Access to Exhibitions Grants

People with a wide range of disabilities are excluded from full engagement with exhibitions due to a lack of appropriate formats, due to a lack of universal design that would cater to a range of needs.  

The Exhibitions Group fund aims to support museums, galleries and heritage organisations in improving access to exhibitions for disabled people. The 2025-26 Access to Exhibitions Small Grants pilot scheme is designed to support organisations to design exhibitions with less barriers for people with disabilities and / or to include specific access measures into their exhibitions.    

Each grant will be worth between £1,500 to £4,000. We have a total fund of £40,000 for all the awards. 

The Exhibitions Group are committed to helping cultural organisations improve accessibility and remove barriers to exhibitions for people with disabilities or who face challenges in accessing exhibitions or pursuing careers in the sector. This includes, but is not limited to, d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent people, and people who encounter physical, sensory or cognitive barriers.  We hope that this grant can accelerate progress in the sector and we look forward to developing case studies from the successful applications to inspire others.  

The scheme’s focus is for practical access improvements that align with the social or affirmation models of disability, remove barriers, and create a legacy of better access to exhibitions in museums.