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.

Supporting Research

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 encourages applications for funding to participate in FHS-organised events and study trips. 

Thanks to the generosity of members of the Society in 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.  

Supporting Emerging Scholars

As a result of the generous supporting donation of an annual fund from the Oliver Ford Trust in 2012, the Grants Committee was able to establish a programme for professionals at an early stage of their career. The programme encompassed a series of trips for young curators from British museums and institutions to attend the European Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht.  The Oliver Ford grant also enabled the development of 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.  The symposia have showcased the recent research by PhD candidates and junior curators in Britain, Europe and the USA. 

The Grants Committee receives and supports funding applications for emerging scholars and young professionals to attend FHS-organised events and study weekend trips. 

The Della Howard Fund was established in 2022 to support the expenses associated with events especially organised for the Early Careers Group. 

For further information on the Early Career Group, click here.