Image: The fund aims to support the museum sector

Arts Council England (ACE) has revealed further details of its Renaissance Strategic fund, which is part of a number of measures designed to support the museum sector.

The funding programme will be delivered in two stages – the first in 2012-13 will see £7m made available and the second will invest up to £15m a year in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

Renaissance Strategic investment will be directed at geographic locations that are not served by Major partners, with the East Midlands and South Yorkshire among the first set to benefit.

ACE is also working alongside the Association of Independent Museums and the Museums Association in 2012-13 on commissioned projects/research to ensure the sector's resilience.

A full list of museums and organisations to benefit from Strategic support funds in the first year will be announced in September, with activity to start no later than September/October.

Awards made available under the second stage of the programme will be announced in two rounds - the first of which will start in September for activity commencing April 2013.

ACE chief executive Alan Davey said: "In announcing this final part of Renaissance, I hope that museums who have not already benefited from the programme will be able to use these funds to help ensure a healthy future."

Details: www.artscouncil.org.uk

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