Understanding the Henry Moore Grants and Fellowships Program
The Henry Moore Foundation offers significant funding opportunities for projects focused on sculpture. This program supports a wide range of activities, from research and exhibitions to conservation and publications. Understanding the different grant categories and eligibility requirements is key for organizations and individuals looking to advance the study and appreciation of sculpture worldwide.
What the Henry Moore Grants Program Supports
The Henry Moore Grants program aims to strengthen the growth, preservation, research, and public appreciation of sculpture. It provides financial backing for projects that expand discussions around sculpture and improve access to sculptural knowledge, collections, exhibitions, and conservation practices. This initiative supports both organizations and eligible individuals working in sculpture-related fields.
The program welcomes applications for various types of projects, including:
- Sculpture exhibitions
- Exhibition catalogues
- Sculpture commissions
- Conferences and lectures
- Research initiatives
- Non-commercial publications
- Collection acquisitions
- Sculpture conservation projects
- Cataloguing and display development
- Travel and archival research
The foundation specifically seeks projects that offer new perspectives on sculpture history or enhance public understanding and appreciation of sculpture as an art form.
Categories of Henry Moore Grants
The Henry Moore Foundation offers several distinct categories of grants, each tailored to specific project needs.
New Projects and Commissions
This category is designed to support exhibitions, exhibition catalogues, and sculpture commissions. The goal is to encourage new thinking about sculpture and increase public engagement with its history. Projects could include museum exhibitions, contemporary sculpture installations, public commissions, or scholarly exhibition catalogues. Organizations applying here should show how their projects contribute to sculpture discourse, public learning, or artistic innovation. The maximum funding available for this category is £20,000.
Acquisitions and Collections
Museums, galleries, and other collecting institutions can apply for funding to acquire sculptural works, conserve existing collections, or improve public access to collections through cataloguing and display initiatives. This funding can support sculpture acquisitions, conservation treatments, documentation, cataloguing, and improvements to collection displays. The aim is to help institutions preserve important sculptural heritage while making collections more accessible to the public. The maximum funding available is £20,000.
Conferences, Lectures, and Publications
Organizations planning academic or public events related to sculpture can apply under this category. Funding is also available for non-commercial books and journals that focus on sculpture studies. Eligible projects include academic conferences, public lecture series, research publications, and sculpture journals. It is important to note that exhibition catalogues should be submitted under the “New Projects and Commissions” category. The maximum funding available for this category is £5,000.
Long-Term Research Grants
The Henry Moore Foundation also supports extensive research projects that require funding over multiple years. This category is ideal for major scholarly initiatives, such as creating permanent collection catalogues or conducting long-term archival research. Applicants must provide detailed timelines, methodologies, and plans for the long-term impact of their research activities. The maximum funding available is £20,000.
Research and Travel Grants for Individuals
Unlike most other categories, the Research and Travel Grants are specifically for individual scholars and conservators. This funding supports sculpture historians, academics, and conservators with their research costs, travel expenses, photography needs, and archival access. It can also be used for sculpture conservation research and historical or interpretive studies. The foundation clearly states that it does not support projects intended to develop an artist’s own practice or creative work. The maximum funding available is £2,500.
Projects That Are Not Eligible for Funding
The Henry Moore Foundation has specific criteria for projects that do not qualify for funding. These exclusions help ensure that grants are directed towards projects that align with the foundation’s mission.
Projects that are not eligible include:
- Residency programmes
- Building or central operational costs
- Traditional memorials and figurative statues
- Commercial publishing projects
- Community gardens
- Wellbeing activities
- Play equipment
- Independent artistic practice development
Community project proposals are only considered if they are submitted by non-profit arts organizations.
Application Process
Applications for Henry Moore Grants are managed through the Flexi-Grant portal. Applicants must first register for an account on the portal before submitting their proposals. Organizations should complete their registration requests at least one week before the application deadlines to avoid delays. Late registration requests will automatically be moved to the next funding round. Applicants can submit, manage, and review their applications directly through the online grants portal. The deadline for applications is June 1st at 23:00 GMT.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of projects does the Henry Moore Foundation fund?
The foundation funds projects that support the growth, preservation, research, and public appreciation of sculpture, such as exhibitions, commissions, conservation, research, and publications.
What is the maximum funding available for most grant categories?
For most categories like New Projects and Commissions, Acquisitions and Collections, and Long-Term Research, the maximum funding available is £20,000.
Are individual artists eligible for these grants?
Individual artists are not eligible for most grants, but individual scholars and conservators can apply for Research and Travel Grants to support their research costs.
How do I apply for a Henry Moore Grant?
Applications are submitted through the Flexi-Grant portal. You need to register an account and submit your proposal by the deadline, which is June 1st at 23:00 GMT.
