Grants for textile artists in the UK

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In today’s fast-paced world artists face challenges beyond conceptualising and creating work. The contemporary textile artist is also fundraiser, grant writer, self-promoter, and main marketing director for their craft. While these skills may not be second nature to the artist, the necessity of honing fundraising skills has produced a generation of savvy craftsmen and women who can navigate a grant application just as well as work a loom or handle a sewing machine. We’ve compiled a short list of some of the best current funding opportunities for textile artists in the UK.

This is a fantastic funding opportunity for any artists interested in cross-cultural creative collaboration and discussion with Japan. The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation is a UK-based in charity with the mission to support cultural understanding between Britain and Japan. Grants are available to UK-based students, working professionals, and organisations that help promote the Daiwa mission. Additionally students are able to apply for scholarships for study in Japan. Grants range from £3,000-£7,000.

For more information please visit: http://www.dajf.org.uk/grants-awards-prizes/daiwa-foundation-small-grants

Apply now for the prestigious 2014 Textile Society student bursary awards, with 5 prizes worth up to £1000 on offer. Students, both undergrad and post-grad are able to apply.
 For more information on the society and award please visit: http://www.textilesociety.org.uk/bursaries-awards/student-bursary.php

Contact: bursaries@textilesociety.org.uk

This scheme offers grants for textile artists (using weaving techniques) between £500 and £5000 for working professional weavers (those who have recently completed school must have two working years experience to apply). The grant is specially designed for artists and craftsmen to purchase special equipment, have a sabbatical, develop a specific project, etc. The applications are due 1st March 2014.

Please visit http://www.theomoormantrust.org.uk for additional information.

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust awards Travelling Fellowships to British citizens from all walks of life to travel overseas, to bring back knowledge and best practice for the benefit of others in their UK professions and communities. Fellows receive a travel grant to cover return and internal travelling, daily living and insurance within the countries visited. 2013 Fellowships were awarded for between 4 to 8 weeks. Applicants can complete a form online.

Please visit http://www.wcmt.org.uk for more information & to read about the inspiring previous fellows.

Arts council England is a wonderful resource for both emerging and career-focused textile artists. They offer a spectrum of cultural funding for all sorts of artists, but one of the most useful features we found on their site is the Tools & Templates section designed to help artists organise, fill out and track grant applications. Additionally the site has a great aggregated list of up and coming opportunities for artists.

Check it out here: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk
Best of luck pursuing funding for all your innovative and creative endeavors. Here’s another interesting opportunity that might interest you.

Call for Submissions: Scythia 10

Scythia 10, the 10th International Biennial Contemporary Textile Art Exhibition and Conference takes place in June 2014 in the Ukraine and will feature artists from all over the world, who work in different techniques of textiles.

Two art works may be submitted. An international Conference will run alongside. Textile artists, fashion designers, designers of innovative fabrics, lecturers of unique education in textile techniques, innovative fabrics, digital and jacquard art weaving, printing, experimental embroidery, beads, felt, accessories, lace, hats, textile jewellery, leaders of workshops are invited.

Apply by 1st February 2014. More information here: http://www.scythiatextile.com/UK/Scythia.html

Do you know of any funding opportunities or grants for textile artists that our audience might find useful? Why not let us know by leaving a comment below?