Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Wins Research Status That Opens New Funding

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford has been recognised as an Independent Research Organisation, a status that lets it apply for UK research funding on the same standard terms as universities. The trust announced the award on 3 November, and the Stratford Observer has also reported it.

The status comes from UK Research and Innovation, the government-funded body that hands out research money. It means UKRI accepts that an organisation has the expertise and governance to lead research itself. According to the trust, Stratford now has two such organisations: the trust and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

What it could mean for Stratford

The trust looks after the five Shakespeare family homes and a large collection of books, documents and objects. It says the work it now plans includes re-cataloguing and digitising its collections so more people can use them, research into Shakespeare’s life and into Stratford itself, and research on conservation and collections care. It also expects the findings to reach visitors through its houses, exhibitions, loans, community projects and online.

Chief executive Rachael North says the award will “position scholarship at the core of our new 10-year strategy”. The head of the Arts and Humanities Research Council, Sir Christopher Smith, is also quoted in the trust’s announcement welcoming the decision.

The status doesn’t bring money by itself. It makes the trust eligible to bid, and the announcement doesn’t name any specific grant or project yet. It comes as the trust looks for money for bigger jobs, including the conservation of Hall’s Croft, which is on the Heritage at Risk Register. The announcement doesn’t link the two.

Alex Harrington

Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.