Article: David Styles | Image: Zhang Linjie, his colleagues from the Palace Museum, Beijing and Ada de Wit, Assistant Curator, The Wallace Collection, London at the entrance to the exhibition Celebrating the Spring Festival in the Forbidden City
International Council of Museums UK, in conjunction with the British Council, has once again offered British organisations and consortia the opportunity to apply for travel grants aimed at forging reciprocally beneficial international projects and partnerships.
The 2019-20 scheme aims to support museums working to develop mutually beneficial international projects and partnerships – whether or not they are ICOM members. This is done by allowing recipients to undertake a foreign visit to meet with colleagues, and share skills, expertise and industry experience.
Applications will be considered for grants up to £1,500 per organisation or consortium for travel outside greater Europe and up to £700 for within the continent.
The total amount of funding made available for the 2019-20 run is £28,500. Half of this figure is ring-fenced for travel to ODA countries.
Previous travel made possible by ICOM UK
Wallace Collection – China and Taiwan
Ceredigion Museum – Argentina
Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum – Iraq
The Whitworth – France
Leeds Museums & Galleries – India
Horniman Museum & Gardens – Nigeria
Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives – Jamaica
Royal Cornwall Museum – Mexico
Manchester Art Gallery – Pakistan
Dana Andrew, Executive Director of ICOM UK, explained, “the scheme is open to all UK museum professionals and is unique in terms of the support it offers for international travel to develop mutually beneficial projects and partnerships.”
2019/20 application guidelines
The grant will cover the cost of travel, including international and local transport, visas, accommodation and subsistence
Priority will be given to non-national museums and organisations who have not yet participated in an international project or partnership
The scheme does not fund travel for international conferences and events
The deadline for applications passes at 9am on Monday 14th October
Successful applicants will then be notified during the week commencing 28th October 2019
The travel which is subject to the grant must be completed by 30th June 2020
A full breakdown of the various grants and bursaries offered by ICOM UK and its partners is available here.
Case studies from previous organisations to benefit from funding support are also published by ICOM.