The Museums Association (MA) will announce the latest projects to secure Effective Collections grants at its annual conference in Manchester (4-6 October).
This will be the third round of grants from Effective Collections, a £1m programme to help museums and galleries make better use of their collections. It is funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and managed by the MA.
The deadline for the final round of applications for funding is 4 March 2011. All UK museums and galleries that are accredited or seeking accreditation can apply. The grants can be combined with funding from other sources.
Effective Collections funding is divided into two categories. The Main Fund helps museums identify underused parts of their collections and make better use of them, via long loans or permanent transfers of material, for example. Funding of up to £10,000 is available.
The Special Project Fund is for exceptional projects that increase the use of collections, mainly though sharing. Grants of up to £25,000 are on offer.
Old Tools, New Uses, a project run by the Scottish Technology and Industrial Collections Knowledge Network and National Museums Scotland, was awarded £25,000 in October 2009.
It reviewed domestic technology collections across Scottish museums and then disposed of duplicates. Some items were returned to daily use, such as the sewing machines sent to Africa via a charity called Tools for Self Reliance.
All 30 applications in the third round met the criteria for funding. Up to half of these will receive grants.
Simon Stephens
Click here for more information on Effective Collections
