§ Lord Freybergasked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the total amount spent through the Department for Education and Employment since 1997 on new funding initiatives which have directly funded additional educational projects in art galleries without collections, including those in art centres. [HL655]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)I refer the noble Lord to the reply given to him on 2 January 2001,Official Report, col WA 106–07. We do not account for funding on educational projects in museums or art galleries according to the nature of the institutions being funded. Projects are chosen on the basis of the impact they will have on pupil outcomes.
The main objectives of the museum and galleries education programme are to stimulate and encourage museums and galleries to develop their educational role by strengthening their links with schools, and to improve the quality and spread of provision. The programme also looks to improve pupils' use of the opportunities presented by museums and galleries, in particular by experiencing real objects relevant to their studies.
The department received approximately 300 bids for funding from a wide range of museums and galleries when the programme was announced.