The African Arts Trust

Charity Number: 1141553

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £184,133 (expenditure 2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 4 weeks for initial response; up to 3 months for grant processing
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $20,000 (small grants under $5,000 also available)
  • Geographic Focus: Eastern and Southern Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana)

Contact Details

Website: www.theafricanartstrust.org

Email: theafricanartstrust@gmail.com (or art@rnfli.com)

Phone: 7768270416

Postal Address: The African Arts Trust, 5 Ladbroke Terrace, London, W11 3PG

Overview

The African Arts Trust was founded in 2011 by collector and philanthropist Robert Devereux following the successful auction of his 416-piece post-war British art collection at Sotheby's London in 2010, which raised over £4 million. The Trust's mission is to “act as a catalyst for the emergence and growth of locally managed and sustainable contemporary visual art organisations in Africa.” The Trust exclusively supports visual arts (excluding theatre, dance, music, and literature), with a strong emphasis on grassroots organizations that help professional practicing artists make a livelihood. Grant-making is concentrated in Eastern and Southern Africa. The Trust operates on a rolling application basis with no fixed deadlines, offering grants ranging from under $5,000 to $20,000 for periods of up to 3 years (5 years in exceptional circumstances).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Core Funding: £5,000 - £20,000 (rolling basis)

General support for arts organizations for a defined period of time. Multi-year grants available for up to 3 years, or 5 years in exceptional circumstances.

Project Funding: £5,000 - £20,000 (rolling basis)

Support for one-off or annual art projects with a finite end date.

Small Grants: Under £5,000 (rolling basis)

For smaller-scale initiatives and emerging organizations.

Priority Areas

High Priority:

  • Core funding for arts organizations
  • Studio spaces

Medium Priority:

  • Workshops and residencies
  • Project funding
  • Exhibitions
  • Competitions/awards

Funded in Rare Circumstances (exceptional merit only):

  • Books/Publications
  • Video/Radio
  • Festivals/Biennales

Geographic Focus:

Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Botswana

Recent Funded Projects Include:

  • Afropocene Studio Lab (Uganda) - core funding for studio rent
  • ArtHARARE (Zimbabwe) - art fair participation and studio creation
  • Njabala Foundation (Uganda) - annual exhibition and core funding
  • Wajukuu Art Project (Kenya) - art fair attendance
  • Kairos Futura (Kenya) - exhibition and studio funding
  • Bag Factory (South Africa) - 3-year core funding
  • Liverpool Biennial - support for Larry Achampong's installation (2021) and Nolan Oswald Dennis (2023)

What They Don't Fund

  • Theatre, dance, music, or literature projects
  • Individual artists directly (only organizations supporting artists)
  • Projects outside their geographic focus (Eastern and Southern Africa)
  • Generally do not fund festivals/biennales except in exceptional circumstances
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Robert Devereux - Founder and Chair. After graduating from Cambridge University, Devereux worked with Amnesty International and Macmillan Publishers before joining Virgin in 1980 as Richard Branson's partner. Since selling his stake in the Virgin Group in the mid-1990s, he has focused on supporting African arts.
  • Hamish Dewar - Director of Hamish Dewar Conservation Ltd
  • Robin Woodhead - Chairman of Sotheby's International

Administrator:

  • Lynnet Ngigi

Devereux's Philosophy:

“I believe in perpetual revolution.” This philosophy led him to sell his entire British art collection to establish the Trust. He prefers to be called a “supporter” rather than a collector, stating: “I would like to think that both my collecting and my creation of The African Arts Trust are for the support of the artists.” On ownership, he says: "I find ownership a challenging concept. I don't think you can own a work of art in the way you might a car or a table, because it is the emanation of a creative soul."

The Trust chose not to fund artists directly because Devereux "didn't want to make grant decisions based on artistic judgments." Instead, the Trust supports organizations and infrastructure that enable artists to succeed.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The African Arts Trust operates a two-stage rolling application process with no fixed deadlines.

Stage 1 - Questionnaire:

  • Download the questionnaire from www.theafricanartstrust.org
  • Complete it to determine whether your aims and proposal fit the Trust's remit
  • Email to theafricanartstrust@gmail.com
  • The Trust will advise whether to proceed to a full application
  • Important: “Please do not apply if your project is not visual arts”

Stage 2 - Full Application:

  • Submit by email following approval to proceed
  • Choose between Core Funding or Project Funding
  • Large documents, publications, DVDs can be posted to: The African Arts Trust, 5 Ladbroke Terrace, London, W11 3PG

Special Requirement for Artist Applications:

Artists applying for residencies, workshops, or exhibitions must donate an artwork to the Trust's collection.

Decision Timeline

  • Initial response: Within 1 month of questionnaire submission
  • Grant processing: Up to 3 months if application is approved
  • Total timeline: Approximately 4-5 months from initial questionnaire to grant disbursement

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is stated. The rolling application process suggests organizations can apply at any time, but unsuccessful applicants should check whether their project fits the Trust's remit before reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of funded projects and the Trust's stated priorities, successful applications demonstrate:

Alignment with Visual Arts Focus:

The Trust is explicit: “Please do not apply if your project is not visual arts.” All funded projects focus exclusively on contemporary visual arts practice.

Support for Practicing Artists:

Successful projects support professional artists trying to make a livelihood. Examples include studio spaces (Afropocene Studio Lab, Kairos Futura), artist residencies (Gasworks), and platforms for visibility (Njabala Foundation's exhibitions).

Grassroots Impact:

The Trust emphasizes “grass roots organisations” - many funded organizations are relatively small, locally-based operations rather than major international institutions.

Infrastructure and Sustainability:

High-priority funding areas (core funding for arts organizations, studio spaces) suggest the Trust values sustainable infrastructure that supports multiple artists over time.

East African Focus:

While the geographic remit includes Southern Africa, the majority of recent grants support East African countries (Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe), suggesting this is where the Trust sees greatest need.

Platform and Visibility Projects:

Numerous grants support art fair participation (ArtHARARE, Wajukuu Art Project) and exhibitions, indicating the Trust values creating visibility and market opportunities for African artists.

Complete the Questionnaire First:

The two-stage process is designed to filter applications. Organizations should carefully review eligibility criteria and complete the initial questionnaire honestly to avoid wasting time on ineligible full applications.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Visual arts only - Do not apply if your project involves theatre, dance, music, or literature; these are explicitly excluded
  • Start with the questionnaire - The two-stage process means you'll receive guidance on eligibility before investing time in a full application
  • Emphasize artist livelihoods - Focus on how your organization helps professional artists make a sustainable living through their practice
  • Highlight infrastructure and sustainability - Core funding for organizations and studio spaces are highest priority; demonstrate long-term impact
  • No deadline pressure - Rolling applications mean you can apply when your project is ready, not rush to meet arbitrary deadlines
  • Be patient with processing - Allow up to 4-5 months total from initial questionnaire to grant disbursement
  • Geographic alignment is critical - Ensure your project is based in or primarily benefits artists in Eastern/Southern Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana)

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References