The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) is finalising details on the future funding of designated collections. The Designation Challenge Fund has awarded £13m of Renaissance money to designated collections since 2002.
But the last full round of awards was for 2006-08, although there was a limited round for audience development for 2008-09. There are currently 131 collections held in non-national museums, libraries and archives in England that are recognised as having national and international significance.
The changes follow the reorganisation of the MLA, and have been guided by research into how collection holders viewed the benefits of Designation, as well as the Renaissance Review.
There will be about £1.5m available for this funding round (2008-11) and its name will change to Designation Support Fund. The aim is to be more flexible and responsive to need, while making sure that designated collections deliver improvements in the regions.
Museums with designated collections that are interested in finding out more should contact their MLA regional manager. Applications will be dealt with by MLA staff at head office. More details of the fund and the criteria for applicants will be released shortly.
The MLA is also expecting to announce before the end of the year the names of the winners of 2008-09 grants under the Prism Fund, which allocates £250,000 a year for the acquisition and/or conservation of objects relating to the history of science, industry and technology. The fund is a rolling programme and applications can be made at any time.
