Samuel Courtauld Trust

The Trust funds the advancement of arts, culture, and heritage through grants for artwork acquisitions, conservation, collection care, curatorial research, and public display initiatives. Support is directed to project-specific activities aligned with the Trust’s collection, particularly benefiting the general public via the Courtauld Gallery. The Trust also supports acquisitions of modern and contemporary works on paper through its Acquisitions Fund. Geographically, grants are focused on the City of Westminster area, with a strong emphasis on closely linked institutions such as the Courtauld Institute. The Trust’s collaborative projects and loans extend its reach nationally and internationally, always centred on its collection.

The Trust invites applications only from its established partners, which are typically UK-registered charities and academic institutions with a strong connection to the City of Westminster. The primary beneficiary is the general public, who experience the collection through the Courtauld Gallery. There are no income thresholds or faith restrictions. Organisations outside the Trust’s existing partnership network are not eligible, as the Trust does not accept unsolicited applications.

The Trust does not fund core costs, unrestricted support, or external grassroots efforts. It also does not support broad charitable causes outside its collection-focused mission. Grants are exclusively for project-specific activities that directly advance the stewardship and public enjoyment of the Trust’s art collection.

The Trust operates on an invitation-only basis, working exclusively with existing partners. It avoids competitive bidding and focuses on targeted, high-impact project grants for collection stewardship. Support is directed to specific activities such as acquisitions, conservation, and public display initiatives, rather than providing general operating or unrestricted funding.