In 1990 this was formalised when an appeal was launched for a fund specifically to support expenses towards research into furniture. Such a fund was established and was named after the founder of the Society, Tom Ingram. The Grants Committee supports research by individual scholars of all ages and from all countries at any stage of their careers through travel grants and contributions to incidental expenses such as new photography.  It also provides grants to participate in FHS-organised study trips. This fund was subsequently augmented by donations from the Oliver Ford Trust, specifically to support applications from younger scholars and professionals.

As a result of the generous donation of an annual fund in 2012, the Grants Committee was able to establish a programme for professionals at an early stage of their career. To date this programme has encompassed a series of trips for young curators from British museums and institutions to attend the European Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht.  Our second main activity has been to develop highly successful research symposia for emerging scholars, which have been held at the Wallace Collection in London, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Frick Collection in New York.  These symposia have showcased recent research by PhD candidates and junior curators in Britain, Europe and the USA. 

A beneficent grants from the Worshipful Company of Playing Card Makers has made possible the awarding of 'under 25' memberships in the Furniture History Society to support education and develop interest in furniture studies among aspiring young professionals. 

Thanks to the generosity of members of the Society to our appeal for donations towards a 50th Anniversary Appeal fund, we are now in a position to develop our grant-giving activities further. We wish to sponsor more substantial, longer-term and institutionally-backed projects as well as continuing our commitment to individual research projects and study trips for professionals in the field from every background.

Application

For more information please contact our Grants Secretary. Jill Bace, at grants@furniturehistorysociety.org.  Alternatively, please download the relevant application form.

Please return completed application forms, with two supporting references and a current CV, to grants@furniturehistorysociety.org