Grants & Awards MLA makes grants to sponsored bodies who promote different aspects of the work of museums, libraries and archives or within the remit of national programmes, such as Framework for the Future and Renaissance. A few schemes are open to applications from organisations within the sector. However, the eligibility criteria differ from scheme to scheme. Should any organisation consider making an application it is recommended that they read the specific guidance notes for these schemes beforehand. Please note that MLA does not make grants to individuals. Currently there are no such schemes open to applicant organisations. If a scheme is not listed below it may be one of the discontinued schemes. For further information or queries about the management of MLA’s grants, please contact Matthew Bodley, Grants and Procurement Manager, (matthew.bodley@mla.gov.uk) or Denislava Ivanova, Grants and Procurement Manager, (denislava.ivanova@mla.gov.uk) PRISM Grant Fund The PRISM Grant Fund supports the acquisition and/or conservation of a movable object or group of objects illustrating the history of any branch of science or technology. Storytelling Grants Scheme MLA has released funds for a small grants scheme to support storytelling events in museums, libraries and archives. The grants will support activities to bring alive the stories in collections – using storytellers, music, dance, poetry … The events will coincide with the Launch of the Cultural Olympiad 26-28 September, and will form part of MLA’s Literature & Storytelling programme. We hope that museums, libraries and archives will welcome the opportunity to secure funding for events to engage children, families and general audiences. For further details please refer to:
 Application Form for Storytelling Grants Scheme (Word 61 KB)
Criteria and Guidance Notes for Storytelling Grants Scheme (Word 79 KB) Their Past Your Future (Phase 2) Grant Programme The Museums Libraries and Archives (MLA) Partnership has launched a second phase to the highly successful Big Lottery funded Their Past Your Future programme. The focus of this second phase has been extended to explore past and present conflict. In this second phase of the programme, which runs from 2007-2010, the MLA Partnership will manage an annual grant programme open to all museums, libraries and archives in England. The programme will offer funding for the sector to use their collections to explore innovative and creative ways of increasing community learning and young people's knowledge and understanding of the impact and significance of conflict. The year two grant programme has now closed, successful projects will be announced at the beginning of July 2008. More information is also available in our Their Past Your Future section, along with details of successful projects. MLA / V&A Purchase Grant Fund This is a Government fund administered by the V&A in partnership with MLA. It contributes to the purchase of objects relating to the arts, literature and history by museums, galleries, record repositories and specialist libraries in England and Wales. Through the acquisitions it supports, the Purchase Grant Fund aims to help and develop the quality and standards of regional collections for the understanding and enjoyment of the public. The Fund's vote for 2001-02 is £1 million. Objects, collections or archives of any date costing between £500 and £300,000 are eligible for support. Grants are calculated at the rate of £4 for every £1 of locally raised funding up to a maximum of 50% of the purchase price. In exceptional circumstances grants of up to 80% may be considered. No applicant may receive more than £80,000 in any one financial year. Grants are normally allocated weekly towards those cases considered to be of particular merit, apart from those costing over £60,000 which are considered monthly. Decisions are normally given within four weeks of receipt of all necessary information. For more information visit the V&A's website,
All enquiries should be directed to the V&A's Regional Liaison Team:
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7942 2536
E-mail: purchasegrantfund@vam.ac.uk Videoconferencing Grant Scheme The Department for Education and Skills has provided MLA with funding to enable cultural sector organisations in England to connect to the National Education Network (NEN) in order to provide videoconferencing sessions. A small number of grants, totalling £32,000 has been provided to cultural sector organisations in 2007.
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