HL Deb 15 January 2001 vol 620 cc106-7WA
Lord Freyberg

asked 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 museums and galleries, including galleries and galleries in art centres; and what has been the allocation of funds under each of these initiatives between:

  1. (a) non-art museums;
  2. (b) specialist art museums; and
  3. (c) art galleries without collections, including those in art centres. [HL277]

The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone):

The department supports educational projects in museums and galleries through a variety of schemes, major examples of which are listed below, although as some projects involve both museums and galleries it is not possible to distinguish between funds for non-art museums and those for art galleries in the way requested.

In 1998–99 £140,000 was awarded to fund 17 study support projects involving museums and galleries. The Partners for Study Support Scheme, which is a two-year scheme which began in the summer of 2000, includes funding of £121,000 for nine projects involving museums and galleries, of which £21,000 has been claimed to date.

In July 1999 a major three-year museums and galleries programme was announced to provide funding of up to £2.5 million for some 40 projects to develop the educational role of museums and art galleries. Further funding of £650,000 was announced in January 2000 to support an additional number of small projects linking museums and galleries with schools. The scheme covers a wide variety of projects, including several which are focused on arts activities. In total approximately £1.2 million has been spent to the end of November 2000.

In 2000–01 the department is also funding three education projects for adults in museums and galleries and supporting their development. To the end of November, £74,000, out of a total of £145,000, had been spent on the projects, including expenditure related to the training needs of the staff involved.