Mindsets + Missions for Museums and Science Centres of the Future

45 places awarded to museums, science and discovery centres, and changemaker individuals across the UK on new learning and grants programme for 2023

Mindsets + Missions is a new learning and grants programme, funded by UK Research and Innovation, which supports museums and science centres to engage underrepresented groups with knowledge, research and innovation.

For the first phase between March and April 2023, the programme will be led by The Liminal Space and bring together a cohort of organisations, creative practitioners, researchers, and experts by lived and learned experience to stimulate collaboration and peer learning. Cohort members bring expertise across cultural, heritage, creative and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) learning and engagement.

Together they will explore the missions that drive this work and the mindsets that go towards achieving their shared aims. Development funding and stipends will support the involvement of each of the participating organisations and individuals.

Alongside 15 Changemakers, the 30 selected organisations are:

Aberdeen Science Centre

Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales

Armagh Observatory

Birmingham Museums Trust

Centre for Alternative Technology

Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service

Discovering42

Durham University

Dynamic Earth

Exeter Science Centre

Fitzwilliam Museum

Kielder Observatory

Kirkcudbright Dark Space Planetarium

Live Borders

Manchester Museum

Museums Worcestershire

National Museums NI

National Space Centre

National Windrush Museum

Queer Britain

REME Museum

Science and Industry Museum

Scottish Seabird Centre

Tall Ship Glenlee Trust

The Mixed Museum

Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums

We The Curious

Wonderseekers – Winchester Science Centre

Xplore! Science Discovery Centre

York Museums Trust

Using the concept of “future citizens”, the cohort will consider strategies to enable people who bring diverse and plural perspectives to engage with, influence and participate in the development of the knowledge, research and innovation that our future societies will be built on.

“Museums and science centres play an important role in inspiring the next generation of researchers and innovators, whether it’s future vaccine researchers or future historians. But we know that opportunities to engage with research and innovation through museums and science centres aren’t open to all. We are excited to be working with this cohort of individuals and organisations to explore how we can better connect underrepresented groups with research and innovation.”

Tom Saunders, head of public engagement, UKRI

Mindsets + Missions presents an opportunity to combine experimentation with an element of ambition. The programme will support work that is boundary pushing within its context and created in a way that promotes learning from the experience across sectors. The learning programme will help practitioners and policymakers to better understand how museums and science centres can engage underrepresented communities with research and innovation.

Phase 2 of the programme, launching later in the year, will push this learning further. Participating organisations will be able to apply for grants to support projects which embody the collaborative, knowledge sharing, and innovative approaches to working with diverse audiences explored by the cohort.

The programme builds on a rich foundation of research and experience: the Mindsets for Museums of the Future report; Science and Discovery Centre Futures: Missions and Opportunities report; the Bold Futures programme; Inspiring Science Fund; Museums Change Lives; Digital Innovation and Engagement grants across Museums and Science Centres; Explore Your Universe; and more.

Mindsets + Missions is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). It is a key part of UKRI’s mission to break down the barriers between research, innovation and society. UKRI is providing a total of £750,000 for this programme, which is being delivered by a partnership of the Museums Association, The Liminal Space and the Association for Science and Discovery Centres.