Financial support for Welsh museums

Museums and other heritage sites can now find out if they are eligible to apply for financial support from the Welsh Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund, it was announced this week.

The new fund will see heritage organisations and historic attractions; Accredited museums and archive services; libraries; and a number other cultural organisations, such as music venues, able to bid for a share of £18.5m. 

The online eligibility checker is now open and organisations can make applications for support from the fund from 14 September. The closing date for applications is 30 September.

Dafydd Elis-Thomas, the deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism, said: “We have listened to, and worked with our partners across the cultural and creative sectors to put this second package of support together. We recognise the massive and unprecedented challenges the pandemic is having on the very fabric of Welsh life and we applaud the resilience and creativity on show."

The latest funding is part of the Welsh Government’s £53m package to support the culture and arts sectors which are coping with a dramatic loss of revenue as a result of the pandemic.

A separate element of the Cultural Recovery Fund, worth £27.5m, is being delivered through the Arts Council of Wales to support theatres and galleries. This fund was launched 17 August with details available on the Arts Council’s website. 

There will also be a £7m fund for freelancers to support individuals in the sector who have been impacted by the pandemic.