TY PAWB has been selected as one of 45 museums and galleries to receive a grant from the UK’s national charity for art.

Art Fund's Reimagine grants of over £1.8million have been awarded for “bold, brave and experimental projects which will help museums reimagine engagement with audience and providing vital support for the future of cultural organisations”.

Tŷ Pawb’s project, ‘Capital of Play’, will bring together artists and children to explore the role of the arts in engaging young audiences and aims to support emerging creative talent across North East Wales.

Jo Marsh, creative director, Tŷ Pawb, said: “We are delighted to receive this Reimagine Grant from Art Fund.

"The funding will help us to deliver an exciting, play-themed, artist-led project here in Wrexham – ‘Capital of Play’ – exploring what it means for artists and children to work together as genuine co-producers.

"We are looking forward to seeing how this ambitious project develops over the next few months. Our thanks to Art Fund for their invaluable support.”

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Jenny Waldman, director, Art Fund, added: “We are delighted that Art Fund can provide millions of pounds to support museums directly engaging audiences in exciting and innovative ways.

"It’s an enormously challenging time for museums with a real risk that the current economic climate will stifle creativity.

"Museums are facing huge energy bills for their buildings and cost of living wage measures to help retain their expert staff just as they endeavour to recover their pre-pandemic visitor numbers and income.”

In addition to Ty Pawb, 45 museums, galleries, historic houses, trusts, and professional networks have been awarded grants through the latest round of Art Fund’s Reimagine scheme, including the Focal Point Gallery in Southend-on-Sea to Golden Thread Gallery in Belfast.

Other organisations to receive a grant include V&A Dundee, Walker Art Gallery (Liverpool) and Tramway (Glasgow).

The funding programme in 2022 was designed to help museums address re-engaging audiences lost over the pandemic, reach new people and deepen relationships.

A total of 135 applications were received, with a total ask of £5.3m demonstrating the continued level of need and Art Fund’s efforts to respond to the challenges the sector is facing.

The first round of Reimagine grants were announced in August 2020 as part of an effort to support organisations deliver projects or activity that would provide a positive change in offering new or improved ways of working during and as part of the longer-term response to the COVID-19 crisis. Since this initial round, £6.25m has been awarded. In the most recent round, organisations were able to apply for support of between £10,000 and £50,000.