Artists' General Benevolent Institution

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £697,389
• Annual Charitable Expenditure: £568,416
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified (contact required)
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
• Application Type: Individual contact/assessment basis

Contact Details

Main Contact:

• Website: www.agbi.org.uk
• Email: info@agbi.org.uk / melissa@agbi.org.uk (for grant applications)
• Phone: 020 7734 1193
• Address: 15 Churton Street, Pimlico, London

For Grant Applications:

Make an appointment via email with melissa@agbi.org.uk or call the office for information about grant application processes.

Overview

Founded in 1814 by Royal Academy of Arts members including J.M.W. Turner, John Constable, and John Soane, and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1842, the Artists' General Benevolent Institution (AGBI) is the UK's oldest artist-led benevolent fund. With an annual income of approximately £697,000 and charitable expenditure of £568,000, AGBI provides confidential financial assistance to professional visual artists and their families in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland who cannot work or earn an income due to illness, accident, or old age. The charity is managed by a small team of staff, trustees, and an Artists Council, with Nicola Hicks serving as President. AGBI's support is person-centred, non-judgemental, delivered with compassion, and strictly confidential.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Artist's Fund

• Supports professional visual artists unable to work due to accident, illness, or older age
• Assistance given as a grant for one year at a time
• Specific grant amounts not publicly disclosed
• Application method: Individual contact and assessment

Children's Fund

• Supports children of artists who have lost the support of one or both parents
• Covers needs from basic necessities to educational expenses, including college tuitions for artistic education
• In 2022, served 18 children of visual artists

Eligibility Criteria

Who Can Apply:

• Professional visual artists who have earned all or the major part of their living from art
• Art teachers who have earned their living from art
• Artists living in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland
• Artists whose work has been known to the public for some time
• Those unable to work or earn because of illness, old age, or accident (temporary or long-term)
• Widows and orphaned children of eligible artists

What They Don't Fund

AGBI is a benevolent fund focused on individual welfare support. They do not fund:

• Organizational projects
• Exhibitions or artistic productions
• Business development or career advancement
• Arts education programs (except as individual support for artists' children)
• Artists based outside England, Wales, and Northern Ireland

Ready to write a winning application for Artists' General Benevolent Institution?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Leadership:

• President: Nicola Hicks (renowned sculptor and artist)
• Trustees: 4 trustees (names not publicly listed)
• Staff: 4 employees
• Volunteers: 10

Governance Structure:

The AGBI is run by a Council of mainly practicing artists, sculptors, designers, architects, medical professionals, and craft workers who give their time freely and meet regularly to discuss cases. Grants and programmes are managed by trustees, staff, and an Artists Council, with oversight from an Investment Committee.

No trustees receive remuneration for their service.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

AGBI operates on an individual contact and assessment basis rather than through open application rounds:

1. Contact the organization via email at melissa@agbi.org.uk or call the office
2. Make an appointment to discuss your situation
3. All information relating to applicants and any help given is strictly confidential

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available. The Council meets regularly to discuss cases, but individual processing times vary based on circumstances.

Success Rates

Success rates and application numbers are not publicly disclosed. The confidential nature of the support means detailed statistics are not widely available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Contact the organization directly for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Key Alignment Factors

Professional Standing:

• Demonstrated professional practice as a visual artist
• Work that has been known to the public
• Earning history primarily from artistic work

Genuine Need:

• Clear inability to work or earn due to health or hardship
• Specific circumstances preventing professional practice (illness, accident, older age)
• Impact on dependents where applicable

Geographic Eligibility:

• Residency in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland

Support Characteristics

The organization emphasizes that their support is:

• Person-centred: Tailored to individual circumstances
• Non-judgemental: Focused on need, not artistic style or success
• Compassionate: Understanding of the challenges artists face
• Confidential: All applicant information kept strictly private

Impact Evidence

In 2022, AGBI supported:

• 79 creative practitioners total
• 17 new recipients
• 62 continuing recipients
• 18 children through the Children's Fund

One beneficiary testimonial shared: “The AGBI has been crucial to the lives of my two children and myself. After my husband died from a brain tumour, the support we received made a lasting difference.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is a benevolent welfare fund, not a project grant-maker: AGBI provides financial assistance to individual artists in need, not funding for artistic projects or organizational programs
• Contact-based process: There is no public application form or deadline; applicants must contact the organization directly to discuss their situation
• Professional practice required: Applicants must demonstrate a history of professional visual arts practice recognized by the public
• Health and hardship focus: Grants are specifically for artists unable to work due to illness, accident, or old age
• Confidentiality valued: All applicant information is treated with strict confidentiality, making this a safe option for artists in difficult circumstances
• One-year renewable support: Assistance is typically given for one year at a time, suggesting potential for ongoing support if circumstances continue
• Artist-led governance: The organization is run by practicing artists and allied professionals who understand the challenges of artistic careers

References

1. AGBI Official Website. (2025). "Artist's General Benevolent Institution | UK Artist Support." Available at: https://www.agbi.org.uk/ []

1. AGBI Official Website. (2025). “Our Impact | How AGBI Supports UK Visual Artists in Need.” Available at: https://www.agbi.org.uk/our-impact []

• Annual Income: £697,389
• Annual Expenditure: £674,710
• Charitable Activities: £568,416

1. Wikipedia. (2025). "Artists' General Benevolent Institution." Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artists'_General_Benevolent_Institution []

1. Turn2Us Grants Search. (2025). "The Artists' General Benevolent Institution." Available at: https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/grant/the-artists-general-benevolent-institution-13804 []

1. AGBI Official Website. (2025). “Contact AGBI | Supporting Professional Visual Artists in Need.” Available at: https://www.agbi.org.uk/contact-us []

1. AGBI Official Website. (2025). "AGBI's Archive Stories | Supporting Visual Artists in Need." Available at: http://www.agbi.org.uk/archive-stories []