The Designation Scheme, which is managed by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, recognises collections in England that have outstanding national and international importance. The 34 projects are designed to build on the Museums Association's Collections for the Future report, which aims to help improve the standards and accessibility of collections.
Among those awarded DCF grants is the Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust, which is receiving nearly £100,000 for its metalwork
collection. Dorian Church, the curator of decorative art at Sheffield, says Living Metal will build on the success of the 2004/06 DCF scheme.
'In the last round, we were really able to hit our stride, with initiatives such as community outreach projects,' Church says. 'This time we are hoping to change perceptions of Sheffield, which still has a vibrant and dynamic metalwork scene.'
Another winner is the Sir John Soane's Museum, which will spend its £99,000 grant on two touring exhibitions under the banner of A Passion for Building. Tim Knox, the director of the museum, said: 'Through these exhibitions we will be developing a number of educational programmes for all ages and there will be catalogues for both exhibitions.'
The largest award made in this year's DCF round was £140,000 to the Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery for a project with two main strands: an initiative for local communities to develop a self-curated show from the museum's designated science and industry collection; and a region-wide research programme into how audiences view objects.
Among those awarded DCF grants is the Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust, which is receiving nearly £100,000 for its metalwork
collection. Dorian Church, the curator of decorative art at Sheffield, says Living Metal will build on the success of the 2004/06 DCF scheme.
'In the last round, we were really able to hit our stride, with initiatives such as community outreach projects,' Church says. 'This time we are hoping to change perceptions of Sheffield, which still has a vibrant and dynamic metalwork scene.'
Another winner is the Sir John Soane's Museum, which will spend its £99,000 grant on two touring exhibitions under the banner of A Passion for Building. Tim Knox, the director of the museum, said: 'Through these exhibitions we will be developing a number of educational programmes for all ages and there will be catalogues for both exhibitions.'
The largest award made in this year's DCF round was £140,000 to the Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery for a project with two main strands: an initiative for local communities to develop a self-curated show from the museum's designated science and industry collection; and a region-wide research programme into how audiences view objects.
