National Museums NI: where does the money come from?
The National Museums NI had income of £26m in the year to March 2025, and 75% of it was government grant-in-aid. It welcomed 736,534 visitors.
What does the National Museums NI do?
National Museums NI runs four museums in Northern Ireland: the Ulster Museum, the Ulster Folk Museum, the Ulster Transport Museum and the Ulster American Folk Park. Its collection spans art, history and the natural sciences. It is a public body funded through the Department for Communities, and earns its own income from admission charges at three of its museums, trading, membership and donations. The Ulster Museum in Belfast is free to enter.
In brief: national museums · art, history and natural sciences · four museums · Northern Ireland
Source: the National Museums NI's own website, retrieved 27 September 2026.
Where does the National Museums NI's money come from?
Government grant-in-aid brought in £19m, 75% of the total. The rest, £6m, came from what the National Museums NI earns and raises itself: admissions, shops and catering, donations and other income.
- Government grant-in-aid £19m 75%
- Admissions and exhibitions £1.3m 5%
- Shops, catering and commercial £1.6m 6%
- Donations and legacies £2m 9%
- Other income £1.3m 5%
What did the National Museums NI spend, and what is it worth?
| Measure | Mar 2025 | Previous year |
|---|---|---|
| Total income | £26m | £24m |
| Total spending | £28m | |
| Net income before gains | -£2m | |
| Staff costs | £14m | |
| Staff | 286 | |
| Net assets | £104m | |
| Cash | £2m | |
| Visitors | 736,534 | |
| Income per visitor | £34.66 | |
| Grant-in-aid per visitor | £25.91 |
Net income is before investment gains and property revaluations. For a charity it is the surplus kept for the collection and buildings, not a profit paid out.
- Legal form
- Non-departmental public body of the Department for Communities (Museums and Galleries (Northern Ireland) Order 1998) and registered charity NIC103729 (National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland)
- Sites
- Ulster Museum, Ulster Folk Museum, Ulster Transport Museum, Ulster American Folk Park
- Trading company
- National Museums Northern Ireland Enterprises Limited
- Latest accounts
- Year to 31 March 2025
National Museums NI: common questions
How much money does the National Museums NI get from the government?
£19m of grant-in-aid in the year to March 2025, 75% of its total income of £26m.
How much does the National Museums NI spend?
£28m in the year to March 2025, of which staff costs were £14m.
How many people visit the National Museums NI?
736,534 in the year to March 2025 (Visitors to the four museums, year to 31 March 2025 (financial review; CEO introduction says 'over 736,000'). The engagement table separately gives 702,543 'general admissions to events and exhibitions'.), according to its annual report.
Why isn't the National Museums NI on the Companies House register?
The National Museums NI is non-departmental public body of the Department for Communities (Museums and Galleries (Northern Ireland) Order 1998) and registered charity NIC103729 (National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland), so it publishes its accounts in an annual report rather than filing them at Companies House. Its trading company, National Museums Northern Ireland Enterprises Limited, does file there.
Spark Intel, “National Museums NI: where does the money come from?”, updated 28 September 2026. https://www.spark-intel.co.uk/companies/national-museums-ni/. Figures from National Museums NI's annual report and accounts for the year to 31 March 2025.
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