The Happy Museum project has announced a third open application fund of up to £100,000 for museums in England and a new fund of up to £15,000 for museums in Wales.
Funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council England, the initiative supports museum activities that promote environmental sustainability, happiness and societal wellbeing. It is run by Tony Butler, director of the Museum of East Anglian Life.
The initiative’s ideals draw on a manifesto for wellbeing written by the New Economics Foundation exploring the impact museums can have in creating a happier society.
It encourages museums to reimagine key aspects of their role and leave a legacy of cultural change within their organisation and the local community.
Alongside the commissioned projects, Happy Museum fosters peer-learning and innovative thinking through meetings, workshops, mentoring and creating tools and guidance.
In this round, the initiative is particularly looking to commission projects in science and technology, industrial heritage, natural history and fine art collections.
It is also seeking to support work that promotes engagement with craft skills; examines the interface between digital practice and social innovation; or focuses on wellness and pre-prevention rather than clinical practice.
Happy Museum recently collaborated with economist Daniel Fujiwara to produce a report demonstrating that visiting museums was associated with higher levels of happiness and wellbeing.
A spokeswoman said: “Happy Museum is delighted to announce a third open application fund available to English museums and a new fund open to museums in Wales.
“Museums have a great deal to contribute to societal wellbeing, and an increasing number of academics, economists, psychologists and ecologists are identifying the vital linkage between sustainability and wellbeing and shedding new light on how thinking of these two issues in conjunction might offer the key to providing a better future.”
The deadline for applications is 12pm on 12 June 2013.
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed in London and the West Midlands on 16 and 17 July.
For an application form to the English fund, click here
For an application form to the Welsh fund, click here
Funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Arts Council England, the initiative supports museum activities that promote environmental sustainability, happiness and societal wellbeing. It is run by Tony Butler, director of the Museum of East Anglian Life.
The initiative’s ideals draw on a manifesto for wellbeing written by the New Economics Foundation exploring the impact museums can have in creating a happier society.
It encourages museums to reimagine key aspects of their role and leave a legacy of cultural change within their organisation and the local community.
Alongside the commissioned projects, Happy Museum fosters peer-learning and innovative thinking through meetings, workshops, mentoring and creating tools and guidance.
In this round, the initiative is particularly looking to commission projects in science and technology, industrial heritage, natural history and fine art collections.
It is also seeking to support work that promotes engagement with craft skills; examines the interface between digital practice and social innovation; or focuses on wellness and pre-prevention rather than clinical practice.
Happy Museum recently collaborated with economist Daniel Fujiwara to produce a report demonstrating that visiting museums was associated with higher levels of happiness and wellbeing.
A spokeswoman said: “Happy Museum is delighted to announce a third open application fund available to English museums and a new fund open to museums in Wales.
“Museums have a great deal to contribute to societal wellbeing, and an increasing number of academics, economists, psychologists and ecologists are identifying the vital linkage between sustainability and wellbeing and shedding new light on how thinking of these two issues in conjunction might offer the key to providing a better future.”
The deadline for applications is 12pm on 12 June 2013.
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed in London and the West Midlands on 16 and 17 July.
For an application form to the English fund, click here
For an application form to the Welsh fund, click here
