UK Allocates £30M for Museums, Libraries Upgrades

The UK government is allocating £30 million in funding to support essential maintenance and upgrades for museums and libraries across England, with grants ranging from £50,000 to £5 million. The Libraries Improvement Fund will distribute £5.5 million, aimed at enhancing both physical and digital infrastructure to meet evolving user needs, while the Museum Estate and Development Fund will provide £25 million for infrastructure projects and maintenance backlogs. Expressions of interest for both funds will open in May 2025. Arts Minister Chris Bryant emphasized the critical role of these institutions in sharing the nation's history and providing community spaces. This initiative follows the prior announcement of the £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund, which aims to foster economic growth in the arts sector. The funding is part of the government’s broader Plan for Change to ensure accessibility to arts and culture for all citizens.