Roger Bland passed this information onto me for publicity and it seems like a very useful source of funding for the acquisition of artefacts for museums.
The Headley Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts, is delighted to announce that following the success of the Headley Museums Treasure Acquisition Scheme, it has revised its criteria and is now known as The Headley Museums Archaeological Acquisition Fund.
The scheme continues to run in association with the MLA/V & A Purchase Grant Fund. As well as being able to apply for funding towards the purchase of artefacts classified as Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996, regional and local museums can now seek funds for non-treasure archaeological artefacts from the UK which are more than 300 years old. It is hoped that this additional source of funding will encourage museums to try to acquire a wide range of finds which are often just as important archaeologically as treasure.
Since its launch in 2004, the Headley treasure scheme has made over 80 grants worth almost £160,000, enabling museums to secure treasure of both local and international importance, with purchase prices ranging from £500 to £300,000. It is already viewed as an essential resource by the museum world. The Headley Trust looks forward to assisting museums in their quest to secure the acquisition of a greater number of archaeological artefacts.
News of the launch is welcomed by Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum. He said: ‘The Headley Museums Treasure Acquisition Scheme has been tremendously successful in enabling regional museums to acquire Treasure finds. I am absolutely delighted that the Trustees now wish to extend this very successful scheme to all archaeological finds from the UK, as so many are being brought to light through the Portable Antiquities Scheme.’
Note for Editors
- The Headley Trust is one of 19 Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts which share a common administration.
- For more information on the Headley Trust’s charitable objects, and the most recent annual report, consult the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts’ website at www.sfct.org.uk
- The MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund is a government fund, established at the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) in 1881 as part of its nationwide work.
- The annual grants budget, currently £1,000,000 is provided by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)
- The Fund supports the acquisition of objects relating to the arts, literature and history by regional museums, record offices and specialist libraries in England and Wales.
- Each year it considers some 300 applications and in 2006-07 awarded grants to 115 organisations, enabling acquisitions of over £4 million to go ahead.
- Visit the website at www.vam.ac.uk/purchasegrantfund
For further information please contact:
Dr Patricia Morison, Janet Davies