The Federation Of Museums And Art Galleries Of Wales

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £10,000-£30,000 (via Small Grants & Acquisition Grants)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Varies by program (rolling basis for acquisitions; fixed deadlines for small grants)
• Grant Range: Up to £10,000 (maximum per grant)
• Geographic Focus: Wales only

Contact Details

General Contact:

• Address: Ceredigion Museum, The Coliseum, Terrace Road, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 2AQ
• Phone: 01970 633 087
• Email: secretary@welshmuseumsfederation.wales
• Website: www.welshmuseumsfederation.org / museumsfederation.cymru

Grants Information:

• Grants page: museumsfederation.cymru/grants/

Overview

The Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales (known as Museums Federation Cymru) is a registered charity (No. 1102270) established in May 2004. With an annual income of approximately £160,000 (year ending March 2025), the organization primarily receives funding from Welsh Government grants. The Federation serves as the strategic body for all museum workers—both paid and voluntary—across Wales, promoting the highest professional standards and providing a forum for discussion of museum issues. Their mission focuses on three core objectives: promoting professional standards in Welsh museums and galleries, supporting education and training for museum professionals, and advancing public education through quality lifelong learning services. The Federation redistributes Welsh Government funding through small grants and training programs that are highly valued by the sector. They emphasize that museums function as powerful educational tools fostering learning and inspiration, strengthen community bonds, and drive economic growth through tourism and regeneration.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants & EDI Projects (2025-2026)

• Maximum: £10,000
• Focus: Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion work (prioritizing LGBTQ+ and disability communities), museum governance, workforce development, collections care and management
• Application method: Fixed deadlines (bi-annual rounds)
• No minimum partnership contribution required
• Multiple applications permitted per service

Acquisition Grant Fund (2025-2026)

• Maximum: £10,000 (no minimum)
• Purpose: Supporting accredited Welsh museums in developing core collections through purchases, including Portable Antiquities scheme items
• Application method: Rolling program, first-come-first-served
• No match funding required

Professional Development & Conference Grants (2025-2026)

• Spring round: Maximum £10,000
• Autumn round: Maximum £3,000
• Purpose: Bursaries for research and attendance at recognized professional conferences

Priority Areas

All grants align with:

• Welsh Government's Priorities for Culture: “Culture brings people together,” “Celebrating Wales as a nation of culture,” and “Culture is resilient and sustainable”
• Museum Accreditation Scheme standards: Nationally agreed standards for museum quality
• Museum Forward Plans: Strategic planning documents that guide individual museums' development
• Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion: Particular focus on LGBTQ+ and disability communities
• Collections care and management: Supporting proper stewardship of museum collections
• Workforce development and governance: Building capacity and professional standards

What They Don't Fund

The Federation's grants are specifically for:

• Members only: Must be a member of the Federation
• Welsh museums only: Geographic restriction to Wales
• Accredited or working towards accreditation: Museums must meet or be working towards national Accreditation standards
• Grants appear limited to institutional museum development rather than individual projects or capital building works

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (10 trustees, all unpaid)

President: Curator at The Egypt Centre

Treasurer: Museum Business and Partnerships Manager for Pontypridd Town Council

Secretary: Curator at Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum

Additional Trustees include:

• Retired Museums Professional
• Interim Museum Manager for Wrexham Museum/Collections Manager
• Museums and Arts Manager for MonLife Heritage in Monmouthshire (also Board Member of the Museums Association)
• Project Officer Shared Prosperity Fund at Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council

Staff

Grants and Development Officer: Manages grant programs for the Federation

The organization operates with a small staff complement, supported by an engaged board of museum professionals from across Wales.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Membership Requirement: All applicants must first be members of Museums Federation Cymru. Membership benefits include access to grants and funding only available to members, support on best practice for collections, professional network access, YMag magazine, and priority booking for training and events.

Accreditation Requirement: Museums must be accredited or actively working towards accreditation under the Museum Accreditation Scheme (managed by Welsh Government).

Application Process:

• Applications assessed by three independent Federation committee members
• Applications evaluated against Welsh Government priorities, Accreditation standards, and the museum's Forward Plan
• Priority given to supporting smaller projects
• Information documents and application forms available for download from the grants page

Application Methods:

• Small Grants & EDI Projects: Fixed bi-annual deadlines
• Acquisition Grants: Rolling program, first-come-first-served basis
• Professional Development: Spring and autumn rounds with specific deadlines

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly published for most programs. For reference, similar Welsh Government transformation grants administered through related channels have historically followed this pattern:

• Stage 1 decisions: Mid-October
• Full applications due: Mid-January
• Final decisions: Late March

Applicants should contact the Federation directly for specific deadline dates for current funding rounds.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available. The Federation receives approximately £150,000-£190,000 annually from Welsh Government to redistribute through training and small project grants, suggesting limited total funding available across all programs.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions are documented in available materials. Given the bi-annual nature of small grant rounds and rolling acquisition grants, unsuccessful applicants appear able to reapply in subsequent rounds.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Assessment Criteria

Applications are evaluated against three key criteria:

1. Welsh Government's Priorities for Culture (2025): Projects should demonstrate how they contribute to bringing people together through culture, celebrating Wales as a nation of culture, or building resilient and sustainable cultural institutions
2. Museum Accreditation standards: Projects should enhance work towards nationally agreed Accreditation standards for collections care, governance, and public service
3. Museum's Forward Plan: Projects must align with the strategic direction outlined in your institution's Forward Plan document

Priority for Smaller Projects

The Federation explicitly gives “priority to supporting smaller projects,” suggesting that focused, achievable initiatives may be viewed more favorably than ambitious large-scale proposals.

EDI Focus Areas

For 2025-2026, particular priority is given to projects addressing Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion, with specific mention of LGBTQ+ and disability communities. Projects addressing these communities should demonstrate clear impact and engagement strategies.

Forward Plan Integration

Applications should clearly demonstrate how the proposed project fits within your museum's existing Forward Plan. For example, if your Forward Plan identifies developing income streams, explain how a digitization project could enable ticketed digital events; if enhancing visitor experience is a priority, show how the grant would support this strategic objective.

Collections-Based Applications

For acquisition grants, demonstrate how proposed purchases develop your core collections and align with your collections development policy. Portable Antiquities scheme items are specifically mentioned as eligible, indicating support for heritage preservation.

Professional Development Justification

For conference and professional development grants, articulate clear professional learning objectives and how attendance will benefit your institution and the broader Welsh museums sector.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Join first: You must be a Federation member before applying; membership provides access to grants, training, and a professional network
• Accreditation is essential: Ensure your museum is accredited or can demonstrate active progress towards accreditation standards
• Align with three criteria: Every application should address Welsh Government Priorities for Culture, Accreditation standards, and your museum's Forward Plan
• Think small and focused: Priority is given to smaller projects—aim for achievable, well-defined initiatives rather than ambitious large-scale proposals
• EDI emphasis: For 2025-2026, projects addressing LGBTQ+ and disability communities are particularly prioritized
• Acquisition grants move quickly: The rolling, first-come-first-served nature of acquisition grants means good opportunities may require rapid response
• Limited funding available: With approximately £150,000-£190,000 total annual funding for all programs, competition is likely significant—make every word count

References

• Museums Federation Cymru Grants Page -
• Museums Federation Cymru About Us -
• Museums Federation Cymru Trustees -
• The Charity Commission - Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales -
• Museums Federation Cymru Become a Member -
• Welsh Government Priorities for Culture Capital Grant Funding 2025 to 2026 -
• Museums Association. “Welsh Government outlines new Priorities for Culture.” May 2025. Link
• Museums Federation Cymru Museum Accreditation -