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About the Charitable Trust

The Company of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust (Charity No. 1121954) supports education, training, and opportunity in the historic and decorative arts.


We provide grants and awards in the areas of the fine and decorative arts, antiques and antiquities and for arts education, restoration and conservation. In addition, we support the charitable initiatives of the Lord Mayor and the Corporation of the City of London.

What we support

The Charitable Trust and Charity Committee consider applications for:

 

  • Annual awards and bursaries for students and early-career professionals

  • Postgraduate scholarships in art history and conservation

  • Grants to organisations working in the historic and decorative arts and related fields

  • Grants to organisations providing arts education to school age children

  • Discretionary awards to charities associated with the City of London

“Without the Arts Scholars help, encouragement and mentoring, I would not have considered taking a master’s degree at the University of Sussex.”
Maddie Keats

Awards, Bursaries and Grants

Awards & Internships

  • Arts Scholars Research Awards: Awarded annually to two PhD History of Art students at each of the Universities of St Andrews, Exeter, and Warwick. Five funded or part funded MA students at Sussex and York Universities

  • Geoff Egan Award: Supports a Finds Liaison Officer with the Museum of London and the Portable Antiquities Scheme

  • Graham & Joanna Barker Bursary: Awarded annually to two PhD Archaeology students at the University of Reading

  • West Dean Conservation Awards: An accommodation bursary for a Foundation Degree student at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation, plus two individual conservation trainee bursaries

  • Cadet of the Year Award: Awarded to a member of the University of London Officers’ Training Corps

  • Royal Collection Trust Internship: A nine-month paid internship in a branch of Decorative Arts Conservation

​​​The Company of Arts Scholars Charitable Trust actively seek new beneficiaries.

If you would like to know more about eligibility and how to apply for an award, bursary or grant, please email the Clerk at Clerk@artsscholars.org

Major Grant Recipients

2024–25

  • College of Arms

  • Group for Education in Museums.

  • London Museum (Guildhall Art Gallery)

  • Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust

  • Royal Collection Trust

  • Society of Antiquaries

  • St Paul’s Cathedral

  • University of Exeter

  • University of St Andrews

  • University of Sussex

  • University of Warwick

  • University of York

  • V&A Wedgwood Collection

  • West Dean College

"I am lucky enough to be a beneficiary of the Arts Scholars, having been granted one of their Graduate Awards after gaining a place on the Art History and Museum Curating MA at the University of Sussex. Without the funding from this award, studying a full-time MA would not have been feasible for me"
Rebecca Leeland

How to support our work

The Arts Scholars Charitable Trust relies on the generosity of members and friends. A significant legacy from the late Eva Weininger in 2014 strengthened our work.


Together, we support the next generation of professionals in the historic and
decorative arts.


You can support the work of the Trust by:

  • Setting up a regular donation

  • Making a one-off gift

  • Leaving a gift in your will

​

For more information, contact the Clerk: clerk@artsscholars.org

Full list of recent awards

Major grants (£5000 and above) for 2024-25 were:

  • ​College of Arms

  • Group for Education in Museums.

  • London Museum (Guildhall Art Gallery)

  • Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust

  • Royal Collection Trust

  • Society of Antiquaries

  • St Paul’s Cathedral

  • University of Exeter

  • University of St Andrews

  • University of Sussex

  • University of Warwick

  • University of York

  • V&A Wedgwood Collection

  • West Dean College

Other grants have been made to:

  • All Saints Church, Kingston

  • Army Benevolent Fund

  • Assoc. for Art History

  • Association of Independent Museums

  • Association of Independent Museums

  • Barbican Centre

  • Bishopsland Educational Trust

  • British Museum (Conservation)

  • British Museum (Portable Antiquities Scheme)

  • Charleston Trust

  • City Harvest

  • Cockpit Arts

  • Curwen Print Centre

  • De Morgan Foundation

  • English Heritage Trust

  • Garden Museum

  • Garden of Remembrance

  • Heritage Crafts

  • ICAN Charity

  • Koestler Trust

  • London Air Ambulance

  • Magic Lantern

  • National Maritime Museum

  • North Devon Museum

  • Pollinating London Together

  • Royal British Legion

  • Royal National Theatre

  • Royal Pavilion, Brighton

  • Royal Society for Blind Children

  • St Bartholomew the Great Church, London

  • Thames Valley Wing Air Training Corps

  • The Contemporary Arts Society

  • The Lord Mayor’s Appeal

  • The Stained Glass Museum

  • The Wallace Collection

  • Treloar Trust

  • United Guilds Service

  • University of Exeter

  • University of London Officer Training Corps

  • University of Reading

  • University of St Andrew’s

  • University of Warwick

  • Veterans Outdoors

View the Charity Commission Website

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