New philanthropist’s trust gives £16.7m to museums, galleries and cathedrals

A new charitable fund, established in memory of the late British philanthropist Julia Rausing, has announced millions of pounds in grants for museums, galleries, cathedrals and gardens.

The Julia Rausing Trust, set up after Rausing’s passing this year, has committed £100m to charities and organisations in its first year and annually thereafter.

Of the £100m, £6.2m is to be given to cathedrals, £6.2m to botanic gardens and £4.3m to museums and galleries and associated charities.

Among seven cathedrals receiving support is York Minster, where a grant of £500,000 has been made to complete the fundraising campaign for the Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estate Management.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales (NBGW) has been awarded £1.3m towards technical upgrades to the mechanical infrastructure and facilities of the garden’s centrepiece, the Great Glasshouse.

Included in support for museums and galleries is a £600,000 grant to the The Association for Independent Museums (AIM). Its Museum Fundamentals grant programme will distribute grants of up to £20,000 for collections care; covering documentation, research and minor improvements to buildings and environmental conditions to ensure collections are looked after.

Lisa Ollerhead, AIM Director, said the Museum Fundamentals “strengthens and broadens the scope of the support AIM can now offer, in direct response to member needs. It will help the many small and medium-sized museums that form the backbone of the UK’s heritage sector, and whose hard work keeps collections cared for and accessible to all.”