A scheme set up to address lack of acquisitions in regional museums has had to be extended due to lack of take-up.
Enriching Regions was launched in November 2006 in response to research that found that the East Midlands, West Midlands and East of England were the three poorest regions in terms of collecting.
Administered by the Art Fund, with funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the scheme is designed to encourage local philanthropy. It was launched with £135,000 in funding, allowing £45,000 for acquisitions in each region. Museums can apply for 100 per cent of the cost of the acquisition, but priority is given to those museums that can find local funding.
The scheme was due to close in November 2007, but the Art Fund has extended the deadline for applications to the end of December 2008, as there is still £28,400 available for the East Midlands, £23,275 for the East of England and £27,950 for the West Midlands.
Tim Pestell, curator of Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, which acquired a £2,200 sword pyramid through the scheme, said: "This is a heaven-sent pot of money. I have spent a great deal of time building relations with people and we are lucky enough to have attracted people willing to fund us."
Pestell said the biggest issue facing museums looking for funds was time. "Staff have to write applications and they are often horribly overworked," he said. "If you don't have time and don't build relations with the wider community, then you are going to struggle."
David Barrie, director of the Art Fund, said: "Cultivating donors and asking for money takes time and ingenuity, and many people are shy about making the required ask. But in the absence of adequate funding for acquisitions, creative fundraising is increasingly important - and that is what this scheme is designed to encourage.
"It is a catalyst for change, and as you can see from the success stories, it can yield great results. But it is taking a bit longer than we had expected to catch fire, and we hope the remaining funds can be drawn down in full."
However, when Museums Journal contacted Renaissance East Midlands, a spokeswoman said they were unaware of the scheme, but were keen to know more.
The Art Fund has not yet publicised the extension of the scheme, but local and trade press covered it when it was first launched.
Representatives from Arts and Business, the regional agencies and staff from local museums attended each of the launches in the three regions. Details of the scheme were sent to all of the Art Fund's contacts in the regions in January and August 2007.
Enriching Regions was launched in November 2006 in response to research that found that the East Midlands, West Midlands and East of England were the three poorest regions in terms of collecting.
Administered by the Art Fund, with funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the scheme is designed to encourage local philanthropy. It was launched with £135,000 in funding, allowing £45,000 for acquisitions in each region. Museums can apply for 100 per cent of the cost of the acquisition, but priority is given to those museums that can find local funding.
The scheme was due to close in November 2007, but the Art Fund has extended the deadline for applications to the end of December 2008, as there is still £28,400 available for the East Midlands, £23,275 for the East of England and £27,950 for the West Midlands.
Tim Pestell, curator of Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, which acquired a £2,200 sword pyramid through the scheme, said: "This is a heaven-sent pot of money. I have spent a great deal of time building relations with people and we are lucky enough to have attracted people willing to fund us."
Pestell said the biggest issue facing museums looking for funds was time. "Staff have to write applications and they are often horribly overworked," he said. "If you don't have time and don't build relations with the wider community, then you are going to struggle."
David Barrie, director of the Art Fund, said: "Cultivating donors and asking for money takes time and ingenuity, and many people are shy about making the required ask. But in the absence of adequate funding for acquisitions, creative fundraising is increasingly important - and that is what this scheme is designed to encourage.
"It is a catalyst for change, and as you can see from the success stories, it can yield great results. But it is taking a bit longer than we had expected to catch fire, and we hope the remaining funds can be drawn down in full."
However, when Museums Journal contacted Renaissance East Midlands, a spokeswoman said they were unaware of the scheme, but were keen to know more.
The Art Fund has not yet publicised the extension of the scheme, but local and trade press covered it when it was first launched.
Representatives from Arts and Business, the regional agencies and staff from local museums attended each of the launches in the three regions. Details of the scheme were sent to all of the Art Fund's contacts in the regions in January and August 2007.
