AIM Conference bursaries

Applications for 2026 are now closed and all the bursary places have been allocated.

Each year, thanks to the support of our sponsors, AIM is able to keep ticket prices down and offer a number of conference bursaries.

AIM are pleased to share that we have recently awarded all fifteen bursary places to our sell out annual conference. With a 100% success rate this year, we recommend applying early for a bursary place. The lucky recipients are members from across the country and include eleven small museums, three medium museums and 1 student. Each awardee will receive free entrance to the two day conference on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 June and the two networking events taking place on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 along with up to £200 in expenses.

2026 bursary recipients

1. Heugh Battery, North East   

2. Richmondshire Museum, London    

3. Filey Museum, Yorkshire, and the Humber   

4. Florence Nightingale Museum, London         

5. The Georgian Theatre Royal, Yorkshire and the Humber        

6. Bow Street Museum, London             

7. The Cartoon Museum, London          

8. Ullapool Museum Trust, Scotland    

9. The Story Museum, South East

10. Headland Design (Student Intern), North West

11. Foxton Inclined Plane Trust, East Midlands

12. Holst Victorian House, South West              

13. Manchester Jewish Museum, North West  

14. Deaf History Scotland         

15. Port Sunlight Village Trust, North West

Eligibility criteria and grant conditions

• Applicants must be AIM members and priority is given to smaller museums, staff members and volunteers that have not previously received a bursary place.
• Organisations/ recipients of an AIM Conference bursary will not be able to apply for an additional Training Grant in 2026. 
• Applicants are encouraged to only seek the funding they need and to round the amount requested to the nearest zero or five.
• Payment of grant funding, if awarded, will be made retrospectively on receipt of a statement of expenses incurred, proof of expenditure, an image, and a brief report of its value for sharing on AIM channels/ bulletin.
• Payment of grants can only be made to the AIM member/organisation.
• Any expenses related to the AIM Conference Bursary award will need to be claimed before Monday 14 December 2026. The maximum claim amount is £200.

How to apply

Please complete the application form and email it to AIM’s Programmes and Grants Officer, Fiona Woolley at [email protected]. Applications must be authorised by the Museum Manager or Chair.

Applications will be acknowledged and accepted until the closing date of Friday 3 April. The bursary applications will be reviewed together on Tuesday 7 April and applicants will be notified of the outcome by email. If you are unsuccessful, then feedback will be given.

Bursary places are awarded to the applicant named on the application. If you fund that you are unable to take up the bursary place, please notify us as soon as possible using the [email protected] email address so the place can be reallocated.

Timescales

Applications open – mid January 2026

First group of applications reviewed – Tuesday 3 March

First bursaries awarded (7 max) – Tuesday 3 March and Wednesday 4 March

Applications close – Friday 3 April

Final group of applications reviewed – Tuesday 7 April

Applicant feedback – between Tuesday 7 April and Friday 10 April

Conference – 9-11 June in Durham

Grant claim – due June/July

Final date for claiming expenses funding – Monday 14 December

Grant payment

Payment of grant funding will be made retrospectively, on receipt of a statement of expenses incurred, proof of expenditure, an image, and a brief report of the grants value for sharing on AIM channels/bulletin (max. 200 words).  Grant payments can only be made to the AIM member/organisation as identified on the application form.  AIM conference 2026 bursaries should be claimed as soon as possible following attendance of the event and no later than Monday 14 December 2026.