Discover Bucks Museum and Wycombe Museum are set to receive over £400,000 in grants aimed at helping 'keep cherished civic museums open and engaging'.

This week, the government announced its backing of the £20 million Museum Renewal Fund, stating that it will ensure communities can continue to enjoy and take pride in their local heritage.

It is part of a £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund, which aims to expand access to arts and culture and boost local economies.

Two Buckinghamshire museums were among the 75 to receive a grant across the country, which could range from £11,000 to more than £1 million.

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The Discover Bucks Museum, in Aylesbury, will receive £314, 000 to continue telling Buckinghamshire’s local heritage story and displaying archaeological finds.

The grant is set to improve audience reach and engagement, building on strong community connections, including the dedicated Community Advisory Group and Bucks Black History Museum Group.

It will also be used for signage, user experience and progressing options for redeveloping the children’s gallery.

Museums Minister, Baroness Fiona Twycross, said: "Museums offer a place where people from all backgrounds can learn, be inspired and delve into our rich history, helping to understand the stories that led us to where we are today.

"The Museum Renewal Fund is contributing to the delivery of our Plan for Change.

"It ensures much-loved civic museums can remain open and continue to provide opportunities for future generations to learn about our shared heritage and how their local community has played its part in our national story."

Baroness Fiona Twycross(Image: David Parry Media Assignments/PA Wire)

Wycombe MP, Emma Reynolds, said: “This funding is fantastic news and I’m especially pleased to see our local museum among the beneficiaries.

"Our museums are at the heart of our cultural and community life.

"They tell the story of who we are, rooted in our sense of place and community, and looking ahead to a bold, creative future.

 “These funds will help safeguard jobs, expand education programmes, and ensure that people across Wycombe can continue to access and celebrate our rich local heritage.

"Supporting our museums is not just about preserving the past, it’s about investing in the future of our towns and communities.”

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In her constituency, Wycombe Museum is set to receive £104,318.

The collection, best known for its chairs, focuses on the history of High Wycombe and the surrounding areas, including Marlow, Stokenchurch, Princes Risborough and neighbouring villages.

In nearby Berks and Oxon, several museums will be receiving grants, including:

  • Windsor and Royal Borough Museum - £65,895
  • Museum of Oxford, Oxford City Council - £227,952
  • The Banbury Museum Trust - £131,957

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said: "Travelling through cities, towns, and villages across the UK, I have seen that museums and art galleries are often a proud focal point in communities, telling important stories about history, people and place.

"This funding will provide a crucial lifeline for local museums in stabilising their financial situation and building towards a sustainable future."