Purpose

Bristol Museum this grant may not be released
again for another 3 years.
This funding opportunity aligns directly with the museum’s
identified next steps for improvements to these galleries and
priorities for the museums service. Developing the material
infrastructure of these galleries will support our sector-leading
work in ecological crisis, decolonisation and social justice in a
way that is experiential, accessible and enhances care of our
collections.
This work draws on 6 years’ community consultation,
curatorial research and artistic responses to the existing
galleries (Extinction Voices, Extinction Silences, Jessica Ashman,
DiSSCo UK and local wildlife partnerships). It also builds on
existing funding already identified for 2D and 3D design (World
Wildlife Gallery – The Art Fund, British Wildlife Gallery
– Bristol Naturalists Society). 15% match funding, plus any
ineligible costs, will be used from this existing funding with any
additional amounts required sought from Bristol Museums Development
Trust and the Friends of Bristol Museums Galleries and Archives or
possibly a donor. If match funding cannot be secured, the bid will
be withdrawn. Bristol City Council will not be required to put any
funding into this project.
The application will be for funding towards practical
infrastructure elements (lighting, display mounts, AV and
refurbishing gallery flooring) which are the focus of the Wolfson
grant. Consultation has identified the need for introductory and
reflection/research/conversation areas and the need to bring
unrepresented and cross-subject collections into the spaces. This
work will ensure the spaces can be interactive and programmable; it
will also refresh the current poor lighting and look of the gallery
which is a source of multiple visitor complaints.

Content

Approval to apply for funding of up to
£400,000 from DCMS/ Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement
Fund 2025-27 and if successful accept and spend the grant (deliver
the project).

Alternative options considered

Bristol Museums have worked to lay the
foundations of this project for 6 years, through meaningful
community consultation, curatorial research and artistic responses.
Not applying for this funding would indicate that we are ignoring
the opportunity to actively response to feedback from this
consultation.