Deadline: 21-Jan-2026
The Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund, managed by the Museums Association, offers UK museums an opportunity to develop meaningful community partnerships that focus on inclusion and equity.
Grants range from £40,000 to £100,000 and can support projects for up to three years, enabling museums to plan long-term initiatives that strengthen engagement with diverse audiences.
Core grants are aimed at single organisations working to advance strategic aims in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Applicants must describe their local context, relationships with community and stakeholder groups, and present clear strategies for inclusive practice. Projects should focus on existing collections and actively involve communities, partners, or stakeholders in prominent or community-led roles.
Partnership project grants are for equitable collaborations between museums and community organisations that have existing relationships. These grants support time-limited projects that engage existing collections to achieve shared goals in diversity, equity, and inclusion, encouraging joint planning and co-creation between partners.
The fund has a twin focus on inclusion and collections. They anticipate this will result in work that explores and influences key themes in social and climate justice, such as wellbeing, decolonization, climate crisis, antiracism and others.
Applications are assessed on several criteria, including the strength of the link between the participants, collections, and themes explored. Projects are evaluated for their progress towards participatory practices, equitable working, and their positive impact on organisations, individuals, and wider sectors. Innovation, ambition, creativity, feasibility within budget and timescale, and strategies for sustaining benefits after the grant period are also key considerations.
The fund encourages museums and community organisations to design projects that leave a lasting legacy, transforming how collections are used and fostering more inclusive and reflective museum practices.
For more information, visit Museums Association.
