Art Fund

Today, museums are under increasing financial pressure. Without support, we risk losing the diversity and innovation that keeps museums relevant to everyone. That's why we're committing to at least £700,000 to kickstart a bold new investment in projects and opportunities that support a diverse and skilled museum workforce, enabling them to tell even more compelling stories for everyone to enjoy.   By donating to this appeal, you’ll be helping to fund more opportunities for curators and museum professionals – so that they can keep telling the stories that inspire and connect us. Can you help us expand their horizons? Anything you can give, big or small, will make a difference. Donate now: https://bit.ly/4cNdJTi Thank you. ❤️

1 week to go! Applications for the latest round of the Weston Loan Programme close on 6 December: https://bit.ly/4gQDhBY The programme offers a unique opportunity for smaller museums across the UK to borrow works of outstanding quality from major national institutions, and is generously supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation. #WestonLoanProgramme

Applications are now open for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025! Are you engaging communities in impactful ways? Pushing boundaries to welcome and inspire visitors of all ages? Leading innovative programmes? We’d love to hear about how you’re making a difference. As the world’s biggest museum prize, Art Fund Museum of the Year champions what museums do, encourages more people to visit, and gets to the heart of what makes a great museum. Applications are open until 27 January 2025 and we’re here to help you on every step of the way. If you’d like to apply for your chance to win the £120,000 prize, get in touch: https://bit.ly/4g7y5sz #MuseumOfTheYear #MOTY #MOTY2025

You've got 1 week left to apply for our Technical Examination Network, which offers fully funded opportunities for 3-6 museums to analyse works in their collections. Apply by 2 December: https://bit.ly/40Bc3d0

Me and my massive cardigan really enjoyed presenting this session on how to do an AI policy with Arts Marketing Association. Ours doesn't have all the answers, but it works, giving people enough flexibility to use it to save time, while keeping Art Fund safe from data-related risks (and from potentially ending the world from our offices). I'm happy to share it, so drop me a line if you'd like a copy or want to hear more about it. Huge thanks to Katie Moffat for the kind and thoughtful intro and to Cath Hume for the opportunity and jacket inspo.

Yesterday, we went to the Arts Marketing Association's Digital Marketing Day at British Film Institute (BFI) to hear insights from the arts sector - and to meet some of our museum partners in person! A highlight of the day was hearing from our Associate Director Digital Experience, Mike Keating, who presented at a session on how organisations can make their own AI policy. He shared details about our AI policy at Art Fund, and provided guidance to industry leaders and trustees on why developing flexible and iterative internal AI policies is important for the future of the arts, culture and heritage sector. If you want to see a copy of our policy template, or have any questions about AI governance, you can contact Mike at mkeating@artfund.org or here on LinkedIn.

Nodyn cyfeillgar i'ch atgoffa bod Rhaglen Benthyca Weston gydag Art Fund ar agor nawr. Mae ein canllawiau a'n templedi ar gael yn Gymraeg ar ein gwefan: https://bit.ly/4gQDhBY The Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund is open for applications. Our guidelines and templates are now available in Cymraeg! The programme is generously supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation. Since its launch in 2017, we have delivered eight rounds of funding, awarding £1.6m to 94 museums and galleries. The scheme increases access to notable objects, shares resources across the UK, helps develop relationships, and brings lasting benefits to borrowers, lenders and audiences.

“The grant provided me with an opportunity to learn and reflect. The time and resources to do this type of research is often scarce, especially for archivists.” Since 2012, our Jonathan Ruffer curatorial grants have empowered over 600 applicants to delve deeper into their work through travel and research. Recently, Programme Coordinator Joe Jefford had the pleasure of speaking with a grant recipient, Kaitlene Koranteng, an archivist and engagement producer at Iniva (Institute of International Visual Arts). For anyone working with collections or contemplating applying for a Jonathan Ruffer curatorial grant, Kaitlene’s advice resonates: “At first, I was unsure whether I was eligible as I am not a curator, but I found the fund was open to individuals working with collections and had a broad interpretation of what it means to develop curatorial expertise. I would encourage anyone who might be hesitating because they are not a curator to apply regardless.” Learn more about her research trip on Arts Professional: https://bit.ly/3UUeST2 Image: Kaitlene Koranteng at Red Clay Studio in Tamale, Ghana. Artwork credit: from left to right Suley (2014); Ayishetu (2014); Maria (2014) by Ibrahim Mahama. Photo: © Kaitlene Koranteng

Unlock a year of creativity and inspiration from just £25 with a #TeacherArtPass. Enjoy 100s of UK-wide museums discounts and insider tips on what to see with Art Quarterly magazine, Art Map and fortnightly email updates. Plus, get yours before midnight tomorrow and you'll be entered to win £1,000 towards a museum trip for your school! Ts&Cs apply: https://lnkd.in/eFdkGFVX #teachers #educators

"Our regional and local cultural institutions, the bedrock of our nation's cultural democracy, cannot endure another year of chronic underfunding." - Lord Freyberg at today's House of Lords debate on the impact of the Budget on arts, heritage and cultural organisations. We were pleased to hear our research quoted multiple times during today's debate, which we hope has highlighted the difficulties facing the sector. We look forward to continuing to work with government to address the urgent crisis facing civic museums in the upcoming Spending Review. You can read our full response to the Autumn Budget here: https://bit.ly/3Z3OEzR