Funding & Grants
We are now accepting applications from Accredited local museums for three NIMC grant programmes. The capital grant programmes funded by Department for Communities are now closed. Collecting for the Future Acquisitions and the Playful Museums Festival grant programmes remain open.
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. This is the second round, there is a limited amount of remaining funding available.
The programme is intended to provide maximum flexibility for eligible museums; however, we encourage applications which are aligned Collections Care and Access.
Please click below for further information and supporting documents.
Download Museum Collections Capital Grant Programme Application Form, Guidance Notes and Grantee Documents
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:
- Check that you are an eligible museum
- Discuss your proposed application with Catherine Doran by e-mailing catherine.doran@nimc.co.uk
- Deadline for applications: 12pm 10th October 2025
- Read the NIMC Conditions of Grant Award document
Please click below for further information and supporting documents.
Download Application Form, Guidance Notes and Grantee Documents
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:
- Check that you are an eligible museum
- Discuss your proposed application with Eva Lynch by e-mailing eva.lynch@nimc.co.uk
- Deadline for applications: Ongoing.
- Read the NIMC Conditions of Grant Award document
Please click below for further information and supporting documents.
Download Collecting for the Future Application Form, Guidance Notes and Grantee Documents
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 NIMC Small Capital Grants Programme first application submission window has now closed. Subsequent application submission windows will only be used if budget remains un-committed.
Please click below for further information and supporting documents.