Small grants of up to £2,500 are available to enhance the knowledge and understanding of your collections.

Most museums have difficulty freeing up the time or resources to look really deeply into their collections. Perhaps there is a specific collection which is not so well documented, or a major item which needs specialist research or a special form of conservation.

Sometimes these stewardship projects seem to remain permanently on the back burner.

This fund wishes to make a contribution to improving the stewardship of collections in the region by offering the opportunity to focus on some of these ‘to-do list’ projects.

We are looking for projects which are over and above the basic core running of the organisation but which, nevertheless, can be seen as promoting best practice in the care and development of the professional stewardship of your collection.

Only museums or collections in the public domain and based in the West Midlands may apply.

Key Dates

This fund runs throughout the period of 2006-8.

It invites applications in two rounds and in specific subject areas.

For example, applications for projects involved with Fine Art collections are only accepted, from February 2007, in Round 2.

Round 1

Projects relating to:

• Costume & Textiles
• Photography
• Human History (to include social history and archaeology)

Applications welcomed from October2006

Deadline for applications 4^th December 2006

Decisions available 19^th January 2007

Round 2

Projects relating to:

• Archives (in museums)
• Natural History
• Fine and Decorative Arts

Round 2 is now open!

Bids are welcome in areas of Archives (in museums), Natural History and Fine and Decorative Arts
Closing date 14th May 2007

Decisions available 29^th June 2007

For more details download the leaflet and application forms on this page or contact Judi Locke to be sent paper version. Tel: 0121 631 5812