Conservation funding update

The Pilgrim Trust Collections Care and Conservation Grants have historically been open to AIM members from small to medium organisations, those with a footfall of 50,000 or less.  Part of the eligibility criteria has been that members also needed to be working towards accreditation or have accredited museum status.  For many of our members this has meant that they can access funding for an audit and are then not able to follow up with an application for collections care or remedial conservation funding.  We are pleased to announce that for the next three years, all three grants funded by the Pilgrim Trust will be open to AIM members regardless of their accreditation status.  This will enable critical collections care work to be undertaken by accredited conservators at a wider number of member museums.

The Stained Glass Museum were awarded funding for an extended collections audit in April 2022.  Jasmine Allen the Director and Curator provided the following feedback on the Pilgrim Trust funded audit undertaken with the accredited conservator Sarah Jarron.

“The audit was invaluable – in the history of the museum’s existence we have never had a specialist conservator look at the collection in such a sustained and holistic way. The time spent with the conservator looking at concerns, and the clear and comprehensive report provided has given us a clear overview of the state of the collection, and specific structural and environmental concerns, with recommendations for improvements we can make in the short-term and some longer-term objectives. The audit will directly feed into a review of our collections care policies and practice. Our experience of working with Sarah was excellent. She was clear and thorough and her prior experience working with stained glass in both cathedral and museum contexts meant that she had a special understanding of our collection and the issues it faces in its current environmental context.

We are especially grateful to AIM and the Pilgrim Trust for making these grants available, and for enabling us to access an ICON accredited conservator who specializes in stained glass conservation, as this has meant the grant has had a greater impact and relevance.”  Jasmine Allen, Director/ Curator.

The spring round of the Pilgrim Trust Collections Care and Conservation grants is now open to applications until 5pm on Friday 31 March.  The next round will close on 30 September.

Click here to find out more about conservation grants>>