Around £108 million will help maintain museums’ assets such as buildings and collections, while the rest will fund new projects including £50 million for the Transforming Tate proposal, announced yesterday. 

The settlement, part of the Comprehensive Spending Review which sets budgets for the next three years, also includes £22.5 million for the British Museum, £18.2 million for the Natural History Museum and £13 million for the National Museum of Science and Industry.

Margaret Hodge said:

“Our national museums and galleries are the envy of the world, setting the highest standards and attracting ever greater numbers of visits.  This capital investment will not only allow essential maintenance work to be put in hand, but for some it will also kick off exciting new projects further to build on existing success.

“The last ten years have seen a golden age for our cultural heritage.  We are determined to ensure that our national museums continue to thrive as exciting centres of excellence, scholarship and innovation.”

The Culture Department will also continue to contribute £2 million a year to the DCMS\Wolfson Museum and Galleries Improvement Fund.

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Notes to Editors

Capital allocations in spending reviews (SRs) since 2002/03 (£m)

CSR Capital Allocations including DCMS/Wolfson Museum & Galleries Improvement Fund
(excludes Museum of London allocation which has been transferred to DCLG to include in the GLA grant)