A fund to help enable short-term loans of important works of art and artefacts to smaller museums and galleries across the UK.

Application for grants of up to £35,000 can be made by UK public museums, galleries, historic houses, libraries and archives. The fund will also consider applications from small and contemporary arts spaces and other non-collecting institutions, provided they meet the aims of the programme. Non-national institutions that are on the list of eligible lenders can also apply.

The programme has already awarded £1.3m to 78 museums, helping to increase access to notable objects, share resources across the UK, and develop relationships between museums.

The grants can be used to cover 100% of the practical elements of strategic loans projects, such as securing a loan, displaying a loan, and maximising the impact of a loan.

The programme also funds activities to develop the skills of museum professionals.

The closing date for applications is the 15 December 2023.

Decisions will be made by 8 March 2024.

Further funding rounds will take place in September 2024 and September 2025.

For more details, visit the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund webpage.