Funding from the fourth round of the Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) has just been announced, seeing 29 museums up and down the country receiving a share of almost £25 million to upgrade their buildings. 

The fund is part of the Government’s long-term plan to support local economies, allowing them to grow. It will support capital projects at museums, fund important repairs, and improve the visitor experience. Awards from £50,000 to £5 million will ensure local history in places across the country has a home for years to come. 

In the South West of England, more than £4.5 million has been awarded in total across 4 museums. Three museums in Dorset will receive their share of £3.8 million overall and one museum in Cornwall will receive £707,000. The MEND Round 4 recipients in Dorset are:

Dorset Museum & Art Gallery – £940,500 

The Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, owned by the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, houses internationally significant collections, including 4 million artefacts in archaeology, paleontology, the Thomas Hardy archive, and the Elisabeth Frink collection. 

MEND Round 4 will replace the roof over the Victorian Hall, library, and offices, while also repairing the leadwork and windows. These repairs were identified as urgent within 24 months in the quinquennial survey of January 2024. Since the roof is at the end of its service life, it's strongly recommended that all repairs be done together to avoid further damage. 

Nothe Fort - £1,374,763   

Nothe Fort is a multi-award-winning historic building, Scheduled Monument, and ACE-accredited museum. Owned by Dorset Council and operated by Weymouth Civic Society, it was saved from dereliction in 1980 and has since become Weymouth’s most popular heritage attraction. The fort is now a valued community and cultural hub, with a museum focusing on defence, from its Victorian origins to its 1980s nuclear bunker, connecting past and present generations. 

MEND Round 2 work revealed that the membrane ‘roof’ on the ramparts had failed, causing serious water ingress and damaging both the collections and the building. MEND Round 4 will replace the membrane, stop further water damage, and support the museum’s strategic development, enhancing displays, exhibition space, activities, and facilities. 
   

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum - £1,500,817 

The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum is a Grade 2* Victorian villa on Bournemouth's cliff-top, housing an internationally significant collection spanning art and culture. Years of poor maintenance have led to regular closures and damage to original murals and features. 

MEND Round 4 funding will enable repairs to the sea-facing façade, which faces increasing storm damage, address security concerns, fix poor drainage, and improve fire protection. It will also replace outdated services like CCTV, conserve original murals, and restore independent disabled access to the building. These vital improvements will safeguard the collections and strengthen the museum’s long-term financial and organisational resilience. 

The Museum Estate and Development Fund, provided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, enables museums to deliver a better experience for visitors and staff, make access and environmental improvements, unlock income-generating opportunities, and continue to protect treasured buildings and collections for future generations. The grants are administered, awarded and monitored by Arts Council England – the national development agency for arts and culture. 

Phil Gibby, Area Director, South West, Arts Council England, said:
“We’re thrilled to announce a £4.5 million funding boost for museums across the South West. Museums are more than just buildings—they hold a mirror to the world, allowing us to reflect on our individual and collective experiences. From Cornwall’s historic clay works to Bournemouth’s international art collections and Dorset’s military and archaeological treasures, our region is home to some of the country’s top artefacts. By investing in essential repairs now, we’re not only safeguarding our cultural heritage but also ensuring greater public access to these treasures for years to come"  

Claire Dixon, Executive Director, Dorset Museum & Art Gallery said:
“We are hugely grateful to Arts Council England and our funding partners National Lottery Heritage Fund and Dorset Council, for enabling us to invest in the long-term stability of our buildings. Without this financial support we would have faced closure of the hall and library, which were the original, custom designed centrepieces of Dorset Museum & Art Gallery. This work will put us in the best position to secure a sustainable future for our organisation, bring globally significant collections out from our stores and tell new stories and engage our audiences.” 

James Farquharson, Chairman, Nothe Fort, said:
“Our country has a wealth of heritage sites that the public enjoys visiting and wants to see conserved for future generations. With its MEND scheme, Arts Council England is delivering resources where it’s going to make the most impact on those goals. The grant we’ve been awarded is going to make us a better heritage attraction and ensure Nothe Fort has a long future ahead of it.” 

Cllr Andy Martin, Portfolio Holder for Arts and Culture, BCP Council and Member of the Russell-Cotes Management Committee said: 
"We are absolutely delighted to receive this grant from the Arts Council’s MEND fund. This is the largest investment in the Russell-Cotes for many years and will stabilise the building, protect its unique interiors and prevent further damage so that it can survive and thrive for years to come. The Russell-Cotes is Bournemouth’s unique and unrivalled arts attraction by the sea. The iconic building and highly personal collection are much loved by tourists and residents alike and this grant brings a welcome boost to the town’s economy.”

Details of the recipients of the fourth round of MEND comes as part of a major announcement from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport which includes news of investment to boost growth and cement Britain’s place as a cultural powerhouse. The Arts Everywhere Fund will provide over £270 million for arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector in major boost for growth.  

At an inaugural lecture today (20 Feb) marking the 60th anniversary of the first ever arts white paper by former Minister Jennie Lee, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will gather leaders from across the arts and culture sectors at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford-upon-Avon. She will set out how Jennie Lee’s vision of the ‘arts for everyone, everywhere’ will be made a reality as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.  

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England said: 

“Today’s a good news day for arts organisations, museums and libraries. We know how much cultural places and spaces are valued in towns and cities across the land. For years to come, this new investment will help more people in more places to flourish by finding joy and connection with high quality culture close to home.”