Major new grant funding for cultural institutions

The partnership of Manchester City Galleries, Whitworth Art Gallery and The Manchester Museum today received confirmation of three year's major grant funding from Arts Council England (ACE). They join a list of only 16 major museum partners across the country to receive this funding. The Arts Council received 29 eligible applications for major partner funding, requesting a total of £116 million over three years. The 16 successful applicants requested £23.5 million a year against an annual budget of approximately £20 million. The exact amounts of each major partner's awards will be finalised as part of the negotiations of their funding agreements. This represents a significant and vital investment in Manchester's major museum and galleries. ACE judged the partnership proposal as outstanding, commending the work the three organisations do with their internationally recognised collections, the strength and diversity of their work with audiences in Manchester and across the region and their innovative work with children and young people.