Jerwood Foundation

Charity Number: 1197386

Annual Expenditure: £2.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £2,500,000
  • Grant Range: £10,000 - £480,000
  • Decision Time: 2-3 weeks after trustee meeting
  • Geographic Focus: UK
  • Application Method: Fixed deadlines (three rounds per year)

Contact Details

  • Website: www.jerwood.org
  • Email: info@jerwood.org (or jerwood@jerwood.org)
  • Phone: 01584 823413
  • Post: PO Box 186, Ludlow, SY8 9DX
  • Charity Number: 1197386

Overview

Jerwood Foundation was established in 1977 for John Jerwood MC (1918-1991) and has been administered since his death in 1991 by Alan Grieve CBE. On 1 January 2024, the Foundation completed a merger with Jerwood Charity (Jerwood Arts), creating a single, streamlined grant-making foundation. The merged organisation owns the Jerwood Collection of Modern and Contemporary British art and awards up to £2 million annually in grants. The Foundation's mission is to support excellence and emerging talent in the visual and performing arts in the UK, with a particular focus on making art available for public benefit. As Executive Director Lara Wardle stated: “Our vision is for a streamlined Jerwood organisation, which is relevant and receptive to the contemporary funding landscape.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Jerwood Foundation operates a single main grant program with three funding rounds per year. Recent awards have ranged from £10,000 to £480,000:

  • Small to medium grants: £10,000 - £40,000 (typical for specific programmes, commissions, or residencies)
  • Medium grants: £40,000 - £100,000 (typical for multi-year programmes or significant projects)
  • Major grants: £100,000 - £480,000 (exceptional projects or major capital works)

Applications are considered at trustee meetings held three times annually. The Foundation welcomes applications on a rolling basis through fixed funding rounds.

Priority Areas

Jerwood Foundation supports:

  • Visual arts: Artist residencies, exhibitions, commissioning programmes, collection development
  • Performing arts: Theatre, dance, music programmes supporting emerging talent and professional development
  • Early career development: Programmes specifically supporting emerging artists, writers, choreographers, directors, and curators
  • Public benefit: Projects that make art accessible and available to public audiences
  • Professional development: Training programmes and opportunities for artists at critical stages in their careers
  • Projects involving the Jerwood Collection: Applications that engage with their collection of 20th & 21st century British art

Recent examples of funded projects include:

  • £402,000 over three years to Art Fund for Jerwood Art Fund Commissions (2024)
  • £200,000 over two years to Royal Court Theatre for writer development programmes
  • £480,000 to Jerwood Space for substantial building refurbishment (2024)
  • £100,000 to Birmingham Royal Ballet's BRB2
  • £80,000 over two years to Hofesh Shechter Company for dancer professional development
  • £75,000 over three years to Natural History Museum for programming (2025)
  • £60,000 over three years to London Philharmonic Orchestra's Young Composers Programme
  • £45,235 to Edinburgh Printmakers
  • £40,000 to HighTide theatre (2025)
  • £40,000 to support Jerwood Arvon Writer Residencies
  • £30,000 over two years to Holburne Museum for Assistant role (2025)
  • £30,000 to Forward Arts Foundation for Forward Prizes for Poetry
  • £25,000 to Royal Shakespeare Company for actor training programme
  • £20,900 to Complicité's Artist Development Programme (Mudlarks)
  • £20,000 to MK Gallery for Euan Uglow exhibition catalogue
  • £18,000 to Crafts' Lives for life story recordings
  • £15,000 to Artists' Lives for artist recordings
  • £10,000 to Richard Chappell Dance

What They Don't Fund

Jerwood Foundation explicitly does not fund:

  • Projects that have already started
  • Individual grants (they fund organisations only)
  • Educational courses
  • Core organisational costs
  • Capital endowments
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Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

  • Rupert Tyler - Chairman
  • Lara Wardle - Executive Director & Trustee
  • Alan Grieve CBE (1928-2025) - Chairman Emeritus & Trustee (founder administrator)

Trustees

  • Christopher King
  • Julia Wharton
  • Katharine Goodison
  • Lucy Ash
  • Miranda Thompson-Schwab - Chair of Finance and Investment Committee
  • Pippa Campbell
  • Tara Mayhew

Staff Team

  • Clair Montier - Grants & Finance Manager
  • Sarah Stenner - Grants Manager
  • Sarah Monahan - Executive Assistant & Collection Manager
  • Zara Hatt - Team and Communications Assistant
  • Jen Tree - Social Media & Communications Manager (Freelance)
  • Kate Danielson - Consultant

Leadership Perspectives

Lara Wardle, Executive Director, has emphasized the Foundation's strategic approach: “We hope that our new streamlined, easy-to-understand application process will enable us to distribute funds effectively for maximum impact.” On partnerships, she noted: "Embarking on this new partnership with Art Fund underlines Jerwood's commitment to supporting excellence in the arts in the UK."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted by email to info@jerwood.org and should be a maximum of 10 pages (excluding audited accounts).

Initial submission should include:

  1. A single-page summary of the project with a short description and start date
  2. A budget and fundraising plan
  3. Any further relevant information

Full applications must include:

  • One-page covering letter with project summary
  • Requested grant amount and payment date
  • Short project description
  • Start date and project timeline
  • Number of direct beneficiaries and projected audience figures
  • Budget and fundraising plan
  • Copy of organisation's latest audited accounts (or annual budget if not required to produce audited accounts)
  • Any additional information relevant to your project or organisation

Important timing requirement: The Foundation will only consider applications for projects starting more than 3 months, but less than 12 months, from the funding round closing date.

Application Deadlines

The Foundation operates three funding rounds per year. Example cycle:

  • Applications open: 4 February
  • Deadline: 18 March
  • Trustee meeting: 29 April
  • Applicants notified: 13 May

(Check the Foundation's website for current deadlines as these dates vary by funding round)

Decision Timeline

  • Applications are reviewed by trustees at scheduled trustee meetings (three times per year)
  • Successful applicants are contacted within two weeks of the trustee meeting date
  • The Foundation does not provide feedback on unsuccessful applications

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy or waiting period was identified in available documentation. Organisations may wish to contact the Foundation directly for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Guidance

Focus on excellence and emerging talent: The Foundation consistently emphasizes its commitment to “excellence and emerging talent in the arts.” Applications should clearly demonstrate both high quality and support for artists at critical career stages.

Public benefit is paramount: As stated in their mission, projects should demonstrate how they make art “available for public benefit.” Applications should articulate audience reach and accessibility.

Engagement with the Jerwood Collection: The Foundation particularly welcomes applications that involve working with their collection of 20th & 21st century British art.

Clear project timelines: The Foundation has strict timing requirements (projects must start 3-12 months from deadline), indicating they value well-planned projects with realistic timelines.

Streamlined applications valued: Following the 2024 merger, Lara Wardle emphasized their commitment to a “streamlined, easy-to-understand application process,” suggesting concise, clear applications are preferred over lengthy proposals.

Professional development focus: Recent grants show strong support for programmes that develop emerging talent through structured professional development, mentoring, and training opportunities.

Recent Funding Patterns

Analysis of recent grants reveals the Foundation supports:

  • Multi-year partnerships (2-3 years) for established programmes
  • Professional development programmes for early-career artists
  • Projects that create lasting legacies (recordings, publications, collections)
  • Programmes with national reach or significance
  • Collaborations between arts organisations and artists
  • Infrastructure that supports wider access to the arts

Language and Terminology

The Foundation uses specific language that applicants should mirror:

  • “Excellence and emerging talent”
  • “Public benefit”
  • “Professional development”
  • “Early career”
  • “Making art available”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Focus on emerging talent: The Foundation's core mission is supporting excellence and emerging talent - applications must demonstrate support for artists at critical early career stages
  • Public benefit is essential: Clearly articulate how your project makes art accessible and available to public audiences
  • Timing is strict: Projects must start 3-12 months from the deadline - ensure your timeline fits this window
  • Keep it concise: Maximum 10 pages for applications - the Foundation values clarity and streamlined proposals
  • Consider the Collection: Applications that engage with the Jerwood Collection of British art may have additional appeal
  • Build for sustainability: Recent grants show preference for multi-year programmes and projects with lasting impact
  • No feedback provided: Unsuccessful applicants will not receive feedback, so ensure your first application is as strong as possible
  • Think nationally: While the Foundation supports projects across the UK, funded projects often have national significance or reach

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