About Abbey Harris and How to Apply

The E A Abbey Memorial Trust Fund for Mural Painting in Great Britain
The E Vincent Harris Fund for Mural Decoration

These two funds are vested in the Royal Academy of Arts and since 1970 have been administered by the Incorporated Edwin Austin Abbey Memorial Scholarships (Abbey Awards). . Awards are made by The Abbey Harris Mural Fund Committee which consists of members of the Abbey Council. Committee members are Peter Brades, (Chairman), Julia Farrer, Clyde Hopkins and Paul Huxley

Eligible projects
Awards are made to artists who have been commissioned to create temporary or permanent murals for public places or charitable institutions within the UK. Artists' requests for funds must be backed by an authority from the institution in question. Alternatively, the commissioning institute may apply to the Fund on behalf of the muralist. There are no restrictions of age or nationality.

How to Apply
Apply by letter with

• a) detailed plans and sketches/drawings for the proposed work
• b) a couple of examples of your/the proposed artist's work) and
• c) the place where it is to be placed
• d) a fully budgeted funding request.

If possible please email the application letter and accompanying materials. Please make sure your submission complies with the conditions outlined above.

Awards for 2011 have now been made. Requests may be made throughout the year, although decisions for 2012 will not be made until after May 2012 and the deadline for the receipt of completed applications is April 15th 2012.

Each year the total amount of the grants awarded is never more than £5,000 and is usually around £2,000 - £3,000.

Artists and Projects supported in the past include

Norman Adams, Edward Bawden, David Bratby, Stefan Knapp, Victor Pasmore, Tom Phillips, Leonard Rosomon and Bridget Riley.

Works made possible by the funds can be found in many places throughout the country including Lincoln Cathedral, York Minster and many churches, hospitals, schools, universities, theatres, civic centres, sports centres and open spaces.

2003		Bernice Donszelman for a mural at the Royal London Hospital Katharina Grosse for a huge temporary mural on the outside walls of the Civic Library in Birmingham
2004		James Aldridge for a mural in the new breast cancer wing at Bart’s Hospital Rose Finn-Kelcey for a mural at St Paul's Church Bow Common.
2005		Sara Manzotti for a mural in the children's outpatients corridor at King's College Hospital, London.
2006		Pallant House Gallery, Chichester for a mural in mussel shells by Susie MacMurray
2007		Westminster Cathedral towards a mosaic designed by Tom Phillips for St George's Chapel.
2008		Milton Keynes Gallery for a temporary mural by Richard Wood
2009		Vital Arts to support a mural by Oona Culley for the new radiotherapy department at Bart’s Hospital.
2010		Pallant House Gallery, Chichester for a mural work by Spencer Finch
2011		Arts Lights London for a wall-based light installation "Basketball" (part of a wider project entitled Kids Draw Games) at St Mary's Paddington by Ron Haselden