Applications Open: 2025 Research-Development Grant Scheme

The Irish Museums Trust and the Irish Museums Association (IMA) invite applications for the 2025 Research-Development Grant scheme.

This scheme offers grants of up to €1,000 each (€5,000 in total) to support individuals working in the museum sector in Ireland, as well as students at research master’s or doctoral level. Grants aim to advance research, skill development, and experience related to the understanding, management, or development of museums across the island.

Another key objective is to enhance networking and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange within the Irish museum sector, both nationally and internationally.

Who can apply?

These awards support museum professionals and individual researchers in achieving personal development goals. Eligible activities include:

• Advancing current research projects.
• Acquiring skills and experience that strengthen curatorial or museum management practices.

What can the Grant be used for?

Previous awards have supported:

• Museum Study visits 
• Best practice research
• Conference attendance
• Research dissemination
• Knowledge exchanges
• Training course fees, etc

What do you need to know before applying?

1. For the purpose of this scheme, the current ICOM museum definition applies.
2. These awards are intended to help individual researchers and museum staff to achieve personal development goals related to current research projects or to developing the skills or experience conducive to enhanced curatorial or museum management practices. Awards will be paid directly to successful applicants.
3. As one of the main purposes of the awards is to support the continuous, life-long development of museum staff, there is no age limit.
4. Applications must indicate how the award will contribute to the applicant’s capacity to make an enhanced contribution to the Irish museum sector. In the case of academic applicants, they must demonstrate (a) the direct relevance of their work to Irish museums and (b) how the grant will practically assist with the research in hand.
5. IMA membership may constitute a preferential factor in adjudicating applications.
6. Application forms must be endorsed by the director, CEO or Chair of a recognised museum. Applicants may not self-nominate.  Academic applicants will need the endorsement of their designated academic supervisor.
7. Applications will be judged on the basis of the information contained in the application form, though we may contact applicants in relation to information provided for clarification.
8. The adjudicating committee will exercise its discretion in deciding whether the full amount of the award or a lesser amount is appropriate in each instance. To facilitate this evaluation, a full breakdown of costs should be provided.
9. Applicants are expected to make realistic and proportionate applications (for example, where €500 is sufficient to cover the costs of a proposed project, this should be clearly stated).
10. On conclusion of the project, successful applicants will be required to produce a short open access report on its outcomes or findings.

How can you apply?

A word document, for return by email, is available by request to office@irishmuseums.org. Hard-copy submissions will not be accepted.

Deadline for receipt of applications: 16:00, Wednesday 30 April 2025