The Esmee Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund

The Esmée Fairbairn Communities and Collections Fund is the evolution of the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, with a new name that better represents the Foundation's dual focus on collections and inclusion. Since 2011, grants totalling £16 million have been awarded on behalf of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. The Fund, which is being managed by the Museums Association on behalf of the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, now places a greater emphasis on supporting work with museum collections to improve inclusion and equitable working with community partners. The Fund offers two types of grants: Core grants to museums that have established strategic aims for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and that are ready to use their collections and the Foundation's funding to support social and climate justice, in ways that are relevant to local contexts and relationships; and Partnership project grants to museums and community organisations that work equitably together and share aims for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) with ambitious and compelling ideas for inclusive project work with collections. Revenue grants of between £40,000 and £100,000 over a maximum of 3 years are available. The Foundation expects to award around 12 grants per year in 2 funding rounds. The Foundation wants to support a range of museums and partnerships through the Fund, from those that are starting out in their participatory practice, to those that are leading change on behalf of the museum sector and working equitably with communities. Partnership applications must include at least one Museum Association institutional member museum partner. It is expected that the museum partner(s) will hold collections that will be used during the partnership project and that a museum partner is typically well positioned to receive and coordinate funding on behalf of the group. Applicants, or one applicant in a partnership, are normally expected to be accredited or working towards accreditation.