Anna Plowden Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £80,000 - £90,000
• Total Distributed: Over £1.2 million since 1998
• Grant Range: Up to £1,000 (CPD) | Up to £3,500 (Scholarships)
• Scholarships Offered: Up to 30 per year
• Success Rate: Heavily over-subscribed
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom (preference for UK-based careers)
• Application Type: Rolling deadlines for CPD; annual for scholarships

Contact Details

Website: www.annaplowdentrust.org.uk

Email: info@annaplowdentrust.org.uk

Phone: 020 8879 9841

Charity Number: 1072236

Overview

The Anna Plowden Trust was established in 1998 in memory of Anna Plowden CBE (1938-1997), a pioneering conservator who was among the first scientifically trained conservators to work in the private sector. Since its founding, the Trust has distributed over £1.2 million in grants supporting conservation training and professional development. The Trust is the only grant-giving body in the UK whose primary focus is supporting student and practicing conservators. It currently provides consistent annual support of £80,000-£90,000, having awarded over 450 Plowden Scholarships for student tuition fees and made over 480 grants to working conservators for continuing professional development. In recent years, the Trust received a major boost through a £120,000 three-year grant from the Dulverton Trust to further support conservation training students. The Trust focuses exclusively on the conservation of moveable heritage (paintings, textiles, archaeological objects, stained glass, wall paintings) rather than built heritage.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Plowden Scholarships (Annual deadline: 1 June)

• Amount: Varies; Robert Shepherd Scholarship up to £3,500
• Purpose: Grants towards course fees for full-time conservation training courses in the UK
• Method: Annual application cycle with single June deadline
• Payment: Funds paid directly to educational institution
• Availability: Up to 30 scholarships offered per year

2. Anna Plowden/Clothworkers' Foundation CPD Grants (Quarterly deadlines)

• Amount: Up to £1,000 or 50% of course cost, whichever is smaller
• Purpose: Short courses and conferences for professional development
• Method: Rolling basis with four annual deadlines (January, April, June, September)
• Eligibility: Practicing conservators in the UK only
• Application Window: Must apply at least 4 weeks before event

3. Robert Shepherd CPD Grant

• Amount: Not specified
• Purpose: CPD for practicing paintings conservators
• Method: Automatic consideration when applying for standard CPD grants

Priority Areas

Eligible Conservation Disciplines:

• Easel paintings conservation
• Wall paintings conservation
• Textiles conservation
• Archaeological objects conservation
• Ceramics and glass conservation
• Metalwork conservation
• Paper conservation
• Stained glass conservation
• Books and library materials conservation
• Clocks conservation
• Furniture and related objects conservation

Preference Given To:

• Applicants intending to make careers in the UK
• UK-based conservators
• Applicants who have demonstrated effort to raise or earn funds for their course
• Final-year BA students (rather than first or second year)

What They Don't Fund

• Conservation of non-moveable heritage (buildings, architecture)
• Conservation students, PhD students, or interns (for CPD grants only)
• Conservators practicing overseas
• Applications submitted after the course/conference has occurred
• Applications without required references

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Governance and Leadership

The Anna Plowden Trust is governed by a nine-member board combining family members and conservation sector specialists:

Chairman: Dr David Saunders - Honorary Research Fellow at the British Museum and former Keeper of Conservation and Scientific Research, bringing extensive museum conservation expertise.

Secretary and Treasurer: Francis Plowden - Chartered accountant and former PricewaterhouseCoopers professional with board experience across multiple cultural organizations.

Grants Manager: Penelope Plowden - Cambridge history graduate and former director at the Economist Intelligence Unit, now a freelance editor.

Trustees:

• Dr Isobel Griffin: Head of Conservation at National Galleries Scotland, wall painting conservator with a PhD in heritage science
• Elizabeth Hippisley-Cox: Stained glass conservator running Eden Stained Glass in Cumbria, SPAB Fellow and ICON member
• Dr David Leigh: Former Secretary-General of International Institute for Conservation, with extensive experience in archaeological conservation and education
• Jane McAusland: Art on paper conservator, founder of Institute of Paper Conservation, Churchill Fellowship recipient
• Christina Rozeik: Objects conservator in private practice and conservation podcast co-host
• Puneeta Sharma: Paper Conservator at Royal Collection Trust and previous Plowden Scholarship recipient

The board composition ensures deep sector knowledge and represents the diverse conservation disciplines the Trust supports.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Plowden Scholarships:

• Download official application form from website (www.annaplowdentrust.org.uk)
• Submit by 1 June for the following academic year (2026/27 applications by 1 June 2026)
• Must include mandatory references (applications without references will not be considered)
• Submit end-of-year report with high-resolution images within two months of academic year completion
• Can reapply annually for multi-year courses, but repeated funding not guaranteed
• Automatically considered for Robert Shepherd Scholarship if applicable

CPD Grants:

• Download CPD application form from website
• Submit at least 4 weeks before course/conference
• Applications accepted for events in the UK and abroad
• Both in-person and online events eligible
• 2026 Deadlines: 12 January, 7 April, 1 June, 14 September
• Paintings conservators automatically considered for Robert Shepherd CPD Grant

Decision Timeline

The Trust does not publish specific decision timelines. Applicants should allow sufficient time between the deadline and course start date. For CPD grants, the minimum 4-week advance application requirement provides some indication of processing time.

Success Rates

The Trust explicitly states their funds are “heavily over-subscribed.” While specific success rates are not published, the Trust awards approximately 30 Plowden Scholarships annually from what is clearly a competitive pool. With over 450 scholarships awarded since 1998 (averaging 17-18 per year historically), recent increases in funding suggest current capacity of up to 30 awards annually represents growth in the programme.

Reapplication Policy

Scholarships: Students on multi-year courses can reapply each academic year but must submit a fresh application. Previous receipt of a scholarship does not guarantee continued funding, though it does not preclude it.

CPD Grants: Conservators can apply for multiple CPD opportunities throughout their careers, subject to quarterly deadlines and available funds.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's published guidance and FAQ responses, strong applications demonstrate:

1. Financial Need and Effort: The Trust explicitly values applicants who “have worked hard to raise or earn funds for their course.” This suggests successful applicants demonstrate:

• Active fundraising efforts
• Personal financial contribution
• Exploration of other funding sources
• Clear articulation of why Trust support is needed

2. UK Career Commitment: The Trust states multiple times that they “give preference to applicants who intend to make their careers in the UK.” Successful applicants should:

• Clearly articulate plans to work in UK conservation sector
• Demonstrate understanding of UK conservation landscape
• Show commitment beyond training completion

3. Complete and Professional Applications:

• Mandatory references must be included (applications without are rejected outright)
• References can come from course tutors even if not yet started
• High-quality, complete application forms
• Clear articulation of conservation goals

4. Appropriate Course Selection: Applications must be for:

• Full-time conservation training courses in the UK (for scholarships)
• Courses preparing students for conserving moveable heritage
• Recognized conservation training institutions
• Courses aligned with Trust's eligible disciplines

5. Timing and Planning:

• CPD applicants must apply at least 4 weeks before event
• Demonstrate forward planning and professionalism
• Cannot apply retrospectively

6. End-of-Year Reporting Commitment: Scholarship recipients must submit a report with high-resolution images within two months of academic year completion. Understanding and committing to this requirement demonstrates professional responsibility.

7. Stage of Study (for BA students): The Trust notes they “have tended to award bursaries to BA students in their final year, rather than their first or second years,” suggesting demonstrated commitment and progression strengthens applications.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Funds are heavily over-subscribed: Competition is significant. Applications must be exceptionally strong and demonstrate clear alignment with Trust priorities.

• UK career commitment is essential: Repeatedly emphasize intention to build a conservation career in the UK. This is a stated preference that can differentiate applications.

• Demonstrate financial effort: Show you've actively sought other funding sources and contributed personally. The Trust values applicants who have “worked hard to raise or earn funds.”

• References are mandatory and non-negotiable: Applications without references are automatically rejected. Secure strong references early in the process.

• Timing matters: For CPD grants, apply at least 4 weeks in advance. For scholarships, note the annual June 1 deadline well in advance.

• Only moveable heritage conservation qualifies: Building conservation, architectural conservation, and environmental conservation are explicitly excluded. Ensure your discipline aligns with eligible areas.

• Multiple applications possible: If unsuccessful with a scholarship application, you can reapply in subsequent years. Conservators can apply for multiple CPD grants throughout their careers.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Wolfson Foundation
• THE PRUDENCE TRUST
• The National Churches Trust
• Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust
• The Idlewild Trust
• The National Manuscripts Conservation Trust
• National Lottery Heritage Fund
• PRISONERS EDUCATION TRUST
• FINAL STRAW FOUNDATION
• THE LIGHTHOUSE
• National Lottery
• Northern Trust
• Parish Council

References

• Anna Plowden Trust official website: www.annaplowdentrust.org.uk
• Anna Plowden Trust - Plowden Scholarships page: https://www.annaplowdentrust.org.uk/apply/plowden-scholarships
• Anna Plowden Trust - CPD Grants page: https://www.annaplowdentrust.org.uk/apply/cpd-grants
• Anna Plowden Trust - About Us: https://www.annaplowdentrust.org.uk/about-us
• Anna Plowden Trust - FAQs: https://www.annaplowdentrust.org.uk/apply/faqs
• Anna Plowden Trust - Trustees: https://www.annaplowdentrust.org.uk/about/trustees
• Charity Commission Register: ANNA PLOWDEN TRUST - 1072236
• Heritage Funding Directory UK - Anna Plowden Trust entries