Museums win Arts Council funding support

The Greater Manchester Museums Group (GMMG) has been successful in its application to the Arts Council England for Renaissance Strategic Support Funding for the second year running and has been awarded £199,000 to help with the Growth of their Business for 2014/15.

The GMMG has grown in strength as a partnership and has created a new collective identity and brand and agreed a three-year development plan. With this funding the ambition is to build on this success and put measures in place that will help ensure that GMMG is a viable and financially sustainable partnership.

By 2015 the aim is to be a recognised and valued brand locally, regionally and internationally, that unites the museums of Greater Manchester while retaining their individual identity and the roots in their local communities.

Tony Trehy, arts and museums manager at Bury Council, said: "This project is a great boost for visitors accessing Bury museum collections and complements our existing use of new technology."

Emma Varnam, head of culture at Tameside and chair of GMMG, is delighted with the continuing support from Arts Council England. "This funding will enable and support GMMG to develop a robust business plan that will develop the leadership and entrepreneurial potential within the group, ensuring long term success and sustainability. We are committed to exploring new and innovative ways of working that will ensure our visitors continue to enjoy engaging quality experiences.”

Alison Clark-Jenkins, Director North, Arts Council England, said: "I am delighted that the Greater Manchester Museums Group is being funded through our Renaissance Strategic Support programme. It is an excellent example of organisations working together in partnership to ensure the sustainability of the museums and engaging their local communities while retaining their individual identities.’

ENDS

Notes to editors:

·  Greater Manchester Museums group (GMMG) consists of eight Greater Manchester museum services: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Wigan. They have been working together for over ten years on innovative projects that unite their collections and engage their communities.

·  On 3 March, GMMG launched Our Connected History (400 museum objects and artworks telling the story of Greater Manchester’s shared history) www.gmmg.org.uk/our-connected-history which was funded by the Renaissance SSF in 2013/14

·  Contacts:

Emma Varnam – Chair of GMMG 

Tel: 0161 342 3337  Email: emma.varnam@tameside.gov.uk

Subnum Hariff – Project Manager

Tel: 01204 338719  Email: subnum.hariff@bolton.gov.uk