Funded opportunities with NI Museums Council
September 12, 2024The NI Museums Council are exploring funding possibilities for two projects for 2024-2025.
If you would like to be involved with either project, please submit an expression of interest via email.
Project 1:
Title: Our Museum
A pilot project to design and print a children’s book inspired by a museum and its collection. The book will be aimed at Early Years and can be used in outreach, loan boxes, family events etc. and can be used in collaboration with local libraries for Storytime sessions.
Input from preschools, nurseries and Sure Starts is essential and children will be involved in the story development, illustrations, and graphic design. NI Museums Council will procure the facilitators and artists and is in discussion with Libraries NI to expand their involvement.
Should the book deliver a positive impact for the museum and the early years community, we will have good data to seek additional funding for more books across other museums.
Funder:
This project will be funded by NI Museums Council.
When: The project will begin as soon as possible following the deadline of EOI’s and must be completed by March 2025. We ask that EOI’s are submitted by 18th October, this will allow time to liaise with your local nursery, preschool, Sure Start and measure their interest and capability to be involved.
What we need:
We ask that any museum who submits an EOI will already have a local group that they can work with. If you have more than one group that would like to be involved, please include this in the email.
EOI Deadline
18th October
Project 2:
Title: (TBD) Working Title: 3D Printing Project
Creating 3D printed objects that can be used for sensory activities, school and early years audiences, outreach and loan boxes. The purpose will be to bring museum objects to new audiences, to open up collections that cannot be handled, loaned or moved and to allow learning to happen outside of the museum environment.
NIMC and the museum will work will several partners in the project. A school can be involved to identify objects which have curriculum links. A Sure Start and/or nursery will be used as consultant to feedback on the types of objects that children would enjoy. An access group will advise on the best objects for accessibility.
A community group, school or informal learning group could also be involved in the 3D scanning process to increase skill development.
Funder:
NIMC will be seeking funding from the National Lottery Communities Fund for this project.
When:
The NLCF is a rolling fund that does not need to be used by end of financial year. However, there is a 12-week waiting period to receive a decision on your application. NIMC asks that EOI’s are submitted by 12th October, this will allow time for the application to be finished and submitted in enough time to leave space in the academic year for any potential school involvement.
What we need:
It would be helpful if the museum already had connections with an access group, early years group and a community group, school or SEN school that could be involved. However, NIMC can work with the museum to develop these networks.
To complete the application to NLCF, the museum and NIMC will gather letters of support. NIMC will then submit the application and funding requirements to NCLF.
EOI Deadline
12th October
How to register interest
These opportunities are open to NI Museum Council member museums. You are welcome to register interest for both opportunities. The successful museums will be notified by email.
Please email your EOI to catherine.doran@nimc.co.uk by the relevant deadline. Please include the project/s that you are interested in and the names of any groups that you would be working with.