Introduction
Research in many areas of the arts and humanities relies heavily on the unique resources and expertise of the UK's museums, galleries, archives and libraries. Equally, museums, galleries, archives and libraries themselves require high quality accessibility and visibility, and provide an important route for arts and humanities research to be communicated to a wider audience.
Background
The AHRC is committed to engaging with this sector: in 2005, we held a consultation into the situation and future requirements of these organisations, which led to the development of the Museums and Galleries Research Programme. We have also worked with several of the UK’s larger museums in bestowing Independent Research Organisation status (see below), allowing them to apply to us directly for funding.
What funding is available for museums, galleries, archives and libraries?
Independent museums, galleries, libraries and archives can apply to AHRC in collaboration with a UK university or AHRC-recognised Independent Research Organisation. Individual members of staff can either be included on a project in a consultancy role, or the organisation can act as a ‘Project Partner’. This requires a contribution to the project either financially or in kind, for example through providing exhibition pace or access to a collection; other aspects of an organisation’s involvement may then be charged to the grant.*
There are a number of funding opportunities available to support different types of activities. AHRC runs Responsive Mode schemes, which run repeatedly, and for which proposals are driven by the ideas and needs of the individuals proposing the research. We also run Strategic Initiatives, which involve one-off competitions aimed at supporting specific thematic ideas.
Partnerships can be supported through a variety of schemes (see also our information page for working in partnership).
Activities which could be funded under Responsive Mode schemes include:
Setting up a network – Funding to bring together a group or researchers, experts and students, to discuss questions related to a subject area, develop potential partnerships, pool ideas for potential future research projects, etc. Research Networking
Example project: Professor Jeff Hill, de Montfort University, ran a series of workshops in collaboration with the National Football Museum which brought together practitioners from a range of fields related to the intersection of sport, history and heritage, in order to identify common areas for future development and research.
A joint PhD studentship – Funding to support a student to complete a PhD based at a UK university but in collaboration with e museum, gallery, library or archive. The student might conduct research on a particular collection, conduct conservation work, or produce an exhibition. Collaborative Doctoral Awards
Example project: Manchester Metropolitan University and Manchester City Art Gallery supported a PhD student in investigating a collection of poster advertisements for the British Empire Marketing Board, exploring ideas of representation and the context of display.
A collaborative research project – Funding for a project to investigate particular questions, potentially involving several different universities, partner organisations and PhD students, for up to 3 years and £1 million. Research Grants
Example project: Dr Laura Peers from the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, and Dr Alison Brown from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Aberdeen, are currently conducting research into the cultural history of a collection of 19th Century ritual garments of the Canadian First Nation Blackfoot people. The project will culminate in a travelling exhibition in museums in Canada, designed in collaboration with Blackfoot people.
Strategic Initiatives which might be relevant
Science and Heritage Programme
An interdisciplinary programme supporting research which uses methods from both science and the arts and humanities to address questions concerning moveable and immovable heritage.
Upcoming call: Post-doctoral Fellowships
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* Please note that AHRC will only fund 80% of the full economic cost of any project. It is the responsibility of the university or IRO awarded the funds to ensure that the remaining 20% is found, though organisations working in partnership may come to their own arrangements regarding this.
The Programme
The Museum and Galleries Research Programme, launched in 2005/06, aims to operate as an umbrella programme, pulling together existing funding opportunities, offering specific funding for certain activities, and supporting other activities of interest to the sector. Early in the programme, funding was awarded through two schemes: the programme will not award further funds, but will continue to support this community through providing advice and encouragement to apply for funding through AHRC’s other schemes.
Museums, Galleries, Libraries and Archives Research Workshops
Funding was awarded to support proposals to run a series of workshops aiming to facilitate interaction between museums, galleries, libraries and archives, and universities.
Lists of the awards made, with project summaries, may be found here (178kb).
Museums, Galleries, Archives and Libraries Research Grants
In 2008, thirteen large collaborative research projects were funded by a call aiming to support collaboration between researchers based in UK universities and experts from the museums, galleries, archives and libraries community. The projects all involve scholarly research to underpin an exhibition, located in or via the museum partner(s).
A list of the awards is available here (84kb) with more detailed summaries of each award to be found here (139kb).
Some of these awards have been developed as case studies of the societal and economic impact of AHRC awards; more information is available here.
Independent Research Organisations (IROs)
IRO status is awarded to organisations which make an enormous contribution to research, both within and outside of the higher education sector. IROs are eligible to apply to AHRC as the principle Research Organisation, though they may still collaborate with other museums, galleries, libraries and archives.
*The National Gallery is currently only eligible to apply to our one-off Strategic Initiatives, rather than to the Responsive Mode schemes, which run repeatedly.
Information on applying for IRO status and the eligibility criteria may be found here.
Previous awards for museums, galleries, libraries and archives
Between 2001 and 2009, the AHRC administered funding competitions for museums and galleries attached to English universities with funds provided by HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England). Administration of this funding has now passed back to HEFCE, who have extended the remaining Core Fund awards by one year, and who are currently conducting a review with regard to potential future funding for this sector. Any queries regarding this should be directed to Vicky Jones at HEFCE (v.jones@hefce.ac.uk).
Core Funding
This scheme awarded funds to support a museum or gallery’s core activities, aiming to ensure the conservation, maintenance and display of collections, to strengthen links between the museum and teaching and research in its host organisation, and to increase access to collections for university students, staff and the wider community.
A list of the awards made under the Core Funding scheme is available here (71kb).
Project Funding
This scheme provided funds for specific projects aiming to improve the stewardship of small collections, for example in relation to conservation, cataloguing, display or access to the wider public.
A list of the awards made under the Project Funding scheme is available here (92kb).
Programme Director
This programme does not have a director for more information please contact Karen Buchanan, Portfolio Manager, Telephone 01793 416083, for details.
Find out more
Partnerships can be supported through a variety of schemes (see also our information page for working in partnership).
About AHRC Initiatives
This programme is one of the AHRC programmes which opens up opportunities for research that has intellectual and wider cultural, social or economic urgency and that the Council considers is best supported by concentrated investments. It will also assist researchers working on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary areas which do not fit into conventional funding opportunities.