GRANTS

We support a wide variety of visual arts projects, including but not limited to exhibitions, artist commissions, public collection enhancement, collection care, artists’ residencies and educational projects. If you have a particular project in mind or are unsure whether we can fund a specific area of your project, we encourage you to reach out to us. We are always happy to explore new ideas and answer any questions you may have.

We allocate funding once a year through our Annual Grants programme, and we are unable to approve grant applications at any other time of year. It is a requirement that all exhibitions and projects supported by The Ampersand Foundation should be free to the public at least one whole day per week. Our expression of interest phase for the Annual Grants 2025 is now closed. The next round will be in 2026.

In addition to our Annual Grants programme, we actively foster relationships and develop projects to provide unsolicited Multi-Year Grants to institutions for initiatives that create a transformative impact on the organisations themselves, their public, and the towns they serve. We strive to be closely involved in the development of these projects, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to discuss ideas with us.

Annual Grants: 2025 timeline

9 June: Phase 1 expression of interest form opens for submission via our website NOW CLOSED. 
4 July: Phase 1 expression of interest deadline (6pm BST) NOW CLOSED.
15 August: Outcome of phase 1 will be communicated to applicants.
18 August: Phase 2 full applications will be invited for submission.
26 September: Phase 2 full applications deadline (6pm BST).
Final decisions will be communicated mid November 2025.

Please note: 

  • Our 2025 Annual Grants are to support projects that are happening between 1 January 2026 and 30 June 2027

  • Annual Grants are distributed exclusively once per year during the trustees' meeting. Unfortunately, we are unable to allocate funds outside of this scheduled process

  • We can only accept applications from UK registered charities, exempt charities, charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) or community interest companies (CICs), and cannot accept applications from individuals

  • The project you are applying for must be realised and delivered in the UK

  • All exhibitions and projects supported by The Ampersand Foundation should be free to the public at least one whole day per week

  • We do not support capital projects or core costs

  • Organisations should have a safeguarding policy in place