Arts Council England has launched The National partners fund, a £1.8 million programme that will mark the 70th anniversary of the Arts Council Collection. The fund will establish a network of four museums and galleries, including Yorkshire Sculpture Park, to increase the number and range of people visiting and engaging with Arts Council Collection exhibitions. The Collection has, for many years, played a valued role in supporting galleries around the country through loans, touring exhibitions and support to curators. At a time when galleries are under growing pressure to deliver with fewer resources, we wish to use the fund and the Collection to give partners additional capacity to make a step change in their regional and national profile. Working closely with the Arts Council Collection team, the partners will deliver a series of exceptional exhibitions to attract new audiences and engage with children and young people.
National portfolio organisations and accredited museums can apply and applications will be received in two stages: and expression of interest followed by an invite to apply.
Applicants can apply for between £400,000 and £600,000. We expect to make three awards of £200,000 per year over three years.
Organisations eligible to submit an expression of interest include: National portfolio organisations, accredited museums and with the capacity to programme the Arts Council Collection on a year-round basis, with a highly visible presence and preferably within a branded, dedicated gallery space, organisations based outside Greater London or Yorkshire and the Humber.
For further guidance and to make an application please see the Arts Council England’s website
Photograph © National Museums Liverpool