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Add Texture to GoogleOn Wednesday, November 4, 2026, in the heart of London, an intimate reception marked a decisive turning point for ten UK-based artists. Following the event, on November 5, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation (PHF) officially announced the list of winners of its Awards for Artists. This award, which stands in stark contrast to traditional award ceremonies, is based on a philosophy of absolute trust: a grant of 75,000 GBP per recipient—equivalent to between 88,000 and 90,000 EUR based on current exchange rates—awarded with no conditions attached. No activity report is required, and no artwork needs to be produced in return. For the foundation, which has been active since 1987, the goal is to offer what is most rare in the cultural economy: time, space, and financial security that enable artists to overcome the barriers of precariousness.
Freedom Through Unrestricted Funding
The 2026 edition confirms the program’s growing financial strength. On the occasion of its thirtieth anniversary, celebrated in 2024, the individual grant amount had increased from 60,000 to 75,000 GBP. For this cohort, the total commitment amounts to 750,000 GBP, divided equally among five visual artists and five composers. This “unconditional” injection of capital allows recipients to fund studio rentals, immerse themselves in new phases of research, or simply meet their basic needs in a complex economic climate for independent creation.
Since the program’s launch in 1994, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation has distributed a total of 12.79 million GBP to 377 artists. This long-standing support, now entering its thirty-second year of continuous operation, relies on a selection process that is deliberately opaque to applicants: one does not apply for the Awards for Artists. The process operates solely by invitation, through a professional peer network tasked with recommending artists whose work deserves to be strengthened by complete financial freedom. The final selections are validated by independent juries, chaired this year by Jane Hamlyn for the visual arts and by journalist Kevin Le Gendre for music composition.
Visual Arts: From Sensory Interaction to the Memory of Objects
Among the five winners in the visual arts category, the diversity of approaches illustrates the vitality of the contemporary British art scene. Linda Bell has distinguished herself with her large-scale sculptures—works that transcend mere contemplation to become interactive and sensory experiences. Using materials such as paper, fabric, and metal foil, she places performance at the heart of her visual art practice. Alongside her, Racheal Crowther explores a more psychological and sociological dimension of the built environment. Her installations examine the emotional weight of objects and the notions of care and control within our everyday environments (although absent from the official class photo, the artist is among the confirmed laureates of this edition).
The list of recipients also includes Rory Pilgrim, whose multidisciplinary work had already garnered attention with a Turner Prize nomination in 2023 for the project RAFTS. Her practice interweaves video, musical composition, text, and live performance. Georgina Starr, a figure known for her complex installations blending sound and moving images—notably through her work *Androgynous Egg*—is also receiving this support. Finally, Hayley Tompkins, who represented Scotland at the 55th Venice Biennale in 2013, rounds out this selection. Her work combines acrylic paint, digital video, and found objects or furniture with singular precision, redefining the boundaries of the pictorial medium.
Composition: A Boundless Sound Spectrum
The section dedicated to composers underscores a commitment to breaking down genre barriers. The 2026 selection highlights artists with multifaceted backgrounds, such as Bushra El-Turk, whose compositions integrate her Lebanese heritage into the structures of contemporary music. Olivia Chaney, a leading figure in the folk scene, is recognized for her work as a songwriter and instrumentalist, while Ayanna Witter-Johnson stands out for her dual identity as a cellist and singer, operating in a world where classical composition engages with modern vocal forms.
The jury—which, according to industry observers, also included Joe Hill (director of Yorkshire Sculpture Park), Melissa Blanchflower (curator at Turner Contemporary), and Sheryll Catto (artistic director of ActionSpace)—also chose to honor Daudi Matsiko. This British-Ugandan singer-songwriter embodies a narrative approach to music. Finally, Charlotte Keeffe, a trumpeter specializing in free improvisation and a multi-instrumentalist, exemplifies the spirit of pure experimentation that the foundation seeks to support. For these musicians, the 75,000 GBP grant represents a rare opportunity to break free from the cycles of commercial production and devote themselves to pure sonic innovation.
By funding the individual rather than the project, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation maintains its unique position in the philanthropic landscape. This model, which relies on the creator’s total autonomy, remains one of the few levers capable of countering the structural precariousness of the art world, while supporting careers that have reached a point of maturity where time becomes the most precious resource.
