The partnership, led by the Museum of English Rural Life, has been given the funding as part of ACE’s new national portfolio of funded organisations for 2023-2026.
The consortium consists of MERL and Reading Museum, which have formed the partnership to maximise collaboration between the two in programming, skills, resources, and expertise.
It sees both working together to provide deliver educational activities, events, and exhibitions to engage with reading’s diverse communities.
Museums Partnership Reading chair, Professor John Gibbs, research dean for heritage and creativity at the University of Reading, said: “The University of Reading and Reading Borough Council are committed to working together to foster a sense of place and appreciation in Reading’s rich cultural heritage.
“The Museums Partnership Reading Committee and teams are absolutely delighted to receive investment from the Arts Council to increase and extend creative heritage experiences that connect people with their own and with others’ histories and identities.”
The Museums Partnership Reading was formed in 2018 following a range of joint projects by the two museums, supported by Reading Borough Council and the University of Reading.
Arts Council England chair, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “As well as continuing our commitment to our many established and renowned cultural organisations, I am deeply proud of the support we will be giving to those new organisations which will help ignite creativity across the country.
“We are facing economic pressures at present but this funding is about an investment in our future. This portfolio will support the next generation of visionary inventors, makers, performers and artists.
“In particular, the growth of our funding for organisations that support and develop work for children represents a profoundly important long-term investment in our country’s talent.”
Arts Council England chief executive, Darren Henley, said: “Together, each of the 990 organisations that have been offered funding today will contribute to a portfolio that is rich, varied and truly national.
“This is our widest ever spread of investment across the country, ensuring that many more people will have access to a wider choice of exceptional art, culture and creative opportunities on their doorsteps.
“We are in tough times but we must remember creativity brings with it extraordinary dividends, boosting our country’s economic growth, creating jobs, bringing communities closer together, and making us happier as individuals.
He continued: “Everyone deserves to enjoy the benefits it brings, and with this investment, we believe we’ve taken a decisive step towards making that vision a reality.”
Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “Thanks to this new government funding package, spreading more money to more communities than ever before, people living in areas from Wolverhampton to Wigan and Crawley to Chesterfield will now get to benefit from the deep economic and social rewards culture can bring.
“We continue to support our icons such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Shakespeare Company, but today’s announcement will see organisations in places all too often overlooked get the support they need to transform access to the arts for everyone – no matter where they live.”
Arts Charity Jelly was also among those to secure funding in the Arts Council’s latest rounds of investments.
