The following are potential sources of funding for the Museums and Art Gallery sector for November-December 2011.
Funding for arts
The Art Fund has announced that it will be accepting applications through the Jonathan Ruffer Curatorial Grants Programme from the 3rd October 2011 onwards. The aim of the programme is to help curators working with fine and applied art collections maintain and develop their specialist knowledge and expertise. The programme is open to curators who work across the full range of fine and applied art collections in museums and galleries that hold at least provisional accreditation and are open to the public. Applications may include requests to support: travel and accommodation; training courses/programmes of study; books and subscriptions to add to a museum’s research resources or library translation, transcription and other similar services; etc.
The Art Fund will consider funding requests for a minimum of £200. There are two categories of grant: one up to £2000; the other above £2000.
For more information visit www.artfund.org/grants/the-jonathan-ruffer-curatorial-grants-programme.
Grant making trust supporting the arts
The Idlewild Trust is a grant making trust that supports registered charities concerned with the encouragement of excellence in the performing and fine arts and the preservation for the benefit of the public of buildings and items of historical interest or national importance. Occasionally it also supports projects that conserve the natural environment. The total funding available each year is approximately £120,000 and registered charities can apply for grants of up to £5,000. Applications are considered twice a year. The next deadline for applications is the 24th February 2012 Arts funding for colleges, arts festivals and other arts organisations.
For more information visit www.idlewildtrust.org.uk.
Grants to help new, innovative visual arts projects
The Elephant Trust offers grants to artists and institutions (priority is given to small organisations and galleries) for new, innovative visual arts projects based in the UK.
The Trust's aim is to make it possible for artists and those presenting their work to undertake and complete projects when confronted by lack of funds. The Trust supports projects that develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the fine arts. Priority is now being given to artists and small organisations and galleries who should submit well argued, imaginative proposals for making or producing new work or exhibitions. Arts Festivals are not supported. The Trust normally awards grants of up to £2,000, but larger grants may be considered.
For more information visit www.elephanttrust.org.uk/docs/intro.html
Funding to support museums and galleries
Museums, galleries and heritage organisations can apply for grants of between £20,000 and £100,000 through the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund.
The Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, run by the Museums Association, focuses on time-limited collections work outside the scope of an organisation’s core resources. The fund seeks to support projects at an early stage of development where it may be difficult to guarantee tangible outcomes.
Eligible projects include; research into collections, conservation, collections review and initiatives to develop the use of collections. A total of £800,000 a year will be awarded through this fund with two grant rounds per year.
For more information visit www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk/funding/collections-fund.html.
Funding from Andrew Lloyd Webber for charitable purposes
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation aims to promote the arts, culture and heritage for the public benefit.
As well as providing Musical Theatre scholarships and supporting projects through The Architectural Heritage Fund, the Trustees welcome applications to support projects in the areas of culture, heritage and the arts. Trustees seek to support projects that make a real and ongoing difference to people's lives. Priority is given to the area of performing arts (music, dance and drama) but other areas will be considered. Applications can be submitted at any time.
For more information visit www.andrewlloydwebberfoundation.com/what-we-do.html.
DIY store’s waste donation scheme
B&Qs waste donation scheme is co-ordinated in store either by the environmental champion, duty or Warehouse manager who will keep a Waste Donation Form on file for interested groups.
Before any materials are donated, the form must be signed by a representative of the group, and proof that you are a member of that group must be provided.
This means they can donate waste materials, for example slightly damaged tins of paint, off-cuts of timber, and end of range materials, to community groups, charities and schools.
Please note that it is company policy that health and safety is taken into consideration, therefore electrical, petrol and gas items are not available for donation. Any waste or surplus stock donated must not be re-sold.
For more information visit www.diy.com/diy/jsp/corporate/content/environment_ethics/ethics/community/waste_donation.jsp.
Funding for a wide range of projects in the community
The Marsh Christian trust supports a wide range of projects/general charitable purposes. Areas which have been funded include: social welfare; literature, arts and heritage; environmental causes; conservation and animal welfare; healthcare and medical research; education and training; and overseas appeals.
Grants are only made to registered charities that are experienced in their chosen field of work with particular consideration given towards charities displaying a Christian emphasis.
There is no deadline for receipt of applications. The Trustees meet monthly, but due to the volume of appeals received responses to new appeals may take up to three months to arrive. However, a response is made to every appeal. Grants are given towards core-funding and range between £250-£4,000 with new applications at the lower end of this scale.
For more information visit www.marshchristiantrust.org.
Applications sought for 2012 Clothworkers’ Conservation Fellowship
Applications are being sought for the 2012 Clothworkers’ Conservation Fellowship.
A grant of up to £80,000 over two years is available to a UK public institution to enable an experienced conservator (employed by that institution) to pursue a research project. During their sabbatical their post would be covered by an externally recruited junior conservator. The grant would meet the salary and on-costs of the junior conservator, and the project costs of the work undertaken by the senior fellow. The closing date is 2 March 2012.
To find out more and apply, visit www.clothworkers.co.uk or ring 020 7623 704.
Henry Moore Foundation
The Foundation supports a wide range of projects and activities involving visual arts in the United Kingdom. It concentrates its support on sculpture. Among areas covered are student bursaries, fellowships for artists and grants to art institutions, galleries and museums. Typical projects include exhibitions, publications, commissions, conferences, workshops and lecture series. The closing date is 16 November 2011.
For more information visit www.henry-moore.org.
The PRISM Fund 2011-2012
The Fund for the Preservation of Industrial and Scientific Material (PRISM Fund), administered by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), has reopened with a budget of £150,000 this year. The fund supports the acquisition and / or conservation of any object or group of objects illustrating the history of any branch of science, industry or technology with individual grants of up to £12,000.
Visit www.mla.gov.uk/what/support/grants/PRISM for more information.
Funding to promote the use of digital technologies to connect with wider audiences and explore new ways of working
Arts and cultural organisations are being given the opportunity to apply for a share of a half-a-million-pound fund to harness new technology.
The Digital R&D Fund for Arts and Culture was announced today by Arts Council England, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA).
It follows a speech by Culture Minister Ed Vaizey in January where he called on cultural organisations to embrace new technology and the opportunities it offers.
“Our lives are increasingly defined by how we engage and interact with the world digitally and cultural organisations can’t afford to be left behind,” Mr Vaizey said. “Too often finances, structures or traditions can constrain the arts from making best use of the technology which now sits at the heart of many people’s everyday lives.
“This programme seeks to show how digital technology can revolutionise our cultural engagement, helping people to derive greater value from cultural activities and to find new ways to generate income.”
Organisations that are eligible to apply to the programme include visual and performing arts organisations, cultural organisations in England including arts and cultural archives, literary organisations, museums and galleries, libraries, commercial arts and cultural organisations and creative industry businesses. Applications will be open until 2 September 2011.
Visit http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/8202.aspx for more information.
Conservation and regeneration of historic buildings
The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), which is a registered charity that promotes the conservation and regeneration of historic buildings in the UK. Funding is available to voluntary organisations building preservation trusts to regenerate historic buildings to create community and education facilities, workspace and homes. To be eligible to apply for funding through the AHF, organisations need to be a registered charity and the building(s) must be listed, scheduled as an ancient monument or in a Conservation Area (if in a Conservation Area, it must be of acknowledged historic or architectural importance). The project must also involve a change of ownership and/or a change of use.
Visit www.ahfund.org.uk/index.html for more information.
Large British company announces community awards
The Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards Scheme provides one-off donations of between £500 and £4,000 to local projects that support children and their education and welfare, elderly people and adults and children with disabilities.
Previous projects supported have included part funding to purchase minibuses; befriending schemes; luncheon clubs; and day trips / social trips for elderly / disabled people; sensory garden or room projects; and outdoor classrooms.
Applications for grants for elderly people and adults and children with disabilities should be made between the 1st February and the 31st March or the 1st August and the 30th September.
Visit http://cr2010.tescoplc.com/communities/tesco-charity-trust.aspx for more information.
Funding to support poetry and literature initiatives
The Clore Duffield Foundation has launched a new £1 million programme to fund poetry and literature initiatives for children and young people across the UK. The programme is due to run from 2011 to 2015 with two funding rounds a year. The programme is open to schools, FE colleges, community groups, libraries and other arts/cultural organisations. Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available to support participatory learning projects and programmes focused on literature, poetry and creative writing for under 19s.
Visit www.cloreduffield.org.uk/page_sub.php?id=331&parent=35 for more information.
Funding projects that protect rural communities and encourage participation in the arts, particularly that of textiles
The Laura Ashley Foundation aims to fund projects that protect rural communities and encourage participation in the arts, particularly that of textiles.
Charities, unincorporated organisations and community groups are eligible to apply. They favour revenue and will consider core funding, including salaries and overheads. They also favour requests below £10,000.
Visit www.lauraashleyfoundation.org.uk/funding/how-to-apply.html for more information.
Funding to support museums and galleries
Museums, galleries and heritage organisations can apply for grants of between £20,000 and £100,000 through the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund. The Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, run by the Museums Association, focuses on time-limited collections work outside the scope of an organisation’s core resources. The fund seeks to support projects at an early stage of development where it may be difficult to guarantee tangile outcomes. Eligible projects include; research into collections, conservation, collections review and initiatives to develop the use of collections. A total of £800,000 a year will be awarded through this fund with two grant rounds per year.
Visit www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk/funding/collections-fund.html for more information.
Supermarket funding community projects
Charities, schools and community groups have the opportunity to apply for funding for local projects that require financial assistance to the ASDA Foundation. The ASDA Foundation trust was set up in 1988 to support local good causes chosen by employees and is funded by profits from the mid-week national lottery. Organisations can apply for funding for a wide range of projects as long as they have the support of local ASDA colleagues.
Potential applicants should contact their local Store or Depot in the first instance.
Visit http://your.asda.com/asda-foundation for more information.
Support for community projects
The Garfield Weston Foundation offers support to organisations that are registered charities and excepted or exempt charities such as churches, hospitals, educational establishments, museums and housing corporations. Founded in 1958 the Garfield Weston Foundation is a UK based, general grant- giving charity that makes grants in the areas of the Arts, Community Education, Medical, Environment, Health, Religion, Welfare and Youth.
Applications are considered individually by the Foundation and the following issues are taken into consideration: the financial viability of the organisation; the degree of need for the project requiring funding; the amount spent on administration and fundraising as compared to the charitable activities; the ability to raise sufficient funding to meet the appeal target and whether the organisation has appropriate priorities and plans in place to manage its activities.
There is no limit on the size of grant. There are no application deadlines.
Visit www.garfieldweston.org for more information.
Supporting general charitable purposes
The Steel Charitable Trust is a grant-making trust supporting general charitable purposes.
Grants of between £1,000 and £25,000 are made to registered charities in the UK within the areas of: arts and culture; environment; health; education and the disadvantaged.
Grants are made at regular intervals during the year and the total level of grants is approximately £1,000,000. Applications can be made at any time as there are no application deadlines.
Visit www.steelcharitabletrust.org.uk/grant_policy.htm for more information.
Funding for a wide range of projects in the community
The Marsh Christian trust supports a wide range of projects/general charitable purposes. Areas which have been funded include: social welfare; literature, arts and heritage; environmental causes; conservation and animal welfare; healthcare and medical research; education and training; and overseas appeals.
Grants are only made to registered charities that are experienced in their chosen field of work with particular consideration given towards charities displaying a Christian emphasis.
There is no deadline for receipt of applications. The Trustees meet monthly, but due to the volume of appeals received responses to new appeals may take up to three months to arrive. However, a response is made to every appeal. Grants are given towards core-funding and range between £250-£4,000 with new applications at the lower end of this scale.
Visit www.marshchristiantrust.org for more information.
Funding for a wide range of projects to benefit community life
Clore Duffield Foundation’s Main Grants Programme does not fund individuals, but it can match lottery funding, support capital redevelopments and learning space initiatives, and provide project, programme and revenue funding.
Application procedures are straightforward, and the Foundation continues to maintain a balance between supporting large-scale projects, with far-reaching effects, and small-scale community endeavours. Grants range from below £5,000 to in excess of £1m.
All grants are awarded at the Trustees meeting, held twice a year. As there is no fixed schedule for these meetings, applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
The Foundation welcomes submissions to the Main Grants Programme for projects involved in Museums, galleries and heritage sites (particularly for learning spaces).
In light of this experience, the Foundation provides learning space applicants with basic guidance on cost; lighting levels; location, use and nature of space; dimensions; programming; display; architect's plans; and best practice examples (small- and large-scale).
Applicants should also read Space for Learning: A Handbook for Education Spaces in Museums, Heritage Sites and Discovery Centres (2004), which can be downloaded on the website before applying for funding.
Visit www.cloreduffield.org.uk/page.php?id=35 for more information.
Supporting a broad range of the arts
Old Possum’s Practical Trust supports charitable organisations that work to increase the knowledge and appreciation of aesthetic interests. Its main areas of interest are: history; arts; architecture; literature; music and theatre.
Further information can be sought through e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Visit www.old-possums-practical-trust.org.uk for more information.
WWII veterans funding
The Big Lottery Fund is committing over £1 million in extra good cause funding in the year ahead for the country’s WWII veterans, to make sure they can make their personal battlefront commemorative journeys to the places they saw action.
The extra funding for the scheme will help ensure veterans still to apply are able to journey in the year ahead to revisit the scenes of WWII events, such as the forthcoming 70th anniversary of the Battle of Crete.
The current Heroes Return2 programme was scheduled to close in January but now remains open until 31st January 2012.
Visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/heroesreturn for more information.
Small grants for communities
The Somerset Community Foundation is a local independent charity that raises funds and distributes grants to a wide range of community projects and voluntary groups that benefit local people. We support children, youth groups and older people, those with special needs or disabilities, sports groups, and art and drama projects; aiming to build stronger communities for the benefit of everyone in Somerset.
The Foundation administers a variety of funds for grant making and will be able to advise on which grants programme fits your needs or recommend an alternative funder if the project falls outside the Community Foundation's criteria.
Please call 01458 833133 to talk to a member of the grants team or email Jocelyn Blacker at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .