We support emerging visual artists to reduce barriers and build sustainable, creative futures.
2025–26 Breakthrough Artist Fellow Anna-Marie Gallares
Our Mission
Artists Futures Fund supports talented emerging artists facing significant barriers to building sustainable careers in the arts.
We prioritise those experiencing economic hardship, disability and mental-health challenges, helping to ensure creative opportunities are accessible to those traditionally excluded from the sector.
Through fellowships, bursaries, mentoring, exhibitions and professional development, we help artists build confidence, connections and sustainable creative futures.
Our mission is simple: to open doors to diverse and exciting futures in the arts.
“The arts in this country have been under-resourced for years and we are seeing the fall out of that hollowing out now with closures, lack of paid opportunities and unaffordable studios. Universities are failing young people with expensive, under resourced art degrees.
AFF is critical in these times because it supports people with the basics — funds, space, time and mentoring — which every artist needs to have a practice.”Jasleen Kaur artist Turner Prize Winner
AFF Artists Fellows talk about their experience, creative practices and the impact AFF support has had on their pathways to professionalisation. Artists Films supported by Cass Art.
2024–25 annual REPORT
Read our Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2o25
Our Impact
Founded in 1810, our charity has supported artists and their families for over two centuries. Today, our commitment continues to make a significant impact on the contemporary visual artists who participate in our Fellowships.
200+
Years of serving artists in financial need.Our Fund was established in 1810 meaning we have a rich philanthropic history of supporting individual artists in need.
50+
Annual Artist Fellowships awarded since 2020.
We are proud to have awarded over 50 annual Fellowships for emerging artists.
500+
Thousand pounds provided to emerging artists.
Since 2020, we have awarded £500,000+ through our annual Artist Fellowship bursaries.
Joshua Donkor in his studio
Photo: Claire Foucher
“This last year has been so far beyond my wildest expectations.”Joshua Donkor painter Step Change Fellow, 2021–22