The jobs market is pretty bleak at the moment, particularly for local-authority museums and galleries. But there are some new funding streams that will create jobs, albeit short-term and junior-level ones.
By far the biggest pot of money is the £1.1bn available under the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) Future Jobs Fund
initiative, which was launched in the April budget to create 150,000 jobs for 18- to 24-year-olds (see link 1 below).
It is hoped that the scheme, which will contribute up to £6,500 for each job created, will help support up to 10,000 new posts in the cultural and creative industries.
Renaissance East of England is the first museum organisation to successfully bid for money. It has £195,000 to fund about 30 placements and apprenticeships across 26 museums, and is close to securing matching funding of £110,000 from the Renaissance programme.
Hazel Courtley, partnerships manager for Renaissance East of England, said it was relatively straightforward to apply, although the bid needed detailed unemployment figures for the region. Anyone can ask for funds, but the DWP is prioritising partnership bids involving a wide range of organisations.
Museums could also look at the Heritage Lottery Fund's Skills for the Future programme, which was announced in July (see link 2 below).
The £5m initiative will offer work-based training in a variety of skills, including working with collections. More details on the criteria and how to apply will be released later this year.
By far the biggest pot of money is the £1.1bn available under the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) Future Jobs Fund
initiative, which was launched in the April budget to create 150,000 jobs for 18- to 24-year-olds (see link 1 below).
It is hoped that the scheme, which will contribute up to £6,500 for each job created, will help support up to 10,000 new posts in the cultural and creative industries.
Renaissance East of England is the first museum organisation to successfully bid for money. It has £195,000 to fund about 30 placements and apprenticeships across 26 museums, and is close to securing matching funding of £110,000 from the Renaissance programme.
Hazel Courtley, partnerships manager for Renaissance East of England, said it was relatively straightforward to apply, although the bid needed detailed unemployment figures for the region. Anyone can ask for funds, but the DWP is prioritising partnership bids involving a wide range of organisations.
Museums could also look at the Heritage Lottery Fund's Skills for the Future programme, which was announced in July (see link 2 below).
The £5m initiative will offer work-based training in a variety of skills, including working with collections. More details on the criteria and how to apply will be released later this year.
Links
1. Museums Journal, June 2009, p9
2. Museums Journal, August 2009, p6
Website resources
www.dwp.gov.uk/campaigns/futurejobsfund
www.hlf.org.uk
1. Museums Journal, June 2009, p9
2. Museums Journal, August 2009, p6
Website resources
www.dwp.gov.uk/campaigns/futurejobsfund
www.hlf.org.uk
