforce through redundancy. These factors mean there is a risk that momentum on digital innovation will be lost and so the role of funders will be vital to support digital to widen participation.