The Muir Trust was founded in 1997 by local artist Jane Muir, in memory of her husband, Alastair.

It provides an endowment for a short residency programme to support established artists in the field of visual and applied arts as Artist in Residence at Discover Bucks Museum (formerly Buckinghamshire County Museum) in Aylesbury, on a biennial basis.

In practical terms the purpose of the residency is to widen the artistic experience and deepen the understanding of the general public, local artists and students through direct contact with an established working artist. It also provides the opportunity for an artist with a developed style to experiment and take their work in new directions.

The residency is followed by a selling exhibition of work at the museum, and is administered by the Curator of Art at Discover Bucks Museum.