Artists' General Benevolent Institution

Quick Stats

• Recent Income: £334,482
• Recent 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, London SW1V 2LY

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 (who served as first Chairman from 1815-1829), 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 recent income of approximately £334,000 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 Programmes

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
• Children must be under 25 years of age and in education

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:

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

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Governance and Leadership

Leadership:

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

Governance Structure:

The AGBI is run by a Council of mainly practising 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.

How to Apply to Artists' General Benevolent Institution

How to Apply

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

1. Contact the organisation 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 organisation 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 organisation emphasises 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

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 organisational programmes
• Contact-based process: There is no public application form or deadline; applicants must contact the organisation directly to discuss their situation
• Professional practice required: Applicants must demonstrate a history of professional visual arts practice recognised 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 organisation is run by practising artists and allied professionals who understand the challenges of artistic careers

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Fenton Arts Trust
• The Golsoncott Foundation
• Maria Bjornson Memorial Fund
• The Thistle Trust
• The Eaton Fund
• The Idlewild Trust
• The Fidelio Charitable Trust
• The Gordon Fraser Charitable Trust
• National Art Collections Fund (art Fund)
• The Ampersand Foundation

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 []

• Income (FY ending 05 April 2023): £334,482
• Expenditure (FY ending 05 April 2023): £608,687
• 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 []

1. Royal Academy of Arts. (2025). "Artists' General Benevolent Institution." RA Collection. Available at: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/organisation/artists-general-benevolent-institution []