Jonathan Ruffer curatorial grants
Funding range: Up to £2,000; and £2,000+
These grants provide funding for travel and other practical costs, to help curators undertake collections and exhibition research projects in the UK or internationally.
Our Jonathan Ruffer curatorial grants support UK curators, museum professionals and researchers to undertake travel and other activities that will extend and develop their curatorial expertise, collections-based knowledge and art historical interests.
The grants can support, for example:
UK and international travel and accommodation for research trips and conferences
Training courses and programmes of study (including online)
Subscriptions, for example archive subscriptions
Other kinds of activity where a strong case can be made for its contribution to the development of curatorial skills and collections-based research projects
Please note, the grants cannot be used to cover fees for the applicant or other participants involved in the research.
We encourage to undertake your journey in the most environmentally sustainable way possible. Please read our Green Travel Policy for applicants and awardees when planning your travel.
What we can fund
Who cannot apply
Key deadlines
Grants available
The following categories of grant are available through the Jonathan Ruffer curatorial grants programme.
Small grant
Grant requests of £2,000 or less
Next application deadline: There are no fixed deadlines for applications in this category.
Decision by: We aim to turn around applications within eight weeks of submission
Large grant
Grant requests of above £2,000
Next application deadline: There are two deadlines per year for applications over £2,000. The next deadline is 22 September 2025.
How to apply
Your application
Read the guidance
Download the Guidance for applicants which explains our criteria for funding, helps you apply for a grant and gives you guidance on filling out the application form.
Get in touch
If you haven’t found what you need in the Guidance for applicants, get in touch. You’ll also be invited to an online meeting.
Submit your application
For application forms and to apply, please log in to your My Art Fund account, or create an account. 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.
After you've applied
Acknowledgement of application
We’ll inform you as soon as our judging panel have made a decision. It usually takes seven weeks from submission of your application to a final decision.
Claim your grant
If your application is successful, we will send you our offer paperwork with more details on how to claim your grant.
Follow-on relationship
After you’ve claimed your grant, and once you are a member of the National Art Pass network, we’ll help you promote your venue and support you thanks to our expert teams.