Latest from Arts Council England

All Accredited museums are periodically invited to demonstrate that they continue to meet the Standard; typically this is every five years.

Updates on Accreditation application arrangements whilst the Grantium portal is unavailable are here

Accreditation Return invitations are emailed to museums by Arts Council England at least six months before the submission deadline. The current Accreditation award remains in place until an updated assessment is reviewed by an Accreditation Panel.

Due to the pause of the scheme during the pandemic some museums will have had their Accreditation award extended for longer than five years. These museums remain fully Accredited until they are invited to submit an Accreditation return – information on when this might be is on the Arts Council England website here.

Originally 1 September 2025 – now 1 October 2025

· Peopleʼs History Museum

· Ryedale Folk Museum

· Yorkshire Museum of Farming

· The Atkinson, Southport

12 January 2026

· Hepworth Wakefield

· Nantwich Museum

· Lancashire Infantry Museum, Preston

2 February 2026

· Seven Stories, The National Centre for Childrenʼs Books, Newcastle

· University of Salford Art Collection

· Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum of Primitive Methodism, Crewe

2 March 2026

· Congleton Museum

· Blackpool Borough Council (The Grundy Art Gallery)

· Blackburn with Darwen Council (Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery, Turton Tower)

· Darlington Borough Council (Hopetown)

· Ruskin Library

You can find the full returns schedule, along with more information on the Accreditation Scheme here.