Cornwall Museum Lands £50k Grant as Visitor Numbers Nearly Double

More than 50,000 people came through the doors of Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery last year. That is almost double the figure from 2022, and the Truro museum, formerly the Royal Cornwall Museum, has just been handed a £50,000 grant to help keep that going.

Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery in Truro has received the grant from The Garfield Weston Foundation, a family founded grant-maker that supports charities across the UK. The money goes towards the museum’s core running costs over the coming year.

📷Cornwall Museum Mineral Gallery Opening

What the money will pay for

The funding will go into developing and delivering exhibitions, supporting the museum’s health and wellbeing programme, caring for historic artefacts, and providing educational experiences for school children in Cornwall.

A spokesperson for Garfield Weston said: “We believe in supporting a diverse range of charities across the UK. From local community initiatives to large national projects, the common thread is that all our grantees make a real positive difference, improving lives and strengthening communities throughout the country.”

📷Health and wellbeing and family activities

A museum running on donations and grants

The museum is operated by a charity, The Royal Institution of Cornwall, and it does not receive regular core funding. Public donations and grants like this one are what allow it to look after the region’s historical treasures, work with local communities, and put on exhibitions. Last year 50,554 people visited, up from 28,500 in 2022.

Museum Co-Director Bryony Robins said: “We’re extremely grateful to The Garfield Weston Foundation for this grant towards core costs. The Foundation has recognised the positive trajectory we’re on and invested in our success, as we strive to become a world-class museum and art gallery which protects and celebrates Cornwall’s distinct heritage and culture.”

Her fellow Co-Director, Jonathan Morton, added: “The cost of operating the museum, a large historic building containing over one million objects, is substantial and increasing year on year. Public donations, new funding streams, grants and commercial partnerships, as well as admissions and membership revenue, are all absolutely essential to ensuring the museum thrives.”

📷Money will help care for the museum's collections

“The museum belongs to everyone”

Bryony said there is plenty coming up: “We have a really exciting programme of exhibitions and events lined up in the coming twelve months and beyond, bringing the very best art, exhibitions and heritage to the people of Cornwall and its visitors. The museum belongs to everyone, so come along and be part of its ongoing revitalisation.”

The Garfield Weston Foundation was established in 1958 and has awarded grants totalling nearly £1.7 billion since then. In its most recent financial year, 2024 to 2025, it gave away almost £130 million to 2,967 charities.

You can see what is coming up on the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery what’s on page.

📷Museum Interior (Digital Lab, Mineral Gallery)

📷Funds will support exhibition development, inc those featuring local artists