Does your collection need conservation support?
GRANTSEEKERS
Art Preservation Fund provides grants for conservation and preservation projects at cultural organizations across the United States. We prioritize organizations with demonstrated need and limited access to existing resources, and we're here to help even if a grant isn't the right fit.
Applications for the inaugural grant program open September 28, 2026.
Support conservation treatment and preservation outcomes for specific art and historical collection items held in public trust by small and mid-sized nonprofits — paired with expert matchmaking and public storytelling that strengthens community connection and field-wide advocacy for conservation and preservation.
Purpose
2026 Demonstration Fund
PATHWAYS TO PRESERVATION
| Track A: Treatment & Stabilization | Track B: Assessment-to-Treatment Bridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Applicants that already have a completed treatment proposal and are ready to proceed | Applicants that need an expert to define scope and cost before treatment can be planned |
| Grant size | Up to $25,000 (typical $10,000–$20,000) | Up to $5,000 |
| Project period | Up to 12 months (extensions considered when justified) | 3 months (extensions considered when justified) |
| What it funds | Conservation treatment and stabilization, documentation, and some related ancillary costs (see below) | An expert assessment and treatment plan/cost estimate |
| Storytelling commitment | Recorded interview, edited images and captions, and an event showcasing the impact of the project (see below for more details) | Recorded reflection (see below for more details) |
| Follow-on funding | N/A | Opportunity to apply for Track A funding to support treatment. Track A funding is not automatic, and not guaranteed |
| Anticipated number of awards | 6–8 | 8–10 |
Art Preservation Fund (APF) funds conservation work through two tracks, designed for applicants at different stages of readiness.
Two Funding Tracks
What We Fund
Track A: Treatment & Stabilization
Projects that produce concrete conservation treatment outcomes for one item or a tightly defined group of items, including:
Conservation treatment and stabilization
Preservation-ready rehousing or mounts required for the item’s safety
Conservation documentation and treatment photography
Specialized packing/shipping required for treatment
Limited staff time directly required to manage the conservation project (up to 10% of total request)
Track B: Assessment-to-Treatment Bridge
Track B does not fund treatment itself; it funds the work needed to get a project ready for treatment and/or an application for Track A funding:
A conservator or preservation specialist's condition assessment
Development of a treatment scope, timeline, and cost estimate
Limited documentation photography needed to support the assessment
Note: Track B applicants are not required to have a conservator selected at the time of application. APF will assist grant recipients in identifying a professional conservator(s) if desired.
How Track B Leads to Track A
At the end of the 3-month Track B period, recipients will have a completed assessment including a conservator's treatment plan and cost estimate in-hand. That readiness creates an opportunity, not a guarantee, to apply for Track A funding to carry out the treatment. Track B recipients will not need to wait until the next public call for applications to seek Track A funding.
Moving from Track B into Track A is not automatic. It depends on the scope of work the assessment identifies, the readiness of the treatment plan, and Track A funding availability. APF will support Track B recipients in preparing a strong Track A application, but it cannot commit in advance to funding every project that completes an assessment.
Eligibility
Who Is Eligible
Applicants must:
Be U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations OR an organization with an eligible fiscal sponsor
Have minimum paid staffing totaling 1.0 FTE
Have an annual operating budget under $5 million
Demonstrate artistic, cultural, or historical significance and a clear commitment to public benefit through access, education, research, exhibition, and/or community use
Hold the item(s) in a mission-aligned collection with authority to treat (owned, or documented stewardship permission)
Agree to reasonable access for documentation and storytelling (see below; requirements differ by track)
Project Eligibility
Projects must:
Focus on one or more specific items (or a tightly defined group of related items)
Address conservation treatment, stabilization, or preservation outcomes (not general operations and not digitization-as-preservation)
Show artistic, cultural, or historic significance, which may include:
value to local residents
relevance to underrepresented histories
connection to a site, industry, or lived community memory
educational use with clear audiences
Be feasible within the track's project period: 12 months for Track A (extensions considered for complex treatment); 3 months for Track B (assessment only)
Factors That May Receive Priority Consideration
Rural, small-city, and/or tribal-serving organizations
Historically under-resourced organizations, geographies, and communities
Strong public narrative potential toward deepening community building and investment
Community-led stewardship and interpretation of underrepresented histories
Ineligible Requests (examples)
Construction/major renovations; HVAC overhauls
Routine collections processing not tied to a defined conservation outcome
Projects intended to benefit private collectors or for-profit entities
Acquisition/purchase of objects
Projects focused on architectural or built heritage
Grant Size, Match, and Cost Share
Track A maximum request: up to $25,000 (typical $10,000–$20,000)
Track B maximum request: up to $5,000
No match required for either track
Optional cost share can be listed to demonstrate readiness, but not required
If estimated total project cost exceeds the maximum grant request to APF, applicants must demonstrate they have secured the additional funds required to complete the project or have plans to secure the funds.
Allowable Costs
Track A:
Conservator fees (treatment, documentation, travel)
Treatment materials and supplies
Mounting/re-housing directly tied to the object's long-term safety
Photography/videography needed for treatment documentation and public interpretation
Shipping/packing (specialized, insured)
10% allowable for indirect costs
Track B:
Conservator or specialist fees for assessment and scoping
Travel directly required for the assessment
Photography needed to document current condition
10% allowable for indirect costs
Non-Allowable Costs (both tracks)
General operating costs, deficits, fundraising events
Routine staff salaries unrelated to project delivery
General collection digitization unrelated to treatment need
Timeline and Selection Process
Applications are due October 30, 2026.
Two public Zoom-based information sessions will be scheduled during the application period to address questions. These will be recorded and shared via the APF website. Questions can also be emailed or submitted via webform; a public FAQ will be posted from collected questions.
Applications will be reviewed by APF’s Grant Advisory Committee, a panel of practicing conservators and preservation leaders from across the United States and presented to the APF Board of Trustees for final funding decisions.
As this is APF’s inaugural application cycle, Foundation representatives may contact applicants via email or phone to ask clarifying questions as necessary.
Application decisions will be communicated by December 15, 2026. Project start dates will be January 2027.
Selection Criteria
Artistic, cultural, or historical significance, as defined by the community
Feasibility and appropriateness of proposed approach
Willingness and ability to participate in APF’s storytelling initiative, including strength of plans for required components. (weighted differently by track; see below)
Requirements
Art Preservation Fund is a new entity; telling the stories of our grant recipients is essential to building a visible, public portfolio and attracting a broader coalition of preservation supporters and champions. Requirements differ by track so that Track B's shorter, lower-dollar scoping projects aren't held to the same outcomes and storytelling commitments as full treatment projects. To facilitate storytelling requirements, APF will provide grant recipients with templates and tailored guidance to facilitate sharing impact with communities.
Track A recipients must be willing to:
Provide access to the item(s) for before/during/after documentation (photo/video)
Participate in at least one recorded interview (remote is acceptable)
Provide or help secure permissions for agreed-upon images and stories
Host at least one public-facing "reveal" moment (in-person or digital)
Track B recipients must be willing to:
Provide access to the item(s) for basic before-assessment documentation (photos)
Provide or help secure permissions for any images used
Share a brief written or recorded reflection on the assessment process (short-form; no recorded interview or public reveal required at this stage)
If a Track B project advances into Track A, the full Track A storytelling commitment applies from that point forward.
We will not ask grantees to share sensitive information publicly. Cultural protocols, privacy, and security needs will be honored; applicants should propose anticipated boundaries and related needs during the application process.
Reporting
Each recipient will have a kickoff meeting (January 2027) with APF to align on scope, deliverables, and — for Track A — storytelling plan, consent, and permissions.
Track A reporting:
Midpoint check-in (short form)
Final package within 60 days of project completion:
Conservation report (from conservator): methods, materials, before/during/after photos, recommendations
Final narrative (2–3 pages): what changed, what was learned, how the community benefited
Public-facing asset(s) (co-produced): minimum 12–20 edited images + captions, or a 2–3 minute video, plus a 400–800 word story suitable for web/newsletter
Public engagement action: at least one program, open house, talk, "reveal," or digital event within 6 months of completion (format flexible)
Data points (short form): attendance/online reach, number and types of partners involved, volunteer participation, press mentions
Track B reporting:
No midpoint check-in required, given the 3-month duration
Closeout package at the end of the project period:
Conservator's assessment report and treatment plan/cost estimate
Short reflection (1 page or less) on the assessment process
If applying for Track A follow-on funding, this package forms the basis of that application
It is anticipated that many Track B recipients may need further guidance identifying conservators or regional conservation centers, evaluating competitive proposals, and, following the initial assessment, identifying additional funding opportunities beyond APF where Track A funding isn't available or sufficient.
APF will be available for regular support and retains the right to "check in" on the project from time to time during and after the award period as it studies the efficacy of its program and monitors long-range outcomes.
Applicants are encouraged to request accommodations and to flag any cultural, privacy, or safety considerations early.