The Art Fund has announced the launch of a new £600,000 funding initiative to help build collections in UK museums with the support of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

RENEW has been established with the support of a grant from the foundation and will run for two years, offering 100 per cent funding enabling up to six new collections of art. The scheme will encourage future centres of excellence by backing fresh areas of collection in museums and galleries that deliver "demonstrable" public benefit.

Art Fund director Stephen Deuchar said: "The generous gift from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation will drive this really innovative scheme to encourage new kinds of collecting in UK museums and galleries." Details: www.artfund.org/renew