Museums and libraries get £33m from Cultural Investment Fund

Dozens of museums and libraries across England will share £33m of grants for building and digital upgrades as part of the latest round of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) Cultural Investment Fund (CIF).

The financing comes from two subsidiaries of CIF: the Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), administered by Arts Council England, and the Libraries Improvement Fund, through which local authorities can bid for money on behalf of their library services.

The money can be used for repairs, renovations, and the development of digital infrastructure, with the largest individual grant of over £3m going to Discovery Museum, Newcastle, for refurbishment works.

Local authorities need the cultural sector's support

Meanwhile, Yorkshire Sculpture Park has been awarded more than £250k to restore and repair its 200-year-old, Grade II-listed Cut Bridge.

“The Cut bridge crosses the River Dearne and is a critical part of the estate’s infrastructure. Repairs to the deck and ironwork will ensure continued access to art, nature, and our heritage,” said Mark Chesman, Head of Estates and Projects at Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

“It’s only with the support from capital grants such as the MEND fund and additional partnership funding from Historic Houses Foundation that these essential works can be progressed.”

A total of 26 museums will share £22.6m in funding, with 43 libarary services getting £10.5m between them.

Darren Henley, Arts Council England Chief Executive,said: "Museums make a huge contribution to the lives of people in towns and cities across England. This investment in the physical fabric of their buildings helps to make sure that our museums are able to carry on serving their communities for years to come.”

'Bedrock of the community'

In the North East of England, nearly £400,000 has been awarded to Newcastle Libraries to create a new reading facility, support increased opening hours, and create a flexible community space.

Newcastle City Council’s Director of City Operations, Neighbourhoods and Regulatory Services, Christine Herriot, said, “This extra funding will help make the library bigger by bringing unused storage space back into use, give it a new entrance and enable us to widen digital services on offer while putting in place employment support to help residents with training and accessing new job opportunities.

“We want our libraries to be pleasant, inclusive places, offering the best facilities possible for our residents and this funding will help us achieve that at Walker Library.”

Elsewhere, Camden Council, Hackney Libraries, and Reading Borough Council will each receive nearly £500,000 for their library improvement projects. Warwickshire Libraries will receive over £370,000 to support a Sensory Discovery Mobile Library, and Bradford will get £50,000 toward "digital readiness".

"Museums and libraries are the bedrock of the community across the country, helping to inspire the creativity and curiosity of young people and begin lifelong passions for reading, learning, history and the arts,” said Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson.

“This major cultural investment will continue our work to level up access to culture across the country.”