We believe that new acquisitions allow museums and galleries to interpret the world, spark debate and provide fresh entry points for audiences.
We can assist with the purchase of works of art and other objects of artistic interest dating from antiquity to the present day. Within this broad category our criteria include:
Grants can range from a few hundred pounds, to hundreds of thousands.
We do not usually support commissions but can sometimes consider exceptional projects, and would encourage any applicant with a project in mind to contact us to discuss the proposal.
We will consider applications from UK public museums, galleries, historic houses, libraries and archives that are:
All grant recipients will be asked to sign our full Grant conditions.
To say thank you to Art Fund members and enable them to see the works of art they have helped acquire, we ask grant recipients to:
For full details of how museums are asked to acknowledge our support please see Acknowledging Art Fund's support.
Our acquisitions programme operates three distinct grant schemes:
There is no minimum amount that can be applied for, and there is no fixed percentage for which you can apply to Art Fund, but we expect you to explore the possibility of applying to all appropriate sources of public funding for which you may be eligible.
Please review the Guidance for applicants and contact us to discuss potential acquisitions before submitting an application, so we can ensure the object you wish to purchase is eligible and that we have enough time to process your application.
Please email Ying Tan, Senior Programmes Manager, Collections: ytan@artfund.org
For application forms and to submit your application, log in to My Art Fund.
You must be registered as a professional user.
If you already have a My Art Fund account but are not registered as a professional user, you can add your professional details when logged in.
If you require application forms in an alternative format, please contact the Programmes team.