Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund

Now open for your 2027 applications

The Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund, run by the Museums Association, supports work by museums and community organisations to strengthen communities, using collections.

We offer:

Partnership project grants to museums and community organisations that work equitably together and share aims for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). We look for ambitious and compelling ideas for inclusive project work with collections, with a focus on how the work contributes to local community agendas and needs.
Core grants to museums that have established strategic aims for DEI, and that are ready to use their collections and our funding to support social and climate justice in ways that are relevant to local contexts and relationships. We look for work that addresses organisational or systemic change with potential for strong legacy and future community partnership. Applicants should move away from a project output approach and focus more on the organisational or systemic change that they wish to influence through their work.

Grants of up to £110,000 over a maximum of three years are available and we expect to award around 12 grants per year in two funding rounds (see dates below). The next deadline for expressions of interest is 20 January 2027.

The fund has a twin focus on communities and collections. We anticipate this will result in work that explores and influences key themes in social and climate justice, such as social cohesion, decolonisation, climate crisis, anti-racism and others. Importantly, we will look for local relevance, for example asking how people or communities are centred in the work and how you have decided who to work with.

Our 2026 review of progress and long-term impact highlighted museums acting as anchor organisations in communities and as valuable civic spaces for community-led work.

Before applying please ensure that you have read and understood the application guidance. We strongly encourage you to schedule a call for advice on eligibility for the fund and help to develop applications (see contact details below).

Find out more about the June 2026 grantees

Key dates

June 2027 decisions:

September 2026 onwards: contact the MA to discuss your project ideas
20 January 2027: deadline for submission of the expression of interest form
Week commencing 8 February 2027: confirmation of whether shortlisted for funding
5 May 2027: shortlisted applicants make a second stage application
End June 2027: grants awarded

December 2027 decisions:

February 2027 onwards: contact the MA to discuss your ideas
14 July 2027: deadline for submission of the expression of interest form
Week commencing 2 August 2027: confirmation of whether shortlisted for funding
27 October 2027: shortlisted applicants make a second stage application
Mid December 2027: grants awarded

Key downloads

“Esmée Fairbairn is proud to continue our partnership with the Museums Association to support the Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund. It has become a key part of our Creative, Confident Communities funding and both Esmée and the MA are ambitious for the fund to build the capacity and confidence of museums as civic spaces, playing active roles in civic life and working equitably with community partners.”

Alison Holdom, Funding Manager Lead, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

Schedule a call or contact us

Please book a call directly with Sarah Briggs to discuss your ideas for an application. Alternatively, you can contact Sarah Briggs or Sally Colvin at the Museums Association with any questions: