Are you going to make an AIM Hallmark grant application?

AIM’s Hallmark grants are open for applications (until 31 January) and are again supporting projects addressing our Tackling Inequality Hallmark.

If you’re thinking of making a Hallmark grant application and want to understand more about how the grant could support your project idea, read this update from some of our round one projects.

The first round of Tackling Inequality Hallmark grant projects got underway earlier this year and are now at the mid-way point. Here, we hear from Barnsley Museums, Powell-Cotton Museum and Anaesthesia Museum on what they’ve achieved so far with their Hallmark grant.

Barnsley Museums – Feels Like Home: Taking Root

This project brings new voices to historic places by connecting Barnsley’s newest arrivals, refugees and asylum seekers, with the uplifting heritage of the borough’s beautiful green spaces.

“AIM Hallmarks funding has allowed us to address the immediate needs of Barnsley’s migrant community post-COVID, funding time to seek out newly arrived members of the community and to assess their access needs and to address those through providing devices and data. As face-to-face sessions have become possible the grant has funded enrichment from artists and poets.

Without the AIM Hallmark grant we would not have been in a position to respond quickly and confidently to these additional projects and they may well have passed Barnsley by. The Taking Roots project creative interpretation outcomes will now have even greater impact, reaching wider audiences.” Gaby Lees, Community Arts Officer.

Powell-Cotton Museum – Breaking Out of the Museum: Taking museum-based learning to children in our community

The Museum is engaged in a two-year programme entitled ‘Reimaging the Museum’ and the AIM grant is kickstarting a long-term, sustainable outreach programme to tackle socio-economic deprivation and challenge prejudice and racism with children in Thanet, through increased empowerment and cultural capital.

To date almost 300 pupils have been reached across 4 schools through AIM funded resources. Feedback so far is positive, for example, “It’s a great scheme which helps children become involved and interested in their learning with a range of fascinating resources for the children to engage with.”

A pilot project with a local school uses a mixture of class lessons, a loans box and a museum-based workshop to support learning about the British Empire, colonialism and how ideas and attitudes of that period continue to impact us today. Lessons are well underway and the teachers and pupils will complete feedback on the entire programme in December.

“This project has given us the opportunity to work as part of a series of meaningful relationships with a small number of primary schools in Thanet. To work in a collaborative way shaping museum resources that are relevant, specific and targeted at delivering cultural democracy for the children of Thanet.” Catriona West, Director.

You can hear more from Powell-Cotton Museum on their work to tackle inequalities in this video>>

Anaesthesia Museum – Lost in the Ether: Missing Perspectives within Anaesthesia  

“The AIM Hallmark grant is helping us confront attitudes towards race, gender and disability within anaesthesia and make positive change through training, collecting missing perspectives (oral histories/archive material) and a renewed 2022/23 heritage programme.

Since starting the project, we have begun to challenge the traditional narrative told in the museum and are thinking about ways to improve EDI provision. This has been an outcome of the training sessions and meeting with the Advisory Group. Presenting about the project has shown the membership that EDI provision is being taken seriously.” Caroline Hamson, Heritage Manager.

How to apply

Grants of up to £10,000 are available to Accredited Museums, or those Working Towards Accreditation, in England. The grants are funded by Arts Council England, through AIM’s National Portfolio Organisation funding.

The closing date for applications is 31 January 2022 and grants will be made by the end of February.

Click here to see the full eligibility criteria>>