About the Museum Learning and Engagement Grants
The Museum Learning and Engagement Grant is a one-off, rapid-response grant programme supporting museums to develop and test new approaches to engaging children and young people in learning. It prioritises areas of low cultural engagement and high deprivation, while generating evidence to inform future investment and programme development from 2027 onwards.
This is a time-limited, rapid-response investment designed to support museums during the transition period between the current and future museum education programmes.
The Grant will:
Enable museums to pilot new models of engagement with schools and other learning settings, reaching a diverse range of children and young people, including those in primary, secondary and SEND education and learners outside mainstream school provision.
Support activity in areas of low engagement and high deprivation, particularly DCMS Culture Priority Places
Strengthen the role of museums in supporting curriculum learning, enrichment and teacher development
Build evidence and insight to inform future investment, programme design and policy alignment
Encourage flexible, locally responsive approaches tailored to the needs of schools and communities
Support museums to develop a more sustainable and effective schools offer, including partnerships and delivery models
Contribute to improved access, participation and learning outcomes for children and young people
The programme will run during 2026–27, with learning feeding directly into future programme development.
Funded projects are expected to address one or more of the following:
Evidence Building for Investment:
Research, testing or pilots that underpin future funding and philanthropy propositions
Activity that helps unlock or leverage future investment
New Curriculum Approaches:
Co‑designing or piloting curriculum‑relevant models
Exploring alignment with evolving educational frameworks
Enrichment:
Innovative cultural, creative or place‑based enrichment
Approaches for children and young people with limited access to cultural learning
New Delivery Models:
Alternative delivery systems, partnerships or digital‑first approaches
Testing resilience, scalability and long‑term sustainability
Space for bold or unexpected ideas that meet programme aims but fall outside set themes