Development Programmes

Museum Development Midlands’ (MDM) mission is ‘To empower Midlands museums to thrive’. To meet this mission, we provide development programmes for paid employees, volunteers and trustees within Midlands museums to embed best practice and implement long term change.

MDM is running the following programmes for 2025-2026:  

• Sense of Place: Expressions of Interest open, deadline 5pm, Friday 11 April

  The Sense of Place programme will focus on how museums can form a crucial part of a place’s identity and wellbeing, and how creative practice can support audiences to enhance their sense of wellbeing by focusing on the community they are part of.

• Green Narratives: Expression of Interest open, deadline 5pm, Monday 19 May

  The Green Narratives programme will increase museums’ knowledge, confidence and practice in re-interpreting collections, telling new stories and engaging visitors around Environmental Responsibility.

• Stronger Museums: Expression of Interest and 1:1 surgeries open

  The Stronger Museum programme (formerly Organisational Health programme) supports museums to operate more effectively, increasing their long-term viability and relevance. 

• Hidden Narratives: Opening soon

Further programmes to be announced in due course.

Scroll down and click on the each programme card to find out more.

Museum Development England (MDE) is running the following programme for 2024-2026:

• Roots and Branches: Open for bookings

  Roots & Branches is an award-winning, environmentally-driven collaborative project between MDE, The Carbon Literacy Project and Manchester Museum. The Programme will help to shape an environmentally aware and active sector, giving museums the tools to respond to ‘Let’s Create’, Art Council England’s 10-year strategy in which environmental responsibility is at the core.

2024-2025 MDM Programmes:  

• Open to All: Accessibility Audit: Closed, programme underway

  The ‘Open to All: Accessibility Audit’ programme supports museums to develop effective Access Plans. MDM is offering opportunities for eight museums to receive accessibility audits and training to improve access for visitors.

• Organisational Health: Closed

  The Organisational Health programme supports museums to operate more effectively, increasing their long-term viability and relevance. 

• Sense of Place: Year one completed, EOI for Year 2 open, see above

  The Sense of Place programme will focus on how museums can form a crucial part of a place’s identity and wellbeing, and how creative practice can support audiences to enhance their sense of wellbeing by focusing on the community they are part of.

• Fundraising Strategy Support: Closed, programme underway
  The Fundraising Strategy Support programme will consist of a series of workshops, developing skills and supporting museums to create their own fundraising strategy.

• Inclusive Museums: Closed, programme underway

  MDM is offering a small cohort of six museums the opportunity to access specialist expertise and support to embed equity, diversity and inclusion within their organisation’s Strategy and Forward Plan.

• Volunteer Models Programme: Closed, programme underway

  MDM is offering a small cohort of six museums the opportunity to develop and implement Volunteer Action Plans through cohort training, peer networking and 1:1 mentoring.

Eligibility for all programmes:

Our programmes are open to Accredited museums or museums Working Towards Accreditation in the Midlands. Priority will be given to non-NPO and non-National museums who are Accredited or Working Towards Accreditation.