North East Museums awarded £438,300 from the Museums Renewal Fund

North East Museums has been awarded £438,300 from the government’s £20 million Museums Renewal Fund.

North East Museums manages 12 visitor attractions in North East England and the archives service for Tyne & Wear. It is one of 75 civic museum organisations to benefit from funding announced today.

Awarded by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the Museums Renewal Fund strengthens the UK’s network of museums. It will ensure that local communities have access to culture for generations to come whilst being able to take pride in how their towns and villages have played a role in our national story.

North East Museums will use the £438,300 award to increase resilience and sustainability, focusing on:

• Meeting the challenges of rising costs at all 12 museums, ensuring that they can continue to play a key role in the future of the region
• Investing in new, sustainable ways to meet the needs of visitors, including a new ticketing system to meet the demand for more bookable events
• Cementing the wider remit of the organisation following the addition of the Northumberland-based venues that joined North East Museums in April 2025.

Keith Merrin, Director of North East Museums, said:

"We are incredibly grateful to receive £438,300 from the Museums Renewal Fund. The money allows us to build resilience so that we can continue to deliver enriching museum experiences for local people long into the future.

"Our 12 museums and galleries celebrate the North East region, support the growth of our creative and visitor economies, and provide learning opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds."

Museums Minister, Baroness Twycross, said:

"Museums offer a place where people from all backgrounds can learn, be inspired and delve into our rich history, helping to understand the stories that led us to where we are today.

"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."

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair of Arts Council England, said:

"Travelling through cities, towns, and villages across the UK, I have seen that museums and art galleries are often a proud focal point in communities, telling important stories about history, people and place. This funding will provide a crucial lifeline for local museums in stabilising their financial situation and building towards a sustainable future."

For more information about the Museums Renewal Fund and a full list of beneficiaries, please visit the UK Government website.

Please contact: communications@northeastmuseums.org.uk.