Artists Supporting Artists:

For over two centuries, the Artists’ General Benevolent Institution (AGBI) has stood as a powerful testament to the spirit of solidarity among artists. Founded in 1814, the AGBI was established by Royal Academician artists to support professional visual artists and their dependents in times of illness or injury. At its heart, as an artist led charity, the AGBI is a story of artists supporting artists—of a community that rallies behind its own in moments of vulnerability.

This exhibition, Artists Supporting Artists, draws on the AGBI’s remarkable 211-year-old archive to explore how generations of artists have used their time, talent, and influence to sustain our vital mission. It brings to light the efforts of artists who have worked tirelessly to uphold the dignity and livelihood of their peers, while staying committed to their own creative practices.

The exhibition unfolds in four key themes:

Raising AGBI Profile

These objects and documents highlight how prominent artists have championed the AGBI through public endorsements — leveraging their reputations to amplify the charity’s reach and reinforce the importance of its mission.

Fundraising through Creativity

This section celebrates the inventive ways artists from a variety of creative backgrounds have mobilised their work to generate support, from exhibitions to staging benefit performances and events. These initiatives not only raised vital funds but also brought communities together around shared values of care and mutual aid.

Artists as Stewards of Compassion

The AGBI has always relied on committed individuals within the artistic community to administer grants and general support with confidentiality and empathy. We honour the artists who served as stewards, council members, and trustees —those who travelled to meet applicants in person, assessed their needs, and helped determine the support offered. Their dedication represents the AGBI’s ethos in action: practical, personal, and deeply human.

Voices of Impact

In this installation, anonymised testimonies from real AGBI beneficiaries flow through the threads of time. These powerful reflections offer a moving window into the lived experience of receiving support, and into how crucial this aid has been in helping artists through periods of profound difficulty.

As you move through the exhibition, we hope you are inspired by the legacy of mutual support that defines the AGBI.