Apply

We have two deadlines for applications each year: April 1st and October 1st (or nearest working day where these fall at the weekend).  

Applications must be submitted using our form, which you can download here.

The applications are then considered by Trustees at their meetings in July and December and applicants are notified of the result as soon after the meeting as possible.

The FAQs should help you to work out whether your institution and proposed conservation project are eligible for our support.  You can apply for a grant to conserve one item or a whole collection and our grants can cover the cost of the conservator's time, conservation materials and digitisation if it is part of the conservation project; we do not give grant for equipment or standalone digitisation projects. 

Where feasible Trustees like to use their funds to support projects where training is one of the outcomes: be it a first job or internship for an early career conservator, or a project that enables a senior conservator to develop their skills or one that provides preventive conservation training for volunteers.  This is not, of course, possible in all projects, but do consider whether you can add a training element and so increase the impact of any funding NMCT may award.

We welcome enquiries so if you cannot find the answer to your query here and want to discuss a possible application please feel free to contact Nell Hoare who will be happy to help.

Winchester Cathedral pre-1540 account rolls (NMCT grant 2010). Image: Hampshire Record Office.

Conservation of Holst manuscript (NMCT grant 2012). Image: Aberystwyth University.

Conservation of Holst manuscript (NMCT grant 2012). Image: Aberystwyth University.

Conservation of the Swarthmore manuscripts (NMCT grant 2009). Image: Library of the Society of Friends.

Conservation of the Swarthmore manuscripts (NMCT grant 2009). Image: Library of the Society of Friends.

Conservation of the Bessemer letters as part of a partnership project to conserve steel industry archives in Wales. Courtesy of Glamorgan Archives. NMCT grant 2013.