York Museums Trust has welcomed a “vital and generous” £1 million grant from the government today (Wednesday).
The cash is a lifeline for the organisation, which earlier this year said it was at a critical juncture, unable to afford improvements.
The grant is one of the largest from the Museum Renewal Fund, which has announced £20 million going to 75 museums across the UK.
The York trust says the money will be used to:
- strengthen its financial reserves
- build greater resilience
- support scoping for future income generation
- and develop York Castle Museum.
It looks after York Castle Museum, the Yorkshire Museum, York Art Gallery and York Museum Gardens, welcoming around 1.5 million visitors a year.
Chief executive Kathryn Blacker welcomed the money, which came via Arts Council England and the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS).
“It enables us to plan with confidence, invest in our resilience, and continue to enhance the offer at York Castle Museum for all visitors.”
In April a report to City of York Council said: “With continued deficits, our reserves are at less than two months of our operating costs and we are relying on a £1m letter of credit from the council which is supporting us as a last resort.
“It is clear that the trust is at a critical juncture of its existence.
“The council and the trust are working together to look at the trust’s funding model to ensure all venues can continue to meet the expectation of visitors and protect the generation of income.”
Museums minister Baroness Fiona Twycross said: “The Museum Renewal Fund is contributing to the delivery of our plan for change.
“It ensures much-loved civic museums can remain open and continue to provide opportunities for future generations to learn about our shared heritage and how their local community has played its part in our national story.”
According to the DCMS, the fund aims to strengthen the nationwide network of museums and ensure that local communities have access to culture “for generations to come”.
Trust boss Ms Blacker added: “York Museums Trust is proud to serve the people of York and North Yorkshire by safeguarding and sharing the region’s rich heritage.
“Museums are more than buildings — they are spaces where communities come together to learn, enjoy, and connect. In the face of growing economic pressures, this funding provides vital support to help us sustain our work today and invest in new ways for the future.”
