Date: 8 October 2025

New Funding Strengthens Future of York Museums Trust

York Museums Trust is delighted to announce that it will receive vital funding support,
through the Museums Renewal Fund, of £1m from Arts Council England (ACE) and
the Department for Culture Media & Sport (DCMS), enabling the organisation to
invest in its longer-term sustainability and to enhance its activities at York Castle
Museum.

This strategic funding will enable the Trust to strengthen its financial reserves, build
greater organisational resilience, support scoping for future income generation, and
further develop York Castle Museum’s offer to audiences. The funding forms part of the
Trust’s wider ambitions to secure a sustainable future for its museums that deliver
inspiring experiences which connect people with their heritage.

York Museums Trust was established in 2002 to look after York Castle Museum, the
Yorkshire Museum, York Art Gallery and York Museum Gardens, along with collections
of national and international significance. Each year it welcomes around 1.5 million
people through its gardens, museums and gallery. Beyond its social and cultural
importance it also contributes £18m to the economy each year.

York Museums Trust is custodian to the City of York’s collections and a complex
heritage estate where significant long-term investment is required and where there is a
pressing need to generate income to deliver upon its activities. It does receive funding
from Arts Council England and City of York Council but relies on ticket income and
other income generating activities to support its work.

“We are very grateful to Arts Council England and the Department for Culture Media
and Sport for this vital and generous support,” said Kathryn Blacker, CEO of York
Museums Trust. “It enables us to plan with confidence, invest in our resilience, and
continue to enhance the offer at York Castle Museum for all visitors. York Museums
Trust is proud to serve the people of York and North Yorkshire by safeguarding and
sharing the region’s rich heritage. Museums are more than buildings — they are spaces
where communities come together to learn, enjoy, and connect. In the face of growing
economic pressures, this funding provides vital support to help us sustain our work
today and invest in new ways for the future.”

-Ends

Editors Notes

The Museums Renewal Fund is funded by DCMS via Arts Council England is targeted at
museums owned and directly maintained by local authority funding, or with governance
link to a local authority. The Fund is an urgent intervention to enable rapid delivery in
25/26 to safeguard the vital community engagement and impact which public access to
museums enables.

York Museums Trust was set up in 2002 to care for the collections and spaces on behalf
of City of York Council, which are represented by York Art Gallery, York Castle Museum,
the Yorkshire Museum and York Museum Gardens