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Funding & Grants

We are now accepting applications from Accredited local museums for four NIMC grant programmes. Two new capital grant programmes funded by Department for Communities join our very successful Collecting for the Future Acquisitions and the Playful Museums Festival grant programmes.

Local Museums Small Capital Grant Programme

About the Fund:

The Northern Ireland Museums Council’s (NIMC) Local Museums Small Capital Grant Programme is funded through the Department for Communities and administered by NIMC.  Please note, this programme is a Capital fund. Eligible museums can apply for £500 – £10,000 per funding application for any equipment and/or minor works to help adapt your venue or working practice.

The programme is intended to provide maximum flexibility for eligible museums; however, we encourage applications which are aligned to the Programme for Government priorities of

  • Early learning and special educational needs
  • Climate action and sustainability
  • Sustainability of public services- access and infrastructure

The entire NIMC Small Capital Grants Programme budget will be available for allocation within the first application submission window. Subsequent application submission windows will only be used if budget remains un-committed. It is therefore advisable that eligible museums submit their applications by the 15 August 2025.

Before you apply:

Please click below for further information and supporting documents.

 

Play area at Mid Antrim Museum

Download Local Museums Small Capital Grant Programme Application Form and Guidance Notes

Local Museum Small Capital Grants Guidance
Local Museum Small Capital Grants Application
Museum Collections Capital Grant Programme

About the Fund:

The Northern Ireland Museums Council’s (NIMC) Museum Collections Capital Grant Programme is funded through the Department for Communities and administered by NIMC.  Please note, this programme is a Capital fund.  Eligible museums can apply for £500 – £5,000 per funding application for any equipment and/or minor works to help care for collections or make them more accessible to the public.

The programme is intended to provide maximum flexibility for eligible museums; however, we encourage applications which are aligned Collections Care and Access.

Before You Apply:

Please click below for further information and supporting documents.

Download Museum Collections Capital Grant Programme Application Form and Guidance Notes

Museum Collections Capital Grants Programme Guidance Notes
Museum Collections Capital Grants Programme Application
Collecting for the Future: Acquisition Fund

About the fund

This fund is supported by the Esmé Mitchell Trust and enables accredited museums to apply for up to £1,000 towards the purchase of cultural and artistic objects in partnership with museum users and communities. This is a rolling programme running until 2028, with a total pot of £5,000 per year. Turn around times for this grant can be relatively quick to suit the needs of museums.

Before you apply:

Please click below for further information and supporting documents.

Firemen, after the Blitz, Belfast by William Conor OBE RHA RUA ROI

Download Collecting for the Future Application Form and Guidance Notes

Collecting for the Future Guidance
Collecting for the Future Application
Playful Museums Programme

About the fund

This fund enables museums to develop and deliver events, resources, training and organisational changes as part of the Playful Museums Festival to engage under 5s, their parents and/or carers.

Applications will be accepted until end of day Friday 10th October 2025, to allow for funds to be allocated in Winter and the festival to be delivered in February 2025.

Before you apply:

Please click below for further information and supporting documents.

NIWM Playful Museums Festival 2022. Photography by Peter O'Hara

Download Application Form and Guidance Notes

Playful Museums Festival Grant Programme Guidance
Playful Museums Festival Grant Programme Application