The Ampersand Foundation is a UK grant-awarding trust dedicated to supporting the visual arts. It was founded in 2011 by businessman, collector and philanthropist Jack Kirkland, and is run by CEO Flor Souto. Since that time, it has awarded millions of pounds in grants to art institutions and visual art projects. The Foundation is focused mainly on supporting institutions and projects within the United Kingdom.
It has three major programmes:
Our biennial Ampersand Foundation Award offers an institution the funds to produce their director or curator's dream project. The Award is currently open to institutions that are members of Plus Tate, a network of 47 UK visual arts organisations facilitated by Tate.
Our annual grant-giving activity supports projects such as high-quality exhibitions, public collection expansion and artists’ residencies. We also aim to provide major grants for projects that might require multiyear support. All exhibitions and projects supported by The Ampersand Foundation must be free to the public for at least one whole day per week. You can find out how to apply here.
Our Wigwell Lodge Residencies programme. Wigwell Lodge is a property in Derbyshire, owned by The Ampersand Foundation since 2018. Residencies at the Lodge are for artists, academics and writers, and provide accommodation and living expenses whilst providing space for reflection and production.