The Company Of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust

Charity Number: 1121954

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

Stay updated on changes from The Company Of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £277,150 (2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: £1,500 - £11,300+ (individual awards vary by program)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide, with preference for UK nationals or UK-educated applicants

Contact Details

Website: www.artsscholars.org

Email: tara@CASCT.onmicrosoft.com

Phone: 7905607379

Charity Commission Registration: 1121954

Overview

The Company of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust is the charitable arm of The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars, which achieved Livery status as the 110th Worshipful Company of the City of London in February 2014 and was granted its Royal Charter in July 2019. With an annual expenditure of approximately £277,150 (2023-24), the Trust focuses exclusively on supporting education, training, curation, exhibition, and career development in the historic and decorative arts. The Trust operates with 7 trustees and 12 volunteers, with no paid staff. Its funding comes primarily from charitable donations by Liverymen and Freemen of the Company, supplemented by investment returns. The charity's policy emphasizes making “a real difference” and having “significant impact for the beneficiary,” particularly in increasing diversity and opportunity in the historic and decorative arts. During 2022-23, the Trust responded to pandemic challenges with significant grants to institutions including the British Museum and the Association of Independent Museums (AIM).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Partnership Grant Schemes:

  • GEM Arts Scholars Enriching Lives Grant Programme (2025-2027): Up to £4,500 per organization, paid over three annual installments. Total fund of £40,950. Supports museums and heritage organizations with annual turnover of £300,000 or less to deliver learning projects inspired by fine, decorative and applied art collections for primary and secondary schools.
  • AIM Arts Scholars Brighter Day Conservation Grants: £1,500 - £8,000 per museum. No match funding required. Developed to help museums recover from pandemic effects, with special focus on small museums struggling to access other support. Includes both conservation grants and collections care audits for non-Accredited museums, local authority museums, and independent museums that are registered charities.

Educational Awards:

  • West Dean College Tuition Fee Bursary: £5,000 for students on Foundation Degree Arts or Graduate Diploma Conservation Studies programs (Books and Binding, Ceramics, Clocks, Furniture, or Metalwork)
  • West Dean College Accommodation Bursary: £11,300 for full board accommodation for one academic year for eligible students on the same programs
  • University of York Arts Scholars MA Awards: £5,000 partial fee waiver plus mentoring opportunities for three UK students per year studying MA in History of Art or related pathways (Medieval Art and Medievalisms; Modern and Contemporary; Architectural History and Theory; British Art) or MA in Islamic Art and Culture
  • Cockpit Studios Arts Scholars Charitable Trust Bursary: One-year studio space bursary for decorative arts makers at early stage of business (maker contribution of £1,500/£125 per month), includes subsidized studio space, business development, coaching, workshops, and networking
  • Two Annual Prizes: Awarded to students at West Dean College and for the Association of Art History “Ways of Seeing” Conference for Schools

Institutional Grants:

Individual one-off grants to arts institutions, museums, and organizations supporting historic and decorative arts

Priority Areas

  • Fine and decorative arts
  • Antiques and antiquities
  • Arts education at all levels (school, university, specialist training)
  • Restoration and conservation
  • Curation and exhibition in historic and decorative arts
  • Career development and training in the cultural/heritage sectors
  • Projects that increase diversity and opportunity in the historic and decorative arts
  • Charitable initiatives of the Lord Mayor and Corporation of the City of London

Artistic disciplines supported include: painting, sculpture, drawing, design, decoration, ceramics, textiles, metalwork, and other forms exemplifying creativity and craftsmanship

What They Don't Fund

  • Industrial heritage collections (specifically excluded from Brighter Day scheme)
  • Projects outside the scope of fine, decorative and applied arts
  • Organizations with no connection to historic or decorative arts
  • Projects that do not demonstrate financial need or significant impact
Helpful Hinchilla

Ready to write a winning application for The Company Of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by 7 trustees appointed by the Court from the membership of The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars. The organization operates entirely through volunteers (12 volunteers) with no paid employees. A Charity Committee considers one-off applications for Charitable Trust support and makes recommendations to the Trustees about grants and donations from the trust fund.

The Company represents those involved in the study, curation, collection, and trade in antiques, antiquities, and objects of decorative and applied art.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a centralized public application process for general grants. Applications for different programs are managed through specific partner organizations:

For Partnership Grant Programs:

  • GEM Arts Scholars Programme: Applications open periodically through GEM (Group for Education in Museums). Applications for 2025-27 cycle are now closed; first-year installments to be distributed March/April 2025.
  • AIM Brighter Day Grants: Applications managed through AIM (Association of Independent Museums) website for member museums
  • Cockpit Studios Bursary: Apply through Cockpit Studios online application form

For Educational Awards:

  • West Dean College Bursaries: Apply through West Dean College's funding application process; assessed by their Grants Committee
  • University of York MA Awards: Email CV and personal statement (max 800 words) to histart-admissions@york.ac.uk with subject “WCAS Application”

For Individual/One-Off Grants:

The Charity Committee considers individual applications for support. Based on the limited public information, interested applicants should contact the Trust directly through their website or via email (tara@CASCT.onmicrosoft.com) to inquire about current opportunities and application procedures.

Getting on Their Radar

The Company of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust operates primarily through institutional partnerships and the membership network of the Worshipful Company. Since the Trust relies entirely upon donations from the Company's members and friends, connections to the Livery Company community are valuable. The Trust's focus on making grants where they can have “significant impact” suggests they value projects demonstrating clear outcomes and alignment with their mission in historic and decorative arts.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by program:

  • Partnership grants: Typically announced several months after application deadlines
  • Educational awards: Determined by partner institution timelines (e.g., York applications closed August 12, 2024 for 2024/25 academic year)
  • GEM Programme: First installments distributed March/April 2025 for current cycle

General institutional grant decisions are made by trustees on the recommendation of the Charity Committee, but specific timelines are not publicly disclosed.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the Trust's relatively modest annual expenditure (£277,150) compared to its broad remit suggests selective grant-making with careful consideration of impact and alignment with priorities.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. As with most charitable trusts, unsuccessful applicants should seek feedback and are likely welcome to reapply for future cycles if their project evolves or better aligns with the Trust's priorities.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's stated priorities and grant-making patterns, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear Alignment with Historic and Decorative Arts

The Trust has a specific focus on “fine and decorative arts, antiques and antiquities.” Projects must clearly fall within these areas, including disciplines like ceramics, textiles, metalwork, furniture, painting, sculpture, and design.

2. Demonstrated Financial Need

The Trust explicitly states it seeks to support projects “where they can make a real difference” and prioritizes applicants who demonstrate “outstanding potential and financial need” while “finding it a struggle to raise the funds.”

3. Significant Impact and Tangible Outcomes

The Trust's policy emphasizes grants that “have a significant impact for the beneficiary.” Applications should clearly articulate measurable outcomes and how the grant will make a meaningful difference.

4. Career Development and Education Focus

The majority of the Trust's grant-making supports education, training, and early career development. Projects supporting individuals at critical career stages or educational transitions are prioritized.

5. Diversity and Opportunity

The Trust specifically aims to “increase diversity and opportunity in the historic and decorative arts.” Applications from or supporting underrepresented groups (including non-graduates, disabled individuals, D/deaf and neurodiverse people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and Black, Asian, and Global Majority backgrounds) are particularly encouraged in programs like the Cockpit bursary.

6. UK Focus with Heritage Sector Application

Preference is given to UK nationals or those mainly educated in the UK, particularly in programs supporting individuals. Institutional grants focus on UK-based organizations serving the cultural and heritage sectors.

7. Age Considerations for Individual Awards

Some programs (like West Dean bursaries) prefer applicants under 25, though those aged 25-30 may be considered, indicating a focus on early-career support.

8. Working Directly with Objects

For conservation and craft-focused programs, applicants must demonstrate intention “to make a career directly with objects and in the cultural/heritage sectors.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Narrow but deep focus: This funder exclusively supports historic and decorative arts—ensure your project clearly falls within these disciplines before applying
  • Partner-driven model: Most grants are delivered through established partnerships with organizations like GEM, AIM, West Dean College, and York University rather than direct applications
  • Education and career development priority: The Trust strongly emphasizes supporting individuals and organizations in educational, training, and early-career contexts
  • Impact over scale: With modest annual giving, the Trust prioritizes projects where their funding will make a significant, demonstrable difference rather than funding many small initiatives
  • Diversity commitment: Explicitly welcomes applications from underrepresented groups and seeks to increase diversity in the historic and decorative arts sector
  • Relationship-based: As a Livery Company charity funded by member donations, connections to the Company or its network may be advantageous for institutional applicants
  • No public application for general grants: Organizations seeking one-off support should contact the Trust directly rather than waiting for advertised opportunities

🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.

Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.

✓

Data privacy and security by default

✓

Your organisation's past successful grants and experience

✓

AI analysis of what reviewers want to see

✓

A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours

Get Beta Access NowLearn More

References