Art Fund

Could Art Fund fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £2,000 – £100,000
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Email application
Decisions: Rolling (no fixed deadline)

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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About Art Fund

Art Fund is the UK's national charity for art, established in 1903 by Christiana Herringham and a group of visionary artists and patrons. The charity champions the acquisition and preservation of outstanding works of art for public benefit, working to connect museums, galleries, and people through generous funding and advocacy. It is wholly independent, supported by members and donors, and values universal access, equality, diversity, and environmental sustainability. Art Fund's funding character is defined by its sole focus on public collections, supporting acquisitions, curatorial research, and commissions that enrich the nation's cultural heritage.

What Art Fund funds

Art Fund supports public museums, galleries, historic houses, libraries, and archives across the UK and Channel Islands. Its grants fund the acquisition of objects of national and international importance, significant regional interest, or those that artistically enrich collections. The charity also funds curatorial research, training, and travel through dedicated grants such as the Jonathan Ruffer curatorial grant. Commissions that enter permanent public collections are supported, with a focus on early to mid-career UK-based artists. The funder's priorities include strengthening equity, diversity, and inclusion within the sector, and creating opportunities for people to work in the arts.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants are public museums, galleries, historic houses, libraries, and archives based in the UK or Channel Islands. These must be registered charities or equivalent public bodies. Art Fund does not accept applications from individuals, artists’ groups, commercial organisations, hospitals, places of worship, schools, or higher educational institutions. The funder prioritises organisations that provide public benefit through their collections and welcomes applications from a wide range of institutions, from national to regional and local collections.

What Art Fund doesn't fund

Art Fund does not fund individuals, schools, faith groups, commercial organisations, hospitals, or higher education institutions. It excludes objects primarily of social-historical interest, scientific or technological material, and letters, manuscripts, or archival material with limited aesthetic value. Capital works, equipment, training, salaries, and general project delivery are not supported under current open programmes. The funder also cannot fund retrospective activity or objects that have already been purchased or committed to.

How they like to fund

Art Fund typically provides part-funding for acquisitions, with match funding required in most cases. In exceptional circumstances, 100% funding may be considered. Grants are generally one-off and project-specific, supporting the purchase of objects, curatorial research, or commissions. The funder welcomes unsolicited applications and works closely with museums and galleries to ensure public benefit. Multi-year support has been offered through specific programmes, though current open grants are single-project based.

How much does Art Fund give?

Art Fund runs 7 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 101 sourced facts

Acquisitions Programme – Main grantsOpen to applications

Online application form
5 rounds a year
Decisions in ~8 weeks
Match funding required

Acquisitions Programme – Small grantsRolling applications

Up to £7,500

Online application form
Decisions in ~8 weeks
Match funding required

Commission grants (part of Acquisitions Programme)Open to applications

Online application form
5 rounds a year
Decisions in ~8 weeks

Jerwood Art Fund CommissionsOpen to applications

£70,000 – £100,000

Online application form
1 rounds a year

Jonathan Ruffer curatorial grantOpen to applications

£200 – £2,000

Online application form
2 rounds a year
Decisions in ~8 weeks

Museum of the YearCurrently closed

£15,000+

1 rounds a year

Reimagine grantsCurrently closed

£10,000 – £50,000

Online application form
1 rounds a year
Decisions in ~16 weeks
Multi-year funding
Match funding required

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What Art Fund funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

["Objects of national and international importance","Objects of significant regional interest","Objects which will artistically enrich collections"]

Costs they'll cover

ResearchTrainingTravelSalariesProject delivery

They don't fund

Capital works & buildingsEquipmentTrainingSalariesProject deliveryIndividualsSchoolFaith groups

The full exclusions list (13)

Where objects are primarily of social-historical interest; scientific or technological material; or letters, manuscripts or archival material with limited aesthetic inscription
Where objects are unavailable for viewing by an Art Fund Trustee or appointed representative
Applications if the applicant has already purchased or made a commitment to purchase the object, or made a financial commitment to the project
Where objects are unavailable for viewing by an Art Fund Trustee
Applications if the applicant has already purchased or made a commitment to purchase the object
Organisations that exist to make profit
Individuals or unincorporated bodies directly
Hospitals and places of worship
Organisations with a focus on music, drama, dance and art forms outside the visual arts
Not for established/late-career artists
Not for artists outside the UK or without significant connection to the UK
Cannot fund retrospective activity
Cannot fund projects whose principal aims fall outside the scheme's priorities

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Arts & culture

How to apply to Art Fund

Art Fund takes applications via email application.

Published programme route: online application form.
Decisions are typically rolling (no fixed deadline).
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

What Art Fund's application asks

We hold the 17 questions from Art Fund's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

“Why do you think you are Art Fund Museum of the Year 2024? This is your opportunity to tell us about your project/s, how you have worked with audiences and communities, and demonstrate your ambition to be the best at what you do.”

Question 2

“How has your activity, across the period autumn 2022 – winter 2023, made a positive impact and how will this shape your legacy?”

15 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Art Fund could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Art Fund provide?

Art Fund runs 7 grant programmes — Acquisitions Programme – Small grants: Up to £7,500 · Jerwood Art Fund Commissions: £70,000 – £100,000 · Jonathan Ruffer curatorial grant: £200 – £2,000 · Museum of the Year: £15,000+ · Reimagine grants: £10,000 – £50,000.

Where does Art Fund fund charities?

Art Fund funds charities operating in the UK.

Does Art Fund accept unsolicited applications?

Art Fund accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does Art Fund not fund?

Their published exclusions include: Where objects are primarily of social-historical interest; scientific or technological material; or letters, manuscripts or archival material with limited aesthetic inscription; Where objects are unavailable for viewing by an Art Fund Trustee or appointed representative; Applications if the applicant has already purchased or made a commitment to purchase the object, or made a financial commitment to the project; Where objects are unavailable for viewing by an Art Fund Trustee; Applications if the applicant has already purchased or made a commitment to purchase the object. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Art Fund?

Art Fund takes applications via email application. Published programme route: online application form.