Coming Soon – Museum Learning and Engagement Grant
The Museum Learning and Engagement Grant is a one-off, rapid-response grant programme supporting museums to develop and test new approaches to engaging children and young people in learning. It prioritises areas of low cultural engagement and high deprivation, while generating evidence to inform future investment and programme development from 2027 onwards.
This is a time-limited, rapid-response investment designed to support museums during the transition period between the current and future museum education programmes. The Museum Learning and Engagement Grant is funded by Arts Council England and the UK Government.
The Grant will:
- Enable museums to pilot new models of engagement with schools and other learning settings, reaching a diverse range of children and young people, including those in primary, secondary and SEND education and learners outside mainstream school provision
- Support activity in areas of low engagement and high deprivation, particularly DCMS Culture Priority Places
- Strengthen the role of museums in supporting curriculum learning, enrichment and teacher development
- Build evidence and insight to inform future investment, programme design and policy alignment
- Encourage flexible, locally responsive approaches tailored to the needs of schools and communities
- Support museums to develop a more sustainable and effective schools offer, including partnerships and delivery models
- Contribute to improved access, participation and learning outcomes for children and young people
The programme will run during 2026–27, with learning feeding directly into future programme development.
Key Information
Eligibility
- Accredited Museums and those Working Towards Accreditation, including Arts Council England NPOs
- Excluding DCMS Sponsored National museums and museums operated by National Trust and English Heritage
Award
- Up to £20,000 per museum site
- Maximum grant £20,000
- Minimum grant £5,000
- Highly unlikely to award more than one grant per applicant organisation
Deadline for Applications
- 29 September 2026
- Deadline for Grant Expenditure – 31 March 2027
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