Art Fund
@artfund
Followers
97K
Following
15K
Media
8K
Statuses
26K
Keeping you connected with art and exhibitions across the UK. Feed your museum habit. Discover more with #NationalArtPass 🖼
United Kingdom
Joined August 2009
We've done it!. We’re thrilled to say the £3.5m target to #SaveProspectCottage has just been reached. Together we made it happen. Thanks to 7,700+ donors Prospect Cottage has been saved for future generations. Thank you so much for supporting the campaign.
35
306
976
🏆Horniman Museum and Gardens WINS #MuseumOfTheYear 2022 and the £100,000 prize 🎉🎉🏆. Congratulations to all the team!.@HornimanMuseum
35
209
914
The winner of #MuseumOfTheYear 2019 is @StFagans_Museum. It’s won because our judges were impressed by how it lives, breathes and embodies the culture and identity of Wales and by the way it's forged a new and meaningful model of community collaboration. Llongyfarchiadau!
50
316
804
Prospect Cottage needs you now.Derek Jarman’s cottage & garden stand testament to his unique creativity & defiant spirit. Help us raise £3.5 million to protect his legacy & inspire creativity in generations to come.Join the campaign to #SaveProspectCottage.
20
489
595
The Burrell Collection WINS #MuseumOfTheYear 2023 and the.£120,000 prize🏆.🎊 Congratulations to all the team! 🎉 @burrellcollect
11
117
543
🎉🎉🎉 The winners of #MuseumOfTheYear 2020 are @AbdnArtMuseums, @GairlochMuseum, @sciencemuseum, @SLG_artupdates & @TownerGallery. Congratulations all. 🎉🎉🎉. Thank you to Grayson Perry (@alan_measles) and @BBCTheOneShow for making the big announcement.
18
121
384
Did you know that 23-29 April is @MuseumWeek? Here are eight must-see exhibitions by women artists including Anni Alberts, Tacita Dean, Lubaina Himid and Frida Kahlo. #WomenMW
7
196
367
Our third #MuseumoftheYear 2018 finalist is Glasgow @womenslibrary, the UK’s only accredited museum dedicated to women’s history. It recently completed a £1.4m refurbishment & its 25th-anniversary programme raised the museum's profile and saw visitor numbers double.
3
127
316
The winner of Art Fund #MuseumOfTheYear 2021 is @firstsite Colchester 🎉. Congratulations to all the team!
15
99
313
We’re SO excited to announce that @Queer_Britain are the new tenants of 2 Granary Square and they'll be establishing the UK’s FIRST NATIONAL LGBTQ+ museum in our building. Congratulations!.We can’t to wait to visit when you open the doors later this year🎉.
9
46
270
The shortlist for #MuseumoftheYear 2019 can now be fully revealed! Congratulations to all our finalists 🎉.@HMSCaroline @Nottm_Contemp @Pitt_Rivers @AmgueddfaCymru @VADundee
13
121
254
🥁It's time to reveal the finalists for #MuseumOfTheYear 2023. 🥁. 🎉@burrellcollect, @LeightonHouse_, @TheMACBelfast, @NHM_London & Scapa Flow Museum💫. 🏆 Congratulations!
18
63
253
Young V&A WINS #MuseumOfTheYear 2024 and the £120,000 prize. 🏆. Congratulations to the team! @young_vam 🎉
7
55
255
🥁We can now reveal the shortlist for #MuseumOfTheYear 2021🥁. 🎉Congratulations to all the finalists. @CCADLD @EBMuseum @firstsite @thackraymuseum @Timespan
19
93
250
🥁It's time to reveal the #MuseumOfTheYear 2022 finalists. 🥁. 🎉Congratulations @MuseumofMaking, @HornimanMuseum, @PHMMcr, @TheStoryMuseum & @TyPawb.
11
86
250
Congratulations to all our #MuseumoftheYear 2018 finalists! @BrooklandsMuseu @HullFerens @womenslibrary @thepostalmuseum and @Tate_StIves
9
131
235
If you watch one thing today- make sure it's this 👇. 'Gille Dubh, Last of the Fairies' narrated by the super talented @SamHeughan from @GairlochMuseum. #MuseumOfTheYear.
Delighted to be able to share this wonderful new animation of The Gille Dubh story, with you all Voiced by @SamHeughan and created with Abe Locke's wonderful artwork. Thanks @artfund for making it possible. #musuemoftheyear #museumsarego #Outlander.
13
11
237
Together we #SavedProspectCottage. Thanks to 8,119 donors we raised £3,624,087. Which means with @CreativeFstone & @Tate we will be able to protect the cottage, garden and Derek Jarman’s legacy for future generations. Thank you to everyone who donated to #SaveProspectCottage
7
46
225
The iconic #ArmadaPortrait has returned to @RMGreenwich after extensive conservation treatment.
9
109
209
Visiting museums and galleries regularly can have a positive impact on personal wellbeing. Are you making more time for art in 2019?
6
113
185
Don’t let the doors close on imagination. Museums need our support to help them survive and create a brighter future. Help us raise £1 million for the places you love. Donate and join #TogetherForMuseums.
5
123
188
We’re excited to announce that Jenny Waldman, formerly Director of @1418NOW, will be our next director at @artfund. Congratulations @Jkwaldman! .
23
34
171
"I, the sculptor, am the landscape. I am the form and the hollow, the thrust and the contour." - Barbara Hepworth #bornonthisday
2
60
170
You voted in the thousands and the results are now in. The winner of #ArtFunded work of 2018 is. the Winfarthing pendant! Discovered by a metal detectorist, this rare Anglo-Saxon gold and garnet pendant was acquired by @NorwichCastle earlier this year:
6
69
169
Help us imagine a better future for wildlife #TheWildEscape. Let’s get Twitter buzzing with animals from museum & gallery collections across the UK. Here are some of the amazing animals in museums that we’ve been proud to support over the years. Now show us what you've got 🦦🐝🦉
15
39
159
Did you know that the average time a visitor spends in front of a work of art is just under 28 secs? 🧐 On your next gallery trip, why not challenge yourself to look for longer or use the time to look for symbols, metaphors or hidden meanings? #NewPerspectives
4
86
158
William Blake was born #OnThisDay in 1757. Did you know that we helped @britishmuseum acquire Jacob's Ladder in 1949? #ArtFunded
1
55
160
Congratulations to all our 2017 #MuseumoftheYear finalists! @LapworthMuseum @palacehouse_nkt @SoaneMuseum @Tate Modern @HepworthGallery
2
98
156
Happy #UnsolicitedDuckPicDay with this soft toy by Beatrix Potter in the Drawn to Nature exhibition at @V_and_A. How about you @NHM_London ? 🦆
1
13
150
🐞Introducing #TheWildEscape. This HUGE UK-wide project is for the next generation to explore UK wildlife through the power of art & imagination🦦. 100s of #museums & #schools, plus world-leading artists & organisations are already taking part. 🧵
8
64
139
Today we’re making available £2m of new funding to help museums & galleries respond to #Covid19, inc our new Respond and reimagine grants #TogetherForMuseums
3
90
133
💥 The #MuseumoftheYear shortlist is here! These are the 5 exceptional museums; @skiptontownhall, @dcadundee, @mcrmuseum, @npglondon and @young_vam, all competing to win the ultimate prize of £120,000.🏆
7
51
136
The Armada Portrait of #Elizabeth I has been saved! Thanks to all who supported #SaveArmada:
3
91
135
The @britishmuseum's Great Court is looking particular beautiful this evening. #MuseumoftheYear
11
20
141
'If you could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.' - Edward Hopper, was born 134 years ago today
0
84
128
#OnThisDay in 1759 @britishmuseum opened to the public. 🏛 Entry was free and given to ‘all studious and curious Persons.’ 🧐
3
35
131
'When you find your kindred spirit, even if they're dead, and you look at their work. it makes you feel better. You think: 'Ah yes, phew'. Get ready for The Loneliness of the Soul at @royalacademy by reading the highly personal interview with Tracey Emin.
9
18
128
After recording the latest episode of his podcast @CourtauldGall, .comedian and podcaster @AdamBuxton picks five UK museum and galleries he's keen to visit with his #NationalArtPass.
5
22
122
5
32
112
'It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.' - Pablo Picasso, born #onthisday in 1881.
4
75
113
Discovered, restored, reframed and now hung. Artemisia Gentileschi’s ‘Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria’ is now on public display at @NationalGallery!
3
32
106
And the winner is. Yorkshire Sculpture Park! Congrats to @yspsculpture - the 2014 Museum of the Year http://t.co/kYpe642hR1
#MOTY2014.
14
218
108
Happy 250th birthday to the @royalacademy!.
The RA was born #OnThisDay in 1768, when a petition signed by 36 artists and architects seeking to “establish a society for promoting the Arts of Design” was presented to King George III. Luckily for us, the King said yes. #RA250
1
32
105
'Pictures must be miraculous.' - Mark Rothko born on this day in 1903
0
97
106
📣 Today we've launched a new UK-wide initiative encouraging parents to feel comfortable visiting museums and galleries with their children. Over 20 museums are partnering with us to offer Kids Aloud slots - when noisy kids are allowed to be loud!. 👉
5
48
102
Thanks to @DesignMuseum for letting us have a sneak peek of the #NewDesignMuseum. For more photos, check out our Instagram story! @artfunduk
0
55
104
Our second #MuseumoftheYear 2018 finalist was at the very heart of Hull’s UK City of Culture 2017 celebrations. @FerensHull has recently undergone a £5.2m refurbishment of the galleries and even found the time to host the Turner Prize!
3
43
95
"You keep coming across one surprise after another" To kick off #MuseumWeek #WomenInCulture day, listen to poets @JackieKayPoet and @holliepoetry passionately explain why the work that @womenslibrary do is so important.
0
39
98
#ToveJansson - best known for #Moomins - opens @DulwichGallery tomorrow. 8-page feature explores her life & work in autumn's #ArtQuarterly
3
51
97
We’re at A House for Artists in Barking this morning for the launch of a new public sculpture by Grayson Perry titled Inspiration Lives Here. We were over the moon to have been able to fund this work, which was commissioned by @Create_London. @Alan_Measles
6
15
87
In our final Transforming Collections film, we look at a groundbreaking partnership between 5 national & regional galleries to tour Constable's Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows across the UK.
5
31
96
Pioneers, rebels, inspirational. Here are just a few of the female artists who've changed the way we view art. #InternationalWomensDay
1
82
96
Today we announced the first recipients of funding through the Headley Fellowships with Art Fund, a new programme which gives curators the opportunity to further develop specialist knowledge relating to the collections in their care:
7
19
90
It's officially autumn! Plan your calendar with our guide to seven of the season's biggest exhibitions, from Fernand Léger @tateliverpool to Mantegna & Bellini @NationalGallery: #equinox
1
50
96
NEWS: We're delighted to announce that we're offering £10,000 in grants to museums, galleries, libraries and archives to participate in the @BBC's Civilisations Festival. Apply here: #Museums2017
2
106
97
It's finally here- today's the day we announce the winner of #MuseumOfTheYear 2019. 🎉🎉🎉. Who do you think will win?.
22
16
88
Our judges chose @HornimanMuseum because they have:.🏆 brought together art + nature in one holistic museum.🏆 woven their values into everything they do….
5
12
91
Well that wraps up #MuseumoftheYear 2019!. Well done to each of our finalists, whose incredible work continues to inspire and amaze: @HMSCaroline @Nottm_Contemp @Pitt_Rivers and @VADundee. And congratulations to our winner @StFagans_Museum .(pictured here celebrating their win)
3
5
87
Today we’ve published the results of our survey of museum professionals into the impact of lockdown on museums and galleries. Find out more here:.
1
70
90
Winner of #MuseumOfTheYear 2019 @StFagans_Museum's Director General David Anderson takes to the stage. He says 'it's people, not institutions that are the carriers of culture'. Diolch.
0
34
87
From niche academic space to vibrant public museum, @LapworthMuseum in Birmingham is our first #MuseumoftheYear finalist.
8
42
95
Today's the day! Tonight we announce the winner of #MuseumoftheYear 2018. Who are you rooting for?
4
42
92
We're raising a toast to all our #MuseumoftheYear 2018 finalists, whose innovative work and great achievements over the past year have inspired audiences across the UK 🥂 @BrooklandsMuseu @HullFerens @womenslibrary @thepostalmuseum @Tate_StIves.
1
25
88
We’ve been loving seeing all the animals children have created for #TheWildEscape today on #EarthDay. 🐝🐞🦡. Now it’s time to release them!. Go to to share your animal & explore The Wild World. 🦉
2
11
94
Artist Mary Moser was born #OnThisDay in 1744. Did you know that she was a founder member of @royalacademy? #ArtFunded, 2003 @NPGLondon
1
35
86
'Colour is a power which directly influences the soul.' - Russian artist Wassily #Kandinsky was born #onthisday in 1866.
1
53
86
Who will win #MuseumoftheYear? Tomorrow we find out. Good luck @BrooklandsMuseu, @HullFerens, @womenslibrary, @thepostalmuseum, @Tate_StIves:
0
34
86
It was close a call, but The Monarch of the Glen by Sir Edwin Landseer, @NatGalleriesSco has been voted favourite #ArtFunded2017 acquisition. Here are the top 5 as chosen by you.
1
33
84
What an amazing start to our 2018 #MuseumofTheYear judges visits! Thanks @womenslibrary for sharing your treasure trove of historical and contemporary artefacts and materials.
0
29
81
Virginia Woolf was born #OnThisDay in 1882. This painting by her sister Vanessa Bell, is one of only a few as Woolf disliked sitting for her portrait. We helped @NPGLondon acquire it in 1988. #ArtFunded
0
30
81
There are just a few days left to catch the powerful paintings of Jenny Saville at @NatGalleriesSco, alongside work by five other artists similarly interested in the human body:
2
29
84
Announced today by @V_and_A , #FashionedbyNature the 1st UK exhibition to explore the complex relationship between fashion & nature.
2
33
81
1
30
75
We’re celebrating our birthday this week!🎂 #ArtFund120. Founded in 1903, Art Fund has championed great art & culture for 120 years. During that time, we’ve helped UK museums build their collections, keep them accessible to the public & do so much more.
2
23
80
“It’s our tenth birthday today. What a way to have a birthday” -Sally Shaw Director of @firstsite. #MuseumOfTheYear 2021 winner.
2
12
75
After a 7 year restoration @SoaneMuseum has been fully returned to its original design. Here's a peek from our tour!
1
57
81
HRH Duchess of Cambridge is announcing the #MuseumoftheYear winner tonight. @KensingtonRoyal.
3
33
78
Huge congratulations to former Art Fund director Stephen Deuchar. He’s received a knighthood in #NewYearHonours after a decade raising and giving money to UK #museums and growing our #NationalArtPass.
1
10
73
@YorkshireMuseum @WhoresofYore What about this for #SauciestObject?. Our entry into the #CURATORBATTLE (from the art we've helped buy) is from Sexy Collages and Untitled by Monster Chetwynd. The works were made to draw attention to LGBT histories across different art movements & periods.
1
0
74
OUR AWARD WINNING PODCAST #MeetMeAtTheMuseum IS BACK. Join actor Jack Lowden (@JALowden) to kick off series 6 as he and Andrew Rothney indulge their passion for Scottish history at @NtlMuseumsScot. Listen here:
1
39
79
Museums in England will be temporarily closing their doors from Thursday and Art Fund will continue to support museums and museum goers during lockdown and beyond. We stand by all museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK. #TogetherforMuseums.
2
11
71
"It is embarrassing that one single city in Germany, Berlin, gets more state funding than the whole of the UK.". Last Friday, The Earl of Clancarty spoke to the House of Lords about cuts to local authority funding. 💡Read our response to Labour's plans:
4
33
76
Joshua Reynolds’ Portrait of Mai (Omai) has been saved for the UK public by a historic campaign. The painting is now jointly owned by @NPGLondon & @GettyMuseum so everyone can see and enjoy it forever.
3
29
73
Atmospheric, bewitching & with a new contemporary programme, @SoaneMuseum, is our third #MuseumoftheYear 2017 finalist.
3
38
73
We’re working with @_TheWhitechapel to offer 50 bursaries to curators and museum professionals. Hurry! Applications close 30 May:
1
61
70