Recharge

Museum Development is making funding available for projects that are developing collections, audiences and workforces in new ways.

Through this programme, four museums are being supported each year to carry out a self-assessment using our organisational health check tool.

Each museum receives an advisory report, geared around the key three priorities identified and will be eligible for a grant of up to £3,000 towards projects around three key themes:

• developing the use of collections in new ways
• audience development
• volunteer and workforce development

Applications are invited from museums that are interested in strategic approaches to develop strong and flexible organisations, that can adapt and respond to challenge and to needs of the communities they serve. Applicants are required to ensure that their projects address equality and accessibility.

Closing date for applications is 12pm on Mon 18 May 2026. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted.

Museums will be supported to carry out an organisational self-assessment to identify priorities for improvement, using the tried and tested MD organisational health check. The process will allow museums to assess and analyse all aspects of their operations in order to identify what they are doing well and where there are areas for improvement.

Projects will need to be completed by Sun 7 Mar 2027. More information on eligibility as well as the type of projects the grants programme will support can be found in the guidance for applicants below.

If you’d like to apply, please complete and return an application form, along with any supporting documents to [email protected].

If you're unsure whether your project would be eligible, have questions about the grant criteria or would like to discuss your project in more detail, please do get in touch with Yvette Shepherd, Museum Development Officer Organisational Health. Or join us at one of two online coffee sessions on Tue 21 Apr or Thu 23 Apr.

We'll announce our current grant museums for 2026–2027 in June once the assessment panel has met and the applicants have been notified of the outcome of their application.

The grants funded the following museums:

• Brunel Museum
• Leighton House
• Museum of Richmond
• Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret

Projects were completed by March 2026 and detailed case studies will be available from July 2026 onwards.

The grants funded the following museums:

• Barts Pathology Museum
• Brunel Museum
• Museum of Croydon
• Kingston Museum

The grants funded the following museums:

• Brent Museum and Archives
• Museum of Croydon
• Dulwich Picture Gallery
• Royal Academy of Music Museum

The grants funded the following museums:

• Brunel Museum
• Gunnersbury Park Museum
• Havering Museum
• Markfield Beam Engine and Museum
• Valence House, LB Barking & Dagenham