About the Anna Plowden Trust

The Anna Plowden Trust was established in 1998 in memory of Anna Plowden who was a well known conservator in the private sector. The objectives of the Trust are to contribute to the conservation of items of historic, artistic or scientific interest through the development of skills and by raising public awareness.

At present it has four main programmes:

  1. Support for the primary training of UK conservation students by contributing towards course fees

  2. Support for CPD opportunities for conservators in the private sector by awarding grants towards the cost of short courses and of attending conferences

  3. Raising awareness of the contribution made by the conservation profession towards safeguarding the national heritage

  4. Awarding a prize for research and innovation in conservation at the biennial Pilgrim Trust Conservation Awards ceremony.

The trust has eight trustees who carry out the work of the trust. The trust is run on a voluntary basis.

More information about the trustees.

For more information and copies of grant application forms contact Penelope Plowden at

43 Lansdowne Gardens, London, SW8 2EL
email: info@annaplowdentrust.org.uk

Fundraising and Donations

Since the Trust started its activities in 1999, it has distributed nearly a quarter of a million pounds in grants in support of its programmes. We have assisted around 100 students to train in conservation skills in some of the leading British conservation training institutions by contributing towards their tuition fees. We have assisted over 70 working conservators to add to or update their skills through attendance at short courses or conferences in the UK and overseas. Some of this has been in support of teachers, thereby multiplying the impact of the training received. We have also funded a one year internship at the Victoria and Albert Museum, awarded four prizes for innovation in conservation, provided financial help to support the convergence of the UK professional conservation bodies and initiated a programme to publicise successful conservation projects.

The Trust’s activities are funded entirely from donations, initially from Anna’s friends and family. To continue our work we need on-going funding. We would welcome contributions from you to one of the specific programmes listed on this page or towards our activities as a whole. Any amount is welcome and will help directly towards developing conservation skills and awareness. For example, our grants have included a sum of less than £100 to help a conservator attend a training course, £3,000 to assist with fees for a full-time conservation qualification and £11,000 for a year’s internship at a national museum. Donations are not used for the Trust’s running costs (which are minimal).

If you would like to make a donation, please send a cheque made payable to the Anna Plowden Trust, to Francis Plowden, 4 Highbury Road, London SW19 7PR. You might also consider remembering the Trust’s work in your will.

info@annaplowdentrust.org.uk
www.annaplowdentrust.org.uk