Future Preparedness Programme: Climate-Related Environmental Management

Many museums are already feeling the impacts from the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and climate change impacts. These long-term environmental changes mean the sector needs to adapt how we manage and operate buildings and care for collections, whilst supporting communities and educating the public on climate action.

The Future Preparedness Programme is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to design a programme to support museums in the north of England to respond to and prepare for climate disruptions through a series of workshops, bespoke support, events and a funding opportunity.

Across the five different strands of the Programme, participants will gain knowledge to:

• Take a data driven approach to further understanding of managing environmental risks to protect museum sites and maintain collections in perpetuity
• Think about pursuing climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience which can inform the development of a climate action strategy
• Maintain and go beyond Museum Accreditation Standard
• Develop effective emergency plans and skills in salvage of collections following environmental incidents

Strand one: Environmental Risks and Management Workshop Series

We invite you to take part in the second cohort of this programme exploring the impact of climate on museum buildings and collections, how you can mitigate against risks, to plan and advocate for action. The Expression of Interest is now open with a closing date of 3 July.

Feedback from the first cohort was extremely positive:

• ‘This is really great…the depth and practical tools that the programme has given, like the workbooks – it’s not just listening and watching slides. It has been really useful to have those templates and things for plans.’
• ‘It has been fascinating to listen to everybody….the whole project and the whole team involved…everybody just bounces off each other. It has made a massive difference to us all.’
• ‘It has been really useful to be part of these conversations to also know what surveys and additional surveys I should be asking for and which are the useful ones to be doing. Generally speaking, you only do this sort of thing possibly once in your professional life. So it is a case of trying to learn from other people…what questions you should be asking and what you’re best looking for.’

The programme is delivered in partnership with Mortice Consulting and sessions will run from September to December 2026, with an introductory session and 4 online workshops. Full details of dates, times and topics can be found here.

Strand two: Bespoke Advice and Support

MD North have teamed up with Purcell, an award-winning international practice of architects, masterplanners and heritage consultants, to provide support for museums across the North of England with their Future Preparedness.  This bespoke support offer will provide advice for individual museum organisations on risk management, planning, advocacy and fundraising. This offer is currently available until the end of January 2027.  For more information about how to access this support visit here.

Strand three: Future Preparedness Grants

This grant scheme is now closed.

The aim of the Future Preparedness Grants scheme is to support museums to be able to conduct and commission the necessary research, reports and surveys to inform action plans for future resilience, build evidence for advocacy, and support future planning and funding applications for capital development to improve the long-term sustainability and environmental resilience of existing museum buildings and collections. The Future Preparedness Grant applicants will be notified on the outcome of their applications the week of 16 March 2026.

Strand four: Capital Development Network  

As part of MDN’s Future Preparedness programme, the Capital Development Network brings together museum people who are undertaking or planning capital development projects.

These in-person events are an opportunity for the museum sector in the North of England to share learning, get peer support, and hear from a variety of speakers across a range of topics around planning and delivering capital development projects.

Each session will be held at a venue that has undergone capital development projects and focus on current and future climate resilience. Topics covered may include:

• Masterplanning for buildings, collections and grounds
• Risk Assessment and condition surveys
• Collections management planning
• Working with listed buildings
• Working with architects and contractors
• Fundraising and full cost recovery
• Fabric first approach to building resilience, efficiency and performance
• Decarbonisation planning

The third networking event is at Kiplin Hall and Gardens, North Yorkshire and focuses on the theme of ‘restoring the old, installing the new’.  You can find out more and book here.

Strand five: Emergency Preparedness Workshop Series  

In 2026, there will be opportunities to attend Emergency Planning and practical Emergency Salvage training.  The Emergency Planning workshop is now open for bookings – find out more here.