Tessa Jowell Announces £500,000 Special Grant To British Museum To Support Africa 2005 Project
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Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell today announced a special grant of £500,000 for the British Museum, to fund projects celebrating the link between the UK and Africa.
The grant will fund a portfolio of events that will take place around Africa 2005. The British Museum will be raising money from other sources, as well.
Tessa Jowell said:
"I am delighted to be able to make a contribution of £500,000 to the British Museum in its 250th year.
"This project will see the Museum working with institutions across Africa, bringing African scholars to this country, and working to increase the understanding of African culture throughout the UK."
Notes to Editors
1. The British Museum houses the national collection of antiquities and works of art illustrating the history of civilisation. Its Grant-in-Aid from the Culture Department is £36.4m this year, rising to £37.4m next year. The special DCMS grant to the British Museum, above, is for three years (£50,000 in 2003/04, £75,000 in 2004/05 and £375,000 in 2005/06).
2. The British Museum will be launching a series of events from the popular to the scholarly, which will be built up in collaboration with African institutions. Africa 2005 will be celebrated through exhibitions focussing on African art, a major conference, to be held at the British Museum, and involve international exchanges, with African fellows coming to London to work on the collections and take part in the public programme of events, through lectures and workshops.
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