Culture Recovery Fund

This page was last reviewed 23 July. 

For museums in England

Culture Recovery Fund round 3

Guidance for the third round of Culture Recovery Fund has been published. Click here for the guidance>>

There are two routes to apply for this funding:

  • Arts Council England Culture Recovery Fund: Emergency Resource Support – Permission to Apply requests opened 8 July, closes 30 September. Applications opened 15 July, closes 14 October (for full applications). Click here for more information>>
  • National Lottery Heritage Fund Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage: Emergency Resource Support – Expression of Interest requests opened 7 July, closes 30 September. Click here for more information>>

Culture Recovery Fund – round 1 and 2 awards

AIM members were amongst the beneficiaries in the first round of Culture Recovery Fund announcements which saw over £75m distributed to theatres, museums, dance companies and music venues in England. Read more about the museums to receive support here>> 

AIM members were again amongst the beneficiaries in the final grants from the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund. Ambitious projects at 22 heritage organisations will benefit from £13.5 million in targeted grants allocated by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to restart regeneration and maintenance projects that were planned before the pandemic and now face delays or increased costs. This includes five AIM members, who between them will receive over £5.3 million. Read more about this announcement here>>

National Lottery Project Grants

National Lottery Project Grants reopened recently and are aimed at those who need funding for an arts, museums or libraries project that shows public benefit. ACE have updated the guidance removing the need for applicants to source match-funding; giving individuals time and space to think and plan with their funding; and making more museums and libraries projects eligible for funding. They are also open to applications from freelancers.

More details on ACE support

Getting help with your application

If your organisation does not have specialist fundraising expertise or you have never made an application to NLHF or ACE then we can help. View the slides from our online workshops with two of AIM’s experienced consultants, Marilyn Scott and Heather Lomas.

Slides from this session. – focus on Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage

Slides from this session – overview of ACE funding scheme

Not an AIM member? Find out how you can benefit from expert webinars like these along with a host of other member exclusives on our Join AIM page. 

For museums in Wales

Culture Recovery Fund Phase 2 Grant

In line with the Welsh Government’s Coronavirus Control Plan during 2021 there will be continued closures and restrictions that will significantly impact on the culture sector’s ability to reopen successfully and sustainably. The aim of this second phase of funding is to protect sustainable businesses and organisations and as many jobs in the sector as possible in order to ensure the sector survives the Covid-19 crisis and remains vibrant, viable and sustainable in 2021 and beyond.

The sector includes theatres, music venues, recording and rehearsal spaces, heritage attractions, heritage organisations, museums, libraries, galleries, archives, independent cinemas, comedy venues and events.

The funding is to cover the period from 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021.

Applications to this fund have now closed. 

For museums in Scotland

Click here to visit the Museums Galleries Scotland website for more information on financial support available in Scotland>>

AIM Coronavirus resources

All AIM Coronavirus resources can be found here.