Maria Bjornson Memorial Fund

Charity Number: 1126096

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £438,750 (2023)
  • Success Rate: 30% (2023)
  • Decision Time: 3 months (quarterly review)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £30,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK registered charities and individuals working in UK and/or overseas

Contact Details

Address:

The Maria Bjornson Memorial Fund

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

5 Fleet Place

London EC4M 7RD

Phone: 020 7438 2101

Website: https://www.mbmf.org.uk/

Overview

The Maria Bjornson Memorial Fund was established in 2008 in memory of Maria Björnson (1949-2002), the legendary theatre, ballet, and opera designer best known for her Tony Award-winning sets and costumes for The Phantom of the Opera. The Fund is a UK registered charity (charity number 1126096) that supports artistic enterprises, arts-related activities, and individual artists. In 2023, the Fund awarded 66 grants totalling £438,750, compared to 52 grants totalling £398,050 in 2022. While the Fund's charitable objects include medical research and relief of hardship for disabled and sick individuals, in recent years it has focused its grant-making primarily on organizations and individuals in the performing, visual, and creative arts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • General Arts Grants: £1,000 - £30,000 (rolling basis, quarterly decisions)
  • Available to UK registered charities and individuals working in UK and/or overseas
  • Applications accepted year-round with quarterly review cycles

Priority Areas

  • Advancement of education in the arts: Supporting individuals and organizations working in performing arts, visual arts, and creative arts
  • Study and professional development: Grants to individuals are normally for study and to complete courses that will help them contribute to excellence in the arts
  • Artistic enterprises and activities: Supporting arts-related projects and activities
  • Partnership funding: The Fund has supported programs such as the Theatre-Makers Award (2021 & 2022) and Dance Theatre Award (2023) through the Arts Foundation
  • Educational scholarships: Provides a £5,000 scholarship for living expenses at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama for the BA Theatre Practice: Design for Performance course

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Fund has shifted away from its broader charitable objects (medical research and disability support) to focus primarily on arts-related activities.

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Governance and Leadership

Chair:

Sir Richard Eyre - Renowned theatre, film, and opera director

Trustees:

  • Bob Crowley - Award-winning theatre designer and director
  • Ida Levine - Policy and strategy consultant
  • Simon Weil - Lawyer specializing in charities

The Board comprises highly respected professionals in theatre and the arts, reflecting the Fund's commitment to supporting excellence in creative fields.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and should be made in writing to the address above. There is no online application portal or standardized application form mentioned.

For individuals: When making grants to individuals, Trustees typically require the grant payment to be made to another charitable organization to ensure it is applied for wholly charitable purposes. Grants are often paid to registered charities that agree to act as the individual's 'fiscal sponsor' - the sponsor receives the grant on behalf of the individual and ensures it is applied for the grant's intended purpose.

Decision Timeline

  • Applications are reviewed quarterly (four times per year)
  • From the rolling application system, applicants can expect decisions approximately every 3 months
  • Trustees consider applications at their regular meetings and make donations as they deem appropriate

Success Rates

In 2023, the Fund received more than 130 grant applications, of which approximately 30% were successful (66 grants awarded from 130+ applications).

Reapplication Policy

No specific information available about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Fiscal Sponsorship for Individuals:

Individual applicants should identify a UK registered charity willing to act as a fiscal sponsor to receive and administer the grant on their behalf. This is a common requirement for individual artist grants.

Study and Professional Development Focus:

Grants to individuals are typically awarded for study and courses that will contribute to excellence in the arts. Applications should clearly articulate how the funding will advance the applicant's artistic education and practice.

Arts Excellence:

The Fund honors Maria Björnson's legacy of excellence in theatre design. Applications should demonstrate commitment to high-quality artistic work in performing, visual, or creative arts.

Recent Grant Recipients Include:

  • Arts Foundation (Theatre-Makers Award and Dance Theatre Award)
  • The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (scholarship program)
  • Freelancers Make Theatre Work
  • The Herds (arts partnership)

Application Competitiveness:

With a 30% success rate and only 66 grants awarded from 130+ applications in 2023, competition is moderate. The Fund appears to take a selective but supportive approach to grant-making.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Rolling applications with quarterly reviews - Submit at any time, but plan for a 3-month decision timeframe
  • Individual artists need fiscal sponsors - If you're an individual applicant, secure a UK registered charity willing to act as your fiscal sponsor before applying
  • Focus on education and excellence - Applications should emphasize how funding will advance artistic education and contribute to excellence in the arts
  • Medium-sized grants available - The £1,000-£30,000 range accommodates both smaller study grants and larger project funding
  • Competitive but achievable - A 30% success rate suggests selective but realistic prospects for well-aligned applications
  • Geographic flexibility - While applicants must be UK registered charities or work through UK charities, projects can take place overseas
  • Legacy of theatre design - Understanding Maria Björnson's renowned work in theatre, particularly The Phantom of the Opera, may help frame applications in terms the trustees will appreciate

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