Introduction
In order to bring an inclusive museum project to fruition, funding has to be found. As some projects are very expensive, small and medium-sized cultural sites cannot afford them without financial support.
Public funding: national/local scale
It is possible to apply for public subsidies from ministries or government agencies. However, it’s important to bear in mind that these grants are generally limited to a specific purpose. For instance, the French Ministry of Culture has set up a Works Accessibility Fund.
Public funding: European scale
Member state of the European Union can also benefit from European programs, whether or not they focus on culture. As an example, “Interreg Central Europe” is currently supporting the “CE-Spaces4All” project which aims to map accessibility barriers in rural regions.
The Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO) has developed The CulturEU funding guide, an online tool that simplifies the search for European funding. NEMO also provides a toolkit entitled From a Project Idea to a Successful Proposal to make it easier to obtain European grants.
Public funding: mixing the scales
It is possible to receive support from various public institutions at different levels. As an example, the Museo di Storia Naturale dell’Università di Parma in Italy had received grants from the European “NextGenerationEU” program as well as the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) for its inclusion project.
Private funding
Another financial aid to consider is that from the private sector, although it involves a degree of caution: the International Council of Museums (ICOM) states that museums “must comply with all applicable laws related to raising funds” and should refer to the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums for their fundraising policies.
Private funding: trusts, foundations, non-profit organisations
Many non-profit organisations support accessibility projects.
For example, the non-profit organisation FRAMe (FRench American Museum Exchange) supports, among others, innovative exhibitions and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Pilot Programs. It has supported the touring tactile exhibition entitled “Please touch” in Lyon, Lille, Nantes and Rennes.
Individual giving
Cultural institutions can also count on the generosity of private individuals to make inclusive projects a reality.
Private funding: fundraising
However, to make a fundraising strategy successful, one must understand that this process takes time. Moreover, it is more about communication and long-term relationship building rather than funding, especially if you are considering to commit into a crowdfunding project.
Several government departments, agencies such as arts councils and associations have published online guides to help institutions, such as the British Association of Independent Museums’ Success Guide, designed to “to help small and medium-sized museums”.