Funding for Artists and Makers: Part Two
Private Funds(incl. Charities).
This ArtMakers introduction to funding focuses on funds open to individual artists and makers in the UK. It does not include any prize based competitions (See ‘Artists and Makers Competitions or Artist and makers Funds which rely on nominations.(ADD Links)
Unlike art organisations support for individual artist and makers is rare within the private and charitable sector. The majority of private funding is focused on prizes and competitions – see ArtMakers information sheet Artist and Makers Competitions. ADD Link
SPECIAL MENTION
Artist Support Pledge
https://artistsupportpledge.com/how-to/
This initiative doesn’t really fit into the ‘grant giving’ category, but it deserves a mention as it offers a truly innovative way to think about and deliver art funding via peer-to-peer support: created by Matthew Burrows, the Artist Support Pledge completely reimagines the market for art and support for artists. Artists who wish to participate post their work on their Instagram account using the Artist Support Pledge hashtag. The price for the artwork should be no more than £200/$200/€200. When they have sold £1,000/$1,000/€1,000 worth of work, they fulfil the pledge by spending $200 (or equivalent) on another artist’s work.
Bideford Bridge Trust
Business Start-up grant.
http://www.bidefordbridgetrust.org.uk/grants/
“By virtue of its Scheme, as approved by the Charity Commissioners, the Trust is empowered to make grants to the inhabitants of Bideford and its neighbourhood, which the Trustees generally take to mean the Parish of Bideford and the area up to and including Hartland to the North, up to but excluding Torrington to the East and up to and including Instow to the South. No grant application can be considered unless the applicant being a person resides within this area, or if an organisation substantially benefits people within this area.
Grants are made of up to £3,000 in year one and sometimes for a further £2,000 in year two in respect of applicants who are currently unemployed or anticipating becoming unemployed who are seeking to become self-employed or start a new business. These are considered on a monthly basis.
Download application form from website and send to
The Steward
Bideford Bridge Trust
23a The Quay
Bideford
EX39 2PS
Black Artists Grant – Creative Debuts
£1,000 given out monthly to black artists in the UK, with each artist selected receiving £500 each.
“This grant has been set up because black artists are systematically under-supported by the art world; by institutions, curators, the artist-led scene, major and minor funding bodies, the market, art schools, and by audiences too. We recognise that a full institutional overhaul and dismantling of racist structures is required to transform the industry permanently, but we hope in a small way that this grant will help enable recipients to continue their artistic practice when the odds are so stacked against them.”
Apply on website: https://creativedebuts.co.uk/pages/footlocker
DBACE Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs
Supports visionary creative entrepreneurs between the ages of 18-30 who are driven by a mission to create and sustain social value through their enterprise.
DBACE aims to reach ambitious individuals from all backgrounds with ideas that will improve the lives of others and the communities we live in. Deutsche Bank is partnering with MeWe360 to deliver this unique programme.
The prize package is designed to give you everything you need to power up your idea or existing business so that you can take it to the next level.
To apply you need to:
— be 18-30 years old
— have a strong idea or an existing business in the creative industries
— want to create positive social impact through your enterprise
— be focussed and committed
Deadline for 2022 – tbc.
The Elephant Trust
The Elephant Trust was created in 1975 by Roland Penrose and Lee Miller with a view to develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the fine arts in the United Kingdom. The Elephant Trust also administers both the George Melhuish Bequest and the Shelagh Wakely Bequest.
Registered Charity No.269615
The Trustees’ main objective is to support new work. Given The Elephant Trust’s modest resources, grants have usually been limited to £2,000, but with the addition of the Shelagh Wakely Bequest some larger grants of up to £5,000 may be awarded. Priority is given to artists in the fine arts and small organisations and galleries who should submit well argued, imaginative proposals for making or producing new work or exhibitions.
Not supported:
Arts Festivals
Group Exhibitions
Charities organising community projects
Students
Educational or other studies
Residencies or research
Symposia or conferences
Theatres
Catalogues
Projects taking place outside the UK
https://www.elephanttrust.org.uk/
Next Deadline 10 October 2021
The Elmgrant Trust
The Elmgrant Trust is a charity which makes grants for charitable purposes to individuals living in the south west of England and to organisations and groups with projects in the south west. By so doing it aims to improve the quality of local life and welfare through education, the arts and social sciences.
The South West includes the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset.
While the Elmgrant Trust assesses each application on its individual merits, we receive many applications a year, so we choose to prioritise geographically and certain types of work. We will consider applications :
- from the South West area of England, especially Devon and Cornwall
- projects which help to improve the quality of local life and welfare
- art projects which help to improve the quality of local life
- from individuals who are further educating themselves to improve their job prospects with a clear compassionate need.
We are happy to receive applications for core running costs or project costs of small established organisations who have a proven record of making a significant difference.
We do not usually make grants to large UK wide charities but make rare exceptions when an individual project is in the geographical area.
Average grants are in the region of £450, or around £150 for individuals.
Deadline Jan 30; May 30; Sept 30 – every year.
Fullabrook CIC
“Fullabrook CIC can assist in the regeneration and sustainability of the local area by offering grants to voluntary and community groups, and other similar not for profit organisations that are based in, or benefit residents of our area of benefit. We can assist in the promotion and provision of energy efficiency, energy conservation and the development of renewable energy resources; sustainable transport schemes; community safety; affordable recreation and activities; and other facilities and amenities that will benefit the local area and Communities in Ashford, Berrynarbor, Bittadon, Braunton, East Down, Georgeham, Heanton Punchardon, Ilfracombe, Marwood, Mortehoe, Shirwell, West Down, and West Pilton.”
Four different grant types:
Main Grants – Where the request is in excess of £1,000 with the maximum grant is £50,000.
Small Grants – Where the request is less than £1,000
Very Small Grants – Where the request is £250 or less.
Enriched Learning Grants – Accessible to schools within our catchment area, to support and enrich the education of local children.
Rolling application with committee meetings held every six weeks. : https://www.fullabrook-cic.org/apply
Jerwood Arts
This established charity is currently reviewing its policy which has traditionally involved annual competitions and bursaries. To be kept up to date on developments please subscribe to their newsletter or visit their website.
Mark Tanner Sculpture Award
Standpoint Gallery and the Mark Tanner Charitable Trust. Annual.
MTSA intends to support the creative work of the recipient over one year. The financial award to assist in the production of a new body of work is £8,000, made in 3 payments over the course of the year, at the end of which there will be a solo exhibition at Standpoint Gallery. All reasonable costs incurred for this exhibition will be met by Standpoint, including publicity, transport and hospitality.
Candidates must live and work in the UK. There is no age limit – ‘…we seek to give the award to an artist who demonstrates the development of a mature practice, but to whom the prize would make a considerable difference’. Candidates must have graduated at least one year previously from formal art education.
MTSA is aimed at emerging/mid-career sculptors making outstanding work within contemporary fine art practice. The award is particularly interested in work that demonstrates a commitment to process and material.
Shortlisting by written application and digital submission of work via a panel including two guest selectors. Final selection through presentation and interview at Standpoint.
www.standpointlondon.co.uk/mtsa/
Deadline: tbc.
Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust
Awards are made in December each year. Applications may be submitted at any time but must be received by 7 October in order to be considered for an award within the same calendar year. Grants range from £250 – £1,000.
Small scale grants are available to British artists, designers, writers and performers over the age of 30 who are experiencing financial difficulties in the pursuit of their careers.
The Trust welcomes applications from professional or aspiring artists, designers, writers and performers working in any of the following disciplines:
Visual arts (including painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture and work in other media) Crafts (including ceramics, glass, metalwork, woodcarving, textiles and work in other media) Music (musicians, composers and conductors)
Design (including fashion, product design/innovation and work in digital media)
Performing arts (actors, dancers and individual performance artists of any other kind) Creative writing (poets, novelists, librettists and creative writers of any other kind) plus Film & digital media
http://www.oppenheimdownestrust.org/
Deadline 7 October 2021
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
“Paul Hamlyn Foundation was established by Paul Hamlyn in 1987. He died in 2001 and left most of his estate to the Foundation, creating one of the largest independent grant-making foundations in the UK.”
Paul Hamlyn Foundation rolling application
Ideas and Pioneers Grant up to £15000
Open to individuals, groups of up to three people and organisations with up to 5 employee. The grant favours first time applicants and 18-30 year olds.
Initial application by form on website. https://www.phf.org.uk/funds/ideaspioneers/#assessment-and-next-steps
First stage assessment – All applications are first reviewed by PHF staff members to check their eligibility and fit to the Fund.
Second stage assessments – Invitation to a second stage assessment process when you will need to provide additional information, including a detailed budget.
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grants
The Pollock-Krasner Foundation (USA).
No deadlines – rolling application programme.
Grants of varying amounts.
Eligibility limited to painters, sculptors and artists who work on paper.
The Pollock-Krasner Foundation’s dual criteria for grants are recognizable artistic merit and demonstrable financial need, whether professional, personal or both.
Mission of the grants is to aid those individuals who have been working as professionals for a significant period of time.
Artists are required to submit a cover letter, an application, and images of current work.
Home
Deadline: Rolling Programme – you may apply at any time.
St Hugh’s Arts Awards
The St Hugh’s Foundation. Annual.
Award between £1,000–£15,000 in our area of benefit (the City of Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire (including North and North East Lincolnshire)).
Applicants must be resident and regularly working in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire East Riding or the City of Hull. Projects considered in any art form.
‘The Foundation aims to help established arts practitioners and producers to develop their professional careers in the arts, and in doing so, to contribute their own knowledge and experience to the wider growth and dissemination of arts practice in the region.’
Initial application by form downloaded from website. Candidates are then shortlisted and interviewed by the trustees for the final decision.
http://www.sthughsfoundation.co.uk/awards
Deadline: tbc
The Baring Foundation
“2020 was our first year of funding arts and mental health. We opened our first funding round in July 2020 – see here for more information.
Over the long-term we know that:
- this programme will run for at least five years across the UK with up to £1 million available each year
- the opportunities available each year are likely to vary as we intend to collaborate with other funders to develop and extend the programme
- the major focus of the programme will be on participatory art, where trained artists work with people without their training to develop their creative skills.”
All funding rounds will be announced on this website and you can keep up-to-date by signing up for our Arts newsletter.
The Farringdon House School Charitable Trust
“To provide grants to help children or young people in their education and training.
To provide grants to children and young disabled people in need.
To provide grants to any charitable or voluntary organisation whose objects include the education and training of children and young people.”
The charity gives grants for further education and training to people who reside in Devon and are under the age of 21years.
Trust committee meets quarterly to decide grants. Initial application by form downloaded from website: https://farringdonhouse.org.uk/applications/
The Gane Trust
Grants up to £500
“The Gane Trust is committed to supporting people engaged in welfare and social care and those involved with all of the arts, craft and design . We do this by giving Gane Grants to individuals and through our Award Scheme for students in further and higher education. Our Gane Grants enable individual people to realise their aspirations and potential and make a real difference to their lives.”
The Gane Trust fund only individuals living in the UK, with priority given to the South West and South Wales. They fund art,craft and design activites as well as social welfare and care activities.
3 yearly deadlines and application form can be found on The Gane Trust website. http://www.ganetrust.org.uk
The Lady Neville Charity
The Lady Neville Charity. Grants up to £1000.
“The Lady Neville Charity provides capital grants for Arts and Heritage projects (UK wide), and any charitable activity in key areas of Company interest (specific London boroughs and West Kent). Grants of up to £1,000 are available for capital items.”
Downloadable application form from website: https://www.skinners.org.uk/neville/ and email it to: charitiesadmin@skinners.org.uk
Applications will be considered at Committee meetings in May and November each year.
The Vivian Moon Foundation
Grants up to £500
“We are a registered charity which offers grants to people who have links with North Devon, and who wish to achieve a better life through further education.
Preference is given to those who intend to return to North Devon to work. You must have an offer of a place on your chosen course. Your training should lead to employment or improvement in your skills, ultimately resulting in better career opportunities. Ideally you should have an offer of employment in North Devon at the end of your training. You should intend to pursue your chosen career in North Devon. Applicants should reside within the North Devon District Council and Torridge District Council areas.”
Grants decided in February, May and September.
Online application form found on Vivian Moon website: https://www.vivianmoonfoundation.co.uk/apply-to-vivian-moon-foundation.asp
Unlimited
Unlimited. Rolling application: https://weareunlimited.org.uk/about-unlimited/
“Unlimited works with disabled artists from all over the UK – England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – and offers funding for research and development, to make small and large-scale projects happen in the UK and around the world, and awards for emerging artistswho are new to art, early-career or haven’t had reached large audiences yet. We also fund full commissions (from an artist’s idea through to its realisation and touring) and commissions created through international collaborations.”
“The Unlimited process starts with a simple Expression of Interest application, and then only shortlisted applicants complete a full form, which they do with support from the Unlimited team.”
Successful applicants receive commissions and connection to a community of Unlimited Allies who help us to embed the work of disabled artists in the mainstream cultural sector and improve access for artists and audiences.
In addition to these funds there are many local funds administered through local councils – See ArtMakers Funding for Artis and Makers – Part One: Public Money. You can upgrade your access to ArtMakers Information and other support services by subscribing to our standard or premium services.
