The Design Museum in Kensington, London has received a loan of £5m from the Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund to help the organisation recover and reopen.

“Following the most tumultuous year in the museum’s history, this fund will help us to stabilise and build sustainably for the future. This loan safeguards the possibility and delivery of major upcoming exhibitions, the skills development of thousands of school children we reach through our learning programmes and the engagement of audiences in the vital role that design can play in improving all our lives,” said Tim Marlow, chief executive and director of the Design Museum.

The museum has used the last year of upheaval to engage with its audiences in new ways through online tours, talks and digital workshops – many of which have resulted in the development of significant new partnerships and new activity in and around the building. 

“This loan enables us to plan with confidence the next five years and shape an exciting programme for the future. It will be around ambitious programming that we will rebuild the museum and ensure it becomes the essential hub where designers, educators, entrepreneurs, policy makers and the public can come together to help shape a brighter future for all.  I can't wait to welcome our audiences back to the building,” said Marlow.

The is the latest round of funding for the museum, which was awarded £2,968,634 by Arts Council England from the Culture Recovery Fund in October 2020, and almost £1m National Lottery funding in July 2020 through the Arts Council’s Emergency Response Fund.