Jerwood Charity merges into foundation

The Jerwood Charity (Jerwood Arts) will be merged into the Jerwood Foundation. 

The foundation, which has been supporting the arts since 1977, endowed the Jerwood Charity with a fund of £25m in 1999.  

Following a period of review, Jerwood Charity operations will become part of the foundation and the Jerwood boards will merge, with Rupert Tyler being appointed as chairman. Lara Wardle, executive director of Jerwood Foundation, will lead the organisation and management. 

There are currently two members of staff at Jerwood Foundation. There are also four employees at Jerwood Arts but only will two will remain after July 2023 and the staff structure is under review. The director, Lilli Geissendorfer, will join the Creative Policy and Evidence Centre and deputy director Jon Opie will become head of artist support at charity Acme Studios. 

Kate Danielson, who has been consultant to both Jerwood Foundation and Jerwood Charity, is leading a strategic review to “make the merger as seamless as possible and to ensure that the organisation is best prepared to continue to support excellence, ambition and commitment for public benefit,” the charity said. 

“The merger will create a single future-facing UK charitable foundation, relevant for the political, social, and financial climate of the 21st century, ensuring a sustainable future with maximum impact for beneficiaries,” Jerwood added. 

Wardle said: “Our vision is for a streamlined Jerwood organisation, which is relevant and receptive to the contemporary funding landscape. We will continue to support, nurture and reward excellence and dedication in the arts in the UK and maintain our commitment to early-career artists, ensuring John Jerwood’s original philanthropic vision is honoured.” 

Further information about future plans and vision will be announced when the review is complete and the legal requirements met. 

Since 1991, Jerwood has channelled over £110m in capital and revenue funding in support of arts and education in the UK. Jerwood Charity has distributed a proportion of this into programmes such as the Jerwood/Photoworks Awards, Jerwood Survey, Jerwood Composer+ at the LSO and the Jerwood New Playwrights at the Royal Court, benefiting a wide range of early-career artists and performers.