The Elephant Trust was created in 1975 by Roland Penrose and Lee Miller with a view to develop and improve the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the fine arts in the United Kingdom.

The Elephant Trust also administers both the George Melhuish Bequest and the Shelagh Wakely Bequest. Registered Charity No.269615

Recipients of grants have included Rachel Whiteread, Vong Phaophanit, Gillian Wearing, Steve McQueen, Mona Hatoum, Richard Deacon, Phyllida Barlow, Stephen Willats, Mike Nelson, Daria Martin, Cathy Wilkes, Enrico David, Daria Martin, Simon Martin , Elizabeth Price, Bonnie Camplin, Emily Wardill and younger emerging artists such as Sean Edwards, Anja Kirschner, Kim Coleman & Jenny Hogarth, Tom Woolner, Mike Cooter, Jason Dungan, Nina Manandhar and Megan Fraser.

The Trust has also helped galleries and organisations such as Chisenhale Gallery ,Cubitt, Whitechapel Project Space, Book Works, Transmission, The Drawing Room, Hold & Freight, Form/Content, Gasworks, The Showroom, Gasworks, The Showroom.

The Trustees’ main objective is to support new work.  Given The Elephant Trust’s modest resources, grants have usually been limited to £2,000, but with the recent addition of the Shelagh Wakely Bequest some larger grants of up to £5,000 may be awarded. Priority is given to artists and small organisations and galleries who should submit well argued, imaginative proposals for making or producing new work or exhibitions.

The following categories are not supported:

 Arts Festivals 
 Group Exhibitions
 Charities organising community projects
 Students
 Educational or other studies 
 Residencies or research
 Symposia or conferences
 Publications or catalogues
 Projects taking place outside the UK

Information on how to apply may be found under guidelines and applications.