Arts organisations invited to apply for Gulbenkian Awards

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and King’s College London have launched £150,000 of awards for civic arts organisations.

Offering one award of £100,000 and two of £25,000, the awards aim to show how publicly funded arts bodies have responded to the pandemic despite the hardships they have faced.

The award builds on the growing movement in the arts to work more closely with local communities to stay relevant. It is open to publicly funded arts organisations across the cultural spectrum, from orchestras to museums, galleries to theatres. The awardees will be announced in March 2021. 

Andrew Barnett, director of the UK branch of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, said: 'In this time of crisis, which has been described as Britain’s greatest peacetime challenge, arts organisations have responded in their communities in a variety of meaningful and inspiring ways. We created this award to recognise and celebrate this important and ongoing work; it is part of a suite of initiatives being supported by the foundation in response to the pandemic.'

Baroness Bull, vice president & vice principal (London) and chair of the judges, said: 'King’s College London is committed to its civic role in London and its surrounding communities and we are therefore delighted to partner with the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation on this award, which will celebrate those arts organisations that are re-conceiving their civic purpose despite, or in response to, these challenging times. I am especially pleased King’s students are involved in this project, in line with our ambitions to offer unique learning experiences through the mutually beneficial partnerships across arts and culture that are such a distinctive feature of a King’s education.'

Closing date for applications:  30 November 2020

https://content.gulbenkian.pt/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2020/10/30133228/About-the-Award_.pdf

https://gulbenkian.pt/en/

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/