Some non-profit organizations, cultural institutions, nationally significant historic properties, historical societies, and private collectors can qualify for preservation assistance grants. There are several grants and funding opportunities available to museums, collectors, and institutions to support the conservation of art and cultural heritage. These grants can help cover the costs of preserving and maintaining artwork, artifacts, and collections. Grants range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands. Let's take a look at a few of these programs and the institutions that grant them.

Institutions that Fund Preservation and Conservation Grants

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)

The NEA provides grants for art conservation projects through its Art Works program. Museums and nonprofit organizations can apply for funding to support the preservation and conservation of artworks.

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

NEH offers grants for preserving and conserving humanities collections, including artworks, manuscripts, and historical objects. Their Division of Preservation and Access provides funding opportunities for institutions and individuals.

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

IMLS offers grants through its Museums for America program, which includes funding for collections care and conservation efforts in museums and cultural institutions.

Getty Foundation

The Getty Foundation provides various grants to support art conservation, including grants for research, education, and conservation projects. They often focus on international collaborations and specialized areas of conservation.

Samuel H. Kress Foundation

The Kress Foundation offers grants to support the conservation of European art in American collections. They provide funding for conservation fellowships, research, and projects related to European art.

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

The Mellon Foundation supports art conservation initiatives and research through its Conservation and Science program. They provide funding for projects that advance conservation practices and scholarship.

The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC)

FAIC offers grants and fellowships to individuals and organizations engaged in conservation projects. They have various funding opportunities, including emergency grants for disaster response

American Institute for Conservation (AIC)

AIC provides various grants and scholarships to support professional development and conservation projects. They offer funding for research, education, and outreach efforts in the field of conservation.

State Arts Councils and Cultural Agencies

Many state-level arts councils and cultural agencies offer grants and funding opportunities for art conservation projects within their respective regions.

Private Foundations and Charitable Organizations

Some private foundations and philanthropic organizations, such as the Mellon Foundation and the Guggenheim Foundation, offer grants for art conservation and preservation efforts.

Specific Conservation Grants

Bank of America Art Conservation Project Grant

*Abstract Composition I (1917-18), Viking Eggeling*

The Bank of America Art Conservation Project is a philanthropic initiative by Bank of America that provides grants to support the conservation of artworks and cultural heritage objects. The program is aimed at helping museums and nonprofit cultural institutions preserve their collections and ensure their long-term accessibility to the public.

The Bank of America Art Conservation Project focuses on funding the conservation of artworks and cultural objects of historical, artistic, or cultural significance. This includes paintings, sculptures, works on paper, textiles, ceramics, archaeological artifacts, and more. The grant amounts awarded through the Bank of America Art Conservation Project can vary from year to year. The specific funding levels are determined by the program and may depend on the conservation needs and goals of the selected projects.

Eligible applicants for the Bank of America Art Conservation Project grants are nonprofit cultural institutions and museums located in the United States. These institutions must have artworks in their collections that are in need of conservation. The selection of grant recipients is typically conducted through a competitive application process. Applications are reviewed by a panel of experts in the field of conservation and art history.

Grant funding provided through this program support conservation projects that involve the examination, repair, cleaning, and restoration of artworks and cultural objects. Projects may also include research related to conservation practices and the development of conservation plans to preserve cultural resources.

This conservation grants program supports collaborative projects that involve partnerships between museums and conservation professionals. Collaboration can enhance the impact of the grant and promote knowledge sharing within the field of conservation.

Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections (SCHC) Grant

Abstract Composition I (1917-18), Viking Eggeling

The "Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections" (SCHC) grant program is a funding opportunity provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in the United States. The SCHC program is designed to support the preservation and sustainability of cultural heritage collections, including artworks, artifacts, manuscripts, historical documents, and other materials held by libraries, museums, archives, and other cultural institutions. It is dedicated to supporting sustainable conservation measures in addition to actual treatments.

The primary goal of the SCHC grant program is to help cultural institutions improve the long-term preservation and care of their collections. Grants are awarded to projects that address significant preservation challenges and promote the responsible stewardship of cultural heritage materials. Eligible applicants for SCHC grants include libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, academic institutions, tribal organizations, and other nonprofit cultural institutions located in the United States. Private individuals, for-profit organizations, and federal agencies are not eligible.

The grant award amounts vary and depend on the specific project, but they can range from a few thousand dollars to larger grants in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

SCHC grants support a wide range of preservation activities, including...

Assessments of collections to identify preservation needs.
Development and implementation of preservation plans.
Conservation and restoration of collections.
Enhancing environmental conditions to protect collections.
Training and professional development for staff.
Public outreach and education on preservation topics.

Collaborative projects that involve partnerships between multiple cultural institutions or organizations are encouraged and may receive priority consideration. The SCHC program places an emphasis on sustainable preservation practices, including efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts in cultural institutions.

National Trust Preservation Funds

These funds offer grants generally between $2,500 and $5,000. They are intended to encourage preservation at the local level and provide seed money for preservation projects. There are multiple specialized funds under this program, including the Battlefield Preservation Fund, the Linda and Jerry Bruckheimer Preservation Fund for Kentucky, the Louis J. Appell, Jr., Preservation Fund for Central Pennsylvania, the Peter Grant Fund for Colorado, and the Sam and Mary Cooke Preservation Fund for Hawai'i, among others.

Save America’s Treasures Grants

*Mexican Coast (1908), Joseph Kleitsch (American, 1885-1931)*

Established in 1998, this program has awarded more than $300 million to over 1,300 grants. These grants are for preservation projects for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places or designated as National Historic Landmarks. The program is divided into two parts: one for preservation projects and one for collections, including artifacts, museum collections, documents, and art.

Conservation Innovation Grants

These grants, provided by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, support the development of new tools, approaches, practices, and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands. They cover a range of conservation needs, including wetland protection, forest restoration, agricultural land easements, emergency watershed protection, and more.

Historic Preservation Fund Programs

Administered by the National Park Service, these programs support a variety of preservation efforts, including State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs) and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs) programs, the Save America’s Treasures grant program, the African American Civil Rights Grant Program, the Semiquincentennial Preservation Grants, and others.

Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions

The Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions program is administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). This program is specifically designed to help small and mid-sized institutions improve their ability to preserve and care for their significant humanities collections. These collections may include special collections of books and journals, archives and manuscripts, prints and photographs, moving images, sound recordings, architectural and cartographic records, decorative and fine art objects, textiles, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts, furniture, historical objects, and digital materials.

Conservation Grant Program Specifics

The grants are aimed at smaller institutions, such as libraries, museums, historical societies, archival repositories, cultural organizations, town and county records offices, colleges, and universities. The funding can be used for a range of preservation-related activities. These may include needs assessment surveys, preservation plans, emergency preparedness, small environmental improvements, and collection-level surveys.

Institutions can apply for grants up to $6,000 under this program. Importantly, there is no requirement for matching funds.The application process usually involves providing a detailed description of the project, its significance, and how the grant will be used to improve the institution's preservation efforts. The deadline for applying typically falls in early May, but it's important to check the NEH website or current grant announcements for specific dates.

The program encourages applications from smaller institutions, including those that have never received an NEH grant. There's also a focus on community colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, as well as Native American tribes and Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian organizations with significant humanities collections.

Samuel H. Kress Foundation Conservation Grants

The Samuel H. Kress Foundation offers Conservation Grants as part of its commitment to the preservation and understanding of European art, particularly from antiquity to the early 19th century. The foundation’s conservation grants focus on supporting art conservation, including treatment, research, and training initiatives.

The Conservation Grants program supports a wide range of activities related to the conservation of historically significant European artworks. This includes conservation treatment of specific artworks, research projects that contribute to the broader field of art conservation, and training programs for conservators.

The grants are primarily awarded through institutional applications rather than to individuals. Eligible applicants typically include museums, art institutions, conservation centers, and academic institutions. While the foundation has a broad interest in European art, it places particular emphasis on paintings, sculpture, and architectural heritage from antiquity to the early 19th century.

The foundation reviews and awards grants in three cycles each year: Spring (March), Fall (September), and Winter (December). The amount of funding provided can vary depending on the project's scope and needs. Institutions interested in applying for a Conservation Grant must typically submit a detailed proposal outlining the project’s goals, methodology, significance, and expected outcomes. The proposal should also include a budget and timeline.

When Do Private Collectors Qualify for Art Conservation Grants?

*Abstract Landscape, Morton Livingston Schamberg (American, 1881 – 1918)*

Private collectors can sometimes qualify for grants related to art conservation and preservation, although eligibility may vary depending on the specific grant program and its guidelines. Below are some considerations for private collectors seeking grant opportunities.

Specific Grant Programs

Some grant programs explicitly include private collectors as eligible applicants, especially if the grant focuses on the conservation and preservation of significant or historically important artworks or collections. These grants may be offered by foundations, cultural organizations, or government agencies.

Nonprofit Status

In many cases, grant programs prefer to fund nonprofit organizations, museums, and cultural institutions. Private collectors who have established a nonprofit organization or foundation dedicated to the preservation and public access of their collection may have a higher chance of qualifying for certain grants.

Collaboration with Institutions

Private collectors can collaborate with museums, universities, or cultural institutions to apply for grants jointly. By partnering with an eligible institution, collectors can access funding opportunities that may not be available to them as individuals.

Public Access and Educational Component

Grant programs may prioritize projects that involve public access and education. If private collectors are willing to make their collection accessible to the public or develop educational programs around their collection, they may be more likely to receive grant support.

Historical or Cultural Significance

Grants are often awarded to projects that involve the preservation of artworks or collections with significant historical, cultural, or artistic value. Private collectors who own such pieces or collections may be eligible for grants that aim to protect and share these valuable assets with the public.

Emergency Grants

Some grant programs, particularly those related to disaster response and emergency preparedness, may provide funds to private collectors facing immediate threats to their collections. These grants can help with disaster recovery efforts.

Regional and Local Opportunities

Depending on your location, there may be regional or local grant programs that specifically target private collectors or organizations working on art preservation projects within a particular community or area.

To identify grant opportunities for private collectors, consider researching specific grant programs, consulting with art conservation professionals, and networking within the art and cultural heritage preservation community. Be sure to carefully review the eligibility criteria, requirements, and application deadlines for each grant program to determine if your collection or project aligns with their goals and priorities.

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Art Conservation Grants for Collectors, Institutions, Non-Profits, and Historic Homes