South Square Trust

The South Square Trust, established in 1979 by Arthur Grimwade, a prominent silver expert and former Christie's director, is a grant-making charity dedicated to empowering talented young people from disadvantaged UK backgrounds to access full-time degree-level education in fine and applied arts. Rooted in Grimwade's philanthropic vision of sharing his success to unlock individual potential, the Trust partners exclusively with leading UK specialist institutions—such as drama conservatoires and art schools—to provide scholarships and bursaries, having awarded over £6 million to more than 3,250 students across four decades. Its enduring ethos prioritizes transformative access to world-class training in disciplines like acting, theatre design, and stage management, fostering diversity and excellence in the creative sector.

The Trust funds named scholarships covering course fees and maintenance for UK-educated students aged 18+ demonstrating financial need and talent, distributed through long-term institutional collaborations rather than standalone projects. Beneficiaries are full-time degree students at partner colleges, with no support for individuals directly or non-arts fields.

Eligibility is strictly limited to established, nationally recognized UK higher education institutions in arts, drama, and design; unsolicited applications from organizations or individuals are not accepted. Trustees select partners via internal review and invitation, targeting major conservatoires without formal income thresholds.

Grants to institutions typically range from £10,000 to £75,000 annually, supporting £5,000 per-student awards, with decisions made yearly by trustees on an academic-cycle basis—no public deadlines exist. Distinctively, the Trust avoids project, core, capital, or emergency funding, focusing solely on student scholarships to build lasting arts talent pipelines, setting it apart as a highly specialized, mission-driven funder in UK creative higher education.