Freelands Foundation - Freelands Awards 2026
Details
The Freelands Awards champion and celebrate UK visual art organisations’ commitment to art education.
Every year, three winning organisations will each receive a grant for a recent or ongoing project demonstrating commitment to progressive art education approaches with a demonstrable impact.
The winners will also collaborate with Freelands Foundation on the production of a short film that shares their art education offering, and join a celebration event in London announcing the winners later in the year.
Across the last decade of working in art education, Freelands Foundation has seen visual art organisations, such as galleries and museums, as spaces for inspiring progressive art education offerings for all. Despite the increasing pressures they face, these organisations continue as sites for teaching and learning. Many embrace art education practices that are as diverse as the communities they work with.
The Freelands Awards are an opportunity to widely recognise, support and share inspiring art education work that may not always find the spotlight. Over the next five years, Freelands Foundation will commit £1.5 million for the Awards as a central part of its mission to champion art education.
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Geographical areas funded: UK
Fund type
- Type of funding:
- Grant, Prize/award
- Type of cost:
- Capital, Revenue, Core costs
Fund award sizes
- Maximum:
- Premium information
- Notes on award amounts:
- Premium information
Who can apply
The Freelands Awards are open to organisations that meet the below eligibility criteria and do not fall within any of the exclusions.
- UK Based - Freelands Foundation can only fund organisations in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales, with activity occurring within the United Kingdom.
- Charitable Purpose - This includes, but is not limited to: Organisations registered with The Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Scottish Charity Regulator, or The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland / Exempt charities / Galleries, museums, or organisations which are part of a Local Authority / Galleries, museums, or organisations part of a larger charitable organisation, such as a university / Community Interest Companies, Community Benefit Societies, and other organisations with charitable purposes run for public benefit.
See website for further eligibility criteria and exclusions
When to apply
Closed for expressions of interest.
How to apply
The Freelands Awards involve a two-stage application process:
- A written Expression of Interest
- A visit from the Freelands Awards judging panel
To submit your Expression of Interest (EOI), download the form from their website.
Freelands Foundation is committed to making the application process for the Freelands Awards accessible to all members of your team. If anyone in your organisation requires additional assistance or information in accessible formats, please email [email protected] with the subject line ‘Access’.
Exclusions
Activites funded: Arts and culture Education and training
Beneficiaries funded: People affected by drugs and alcohol Black and Ethnic Minorities Carers Children Economically/socially disadvantaged Families General public Homeless or badly housed Care experienced people Socially isolated people LGBTQI people People in poverty Rural communities Men Mental health conditions Offenders and ex-offenders Older people Ill-health Disabilities Learning disabilities Physical disabilities Sensory impairments Refugees and asylum seekers Religious and Belief Groups Local communities Voluntary sector organisations Unemployed Victims of crime and abuse Volunteers Women and girls Young people Veterans and armed forces personnel Urban communities
Last reviewed 3 days ago
Freelands Foundation
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Freelands Foundation 113 Regent's Park Road, London, NW1 8UR
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