The mission of the African Arts Trust is to support visual artists in Africa by acting as a catalyst for the emergence and growth of locally managed and sustainable contemporary visual art organizations. Established by philanthropist Robert Devereux after a fundraising auction, the trust focuses on unlocking the potential of visual artists in Eastern and Southern Africa who face limited resources.
The African Arts Trust focuses on supporting the visual arts, particularly emphasizing grassroots organizations that assist professional artists in making a livelihood. Grant making is primarily in Eastern and Southern Africa, with priorities classified into high and medium categories. High priority funding includes core funding for arts organizations and studio spaces, while medium priorities encompass workshops and residencies, project funding, exhibitions, and competitions/awards. Exceptionally, the trust may also fund publications, video/radio projects, and festivals/biennales. They offer small to medium-sized grants, with the possibility of one-off, annual, and multi-year support up to three years (or five in exceptional cases). Applicants representing artists for residencies, workshops, or exhibitions are required to donate an artwork to the trust's collection to aid in promoting African art.