National Art Collections Fund

Charity Number: 209174

Annual Expenditure: £8.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £8.4 million (2022/23)
  • Success Rate: 33% (2022/23)
  • Decision Time: 8 weeks (small grants); 2-4 months (main grants at 5 annual trustee meetings)
  • Grant Range: Up to £7,500 (small grants) - £2.5 million+ (main grants)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

Contact Details

  • Website: www.artfund.org
  • Email: info@artfund.org
  • Phone: 020 7225 4800
  • Pre-application support: programmes@artfund.org or museums@artfund.org
  • Office hours: Monday – Friday 9.30am – 5.30pm

Overview

Founded in 1903, Art Fund is the national charity for art in the UK and has been involved in the acquisition of over 860,000 works of art, including famous pieces like Velázquez's Rokeby Venus and Picasso's Weeping Woman. The charity does not receive government or National Lottery funding, relying instead on members' subscriptions and public donations. In the past five years, Art Fund has given £34 million to help museums and galleries acquire works of art for their collections. The charity's 2022/23 annual report showed £8.4 million in total grants, including £4.5 million for acquisitions—representing Art Fund's highest level of support during the challenging cost-of-living crisis. Art Fund also runs the prestigious Museum of the Year Award, worth £120,000, making it the largest museum prize in the world.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Acquisition Grants (£3-5 million annually)

  • Main Grants: For requests above £7,500 and/or where total cost exceeds £15,000
  • Small Grants: For requests of £7,500 or less where total cost is £15,000 or less (rolling basis, 8-week decision)
  • Auction Grants: Time-critical applications of any size for works at auction
  • Notable grant: £2.5 million (highest in Art Fund's 120-year history) for Joshua Reynolds' Portrait of Mai (Omai)

Commission Grants

  • Support museums to commission new works that enter public collections permanently
  • Works must be accessible to the public for minimum 3 years
  • Applications submitted via programmes@artfund.org

Reimagine Grants

  • £1 million programme supporting museums to build resilience through partnerships
  • Grants range from £40,000-£50,000
  • Focus on working with organizations beyond cultural sector (education, mental health, community groups)

Student Opportunities

  • Support for curator development and professional training
  • Decision within 8 weeks of application

Priority Areas

  • Objects of national and international importance, including high-value items subject to temporary export licence deferral or tax remission
  • Objects of significant regional interest of good museum quality
  • Works that artistically enrich collections and support expansion into new collecting areas
  • Projects that improve inclusion in the workforce
  • Initiatives connecting museums with communities beyond traditional audiences
  • Early childhood development programmes
  • Environmental and sustainability projects
  • Creative health and wellbeing initiatives

What They Don't Fund

Ineligible Organizations:

  • For-profit organizations (Private/Public Limited Companies, Companies Limited by Shares)
  • Partnerships (General, Limited, Limited Liability)
  • Commercial organizations
  • Organizations focused on music, drama, dance, and art forms outside visual arts
  • Individuals or unincorporated bodies (unless via eligible organization)
  • Hospitals and places of worship
  • Schools or higher education institutions (except for specific student programmes)

Ineligible Costs/Projects:

  • Retrospective activity (projects already started)
  • Commissions not resulting in permanent acquisitions
  • Commissions not accessible to public for minimum 3 years
  • Museums not open at least half the week for at least 6 months yearly
  • Museums without Arts Council Accreditation Scheme accreditation (or equivalent)
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Governance and Leadership

Director

Jenny Waldman CBE - Appointed in 2020, previously Director of 14-18 NOW (UK's official arts programme for WWI Centenary). Awarded CBE in 2017 New Year Honours for services to the arts.

Key Quote: "It's a great honour and very exciting to join Art Fund at this point in its 117-year history. Art Fund plays a crucial role in supporting museums and galleries across the UK."

Strategic Priorities: Waldman has emphasized the vital role museums play within communities and called for “laser-like focus” on getting arts back into school curricula and supporting creative education.

Chair of Trustees

Sandy Nairne CBE FSA - Appointed autumn 2024, former Director of National Portrait Gallery (2002-15). Succeeded Lord Chris Smith who served as Chair from 2014.

Governance Structure

The board of trustees oversees Art Fund's direction and considers all gifts, bequests of art, and major grant applications. Supported by the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Acquisition Grants:

  1. Download “Guidance for applicants” document from Art Fund website
  2. Create or log in to My Art Fund account and register as professional user
  3. Important: Contact Art Fund before submitting to discuss potential acquisitions and ensure object is eligible
  4. Submit application through online portal

Application Deadlines:

  • Main Grants: Five annual trustee meetings (February, May, July, October, December) with deadlines in January, April, June, September, November
  • Small Grants: Rolling basis—submit anytime
  • Auction Grants: Time-critical process for urgent auction opportunities

Other Programmes:

  • Reimagine, Commission Grants, Student Opportunities: Email programmes@artfund.org with programme name in subject line

Decision Timeline

  • Small Grants/Student Opportunities: 8 weeks from submission
  • Main Grants: Decided at five annual trustee meetings (typically 2-4 months from deadline to decision)
  • Auction Grants: Expedited process for time-sensitive acquisitions

Success Rates

In 2022/23, Art Fund received exceptionally high demand with a 33% applicant success rate, reflecting museums' continued need for support during the cost-of-living crisis.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies is not explicitly published. Unsuccessful applicants should contact programmes@artfund.org for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Pre-Application Engagement

Art Fund actively encourages museums to contact them before applying. Use programmes@artfund.org or museums@artfund.org to discuss potential acquisitions, ensure eligibility, and confirm sufficient processing time.

Funding Criteria Alignment

Applications should clearly demonstrate how acquisitions meet at least one priority:

  • National/international importance
  • Significant regional interest and museum quality
  • Artistic enrichment and collection development

Examples of Recent Successful Projects (2024)

Reimagine Grants:

  • Turner Contemporary (Margate): £50,000 for Young Environmental Leaders programme
  • Birmingham Museums Trust: £49,728 for Collections in the Community
  • Manchester Art Gallery: £45,000 to develop Rutherston Loan Scheme for 21st century education
  • Ikon Gallery (Birmingham): £44,000 for Creative Health initiatives
  • Bristol Museums: £40,000 for Towards New Ecologies programme

Project Types Funded:

  • Sensory exhibitions for disabled and neurodivergent adults (MK Gallery)
  • Behind-the-scenes tours for rurally isolated groups (Fermanagh County Museum)
  • Artworks loaned to schools improving visual literacy (Manchester Art Gallery)
  • Creative workshops for men accessing mental health services (Hartlepool Art Gallery)

Key Application Elements

Documentation and Planning:

  • Research and obtain quotes for accurate cost estimates
  • Demonstrate accreditation status
  • Show public accessibility commitments
  • Provide evidence of strategic collection development

Partnership and Impact:

  • Increasingly important to demonstrate partnerships beyond cultural sector
  • Show community impact and engagement with diverse audiences
  • Explain how work contributes to museum resilience and sustainability

Budget Realism:

  • Provide accurate, researched cost estimates
  • Demonstrate resourcefulness and accountability
  • Show clear understanding of funding requirements

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Early engagement is critical: Contact Art Fund before applying through programmes@artfund.org to discuss eligibility and process—this demonstrates professionalism and improves success likelihood
  • Accreditation is non-negotiable: Ensure your institution has at least provisional accreditation under Arts Council Accreditation Scheme or national equivalent before applying
  • Choose the right grant stream: Small grants (≤£7,500, total cost ≤£15,000) offer faster 8-week rolling decisions; main grants handle larger requests at five annual meetings
  • Success rate context: With 33% success rate in 2022/23 during high demand, applications must strongly align with stated priorities and demonstrate clear national/regional significance or collection enrichment
  • Partnership approaches favored: Recent Reimagine grants show Art Fund values museums working beyond cultural sector—with education providers, mental health services, and community organizations
  • Strategic timing matters: For auction grants use time-critical process; for main grants plan around five annual deadlines (Jan, Apr, Jun, Sep, Nov) with decisions at subsequent trustee meetings
  • Art Fund's broader mission: As a membership-based charity running Museum of the Year (£120,000 prize), they value innovation, imagination, and excellence—applications should reflect these qualities

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References