The Art Fund is an independent charity committed to saving art for everyone to enjoy.
Since we began in 1903, we have helped to save over 860,000 works of art. Today, some 80,000 members fund our work. In return, they receive free or reduced-price admission to many museums and galleries in the UK. This is not the only reason they join: they support us because they love art.
Why are we needed?
The ability of UK museums to collect is now under serious threat.
Public money spent by our five major museums on acquiring new works has fallen by 90% in the last 10 years - but art market prices have soared.
We offer around £4 million in grants annually to museums and galleries around the UK.
With the help of our 80,000 members we have offered more than 600 museums and galleries around the UK, over 850,000 works of art, from priceless masterpieces which were under threat of being sold abroad, to fascinating works costing a few hundred pounds.
We save art for everyone to enjoy
Without The Art Fund, famous works such as The Rokeby Venus by Velázquez, Canova's Three Graces and Raphael's Madonna of the Pinks would have gone abroad, never to return.
In the last 10 years we've helped to save more export-stopped art from leaving the UK than the National Lottery and the National Heritage Memorial Fund put together.
How do we help?
We use our independence to campaign for the proper funding of museums and the continued enrichment of public collections throughout the UK.
As an independent, membership-based charity which receives no funding from the government or the Lottery, The Art Fund is uniquely placed to speak out on behalf of museums and their visitors.
We do this by
- Campaigning for adequate and sustained funding for museums across the UK
- Lobbying for improved tax incentives to encourage individuals to sell or donate objects to museums
- Conducting research, stimulating debate and influencing policy
We promote wide access to art
The Art Fund led the campaign to extend free admission to all national museums and galleries, which achieved success in 2001.
At a time when public funding for museum collecting is in steep decline, The Art Fund has an increasingly vital role to play. We depend on our members for the funds we so urgently need.
Contact us
*Registered charity 209174
