Museums and libraries allocated £30m for repairs and upgrades

The government has announced a further £30m of funding to support essential maintenance repairs and upgrades at museums and libraries.

The fourth round of the Libraries Improvement Fund will allocate grants of between £50,000 and £500,000 from a total of £5.5m, helping libraries upgrade their physical and digital infrastructure and adapt to changing user needs.

And the fifth round of the Museum Estate and Development Fund will distribute £25m in grants from £50,000 to £5m, for purposes including infrastructure projects, tackling maintenance backlogs, and protecting collections and buildings.

Both the funds open for expressions of interest in May.

Arts minister Chris Bryant said that local museums are “the storytellers of our nation’s rich history and creative heritage” while public libraries play an important role in communities by providing “access to spaces where everyone can work and learn”.

“I’m delighted that this investment into museums and libraries will fund repairs and upgrades to their infrastructure, improving the experience for visitors and ensuring they can be enjoyed for generations to come,” added Bryant.