The mission of the Decorative Arts Trust, a non-profit organization, is to promote and foster the appreciation and study of the decorative arts. Their efforts include exchanging information through programming, collaborating with museums and preservation organizations, and underwriting internships, research grants, and scholarships for graduate students and young professionals.
The Decorative Arts Trust has introduced a publishing grant program aimed at invigorating scholarship and broadening the appreciation of material culture, with a particular focus on the Americas and promoting diversity in the study of American decorative arts and material culture. This initiative supports both print and digital publishing projects and addresses the field's evolving needs. An advisory committee of museum professionals and academics guides the selection of grant recipients. The program offers two types of grants: Publishing Grants for Dissertations and First-Time Authors, and Publishing Grants for Collections, Exhibitions, and Conferences, providing up to $50,000 per year in funding. These grants support book-length publications that enhance awareness and appreciation of the decorative arts, including catalogs and conference paper compilations, with funding requests ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 based on the proposal's needs.