Call for Applications: Heritage Crafts Association Awards

The Heritage Crafts Association is pleased to announce a call for applications for a suite of awards and bursaries recognising people working in traditional skills.

Applications Open
Craftspeople can be nominated for:

• Heritage Crafts Maker of the Year,
• Marsh Trainer of the Year, and
• Marsh Volunteer of the Year.

Nominations can also be made for the

• Marsh Heritage Crafts ‘Made in Britain’ Award.

Prizes
Each award is worth £1,000.

NADFAS Bursary
A bursary offered with the support of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS) and worth up to £5,000 is also available for study in a wide range of heritage crafts such as weaving, basket making, hand engraving, embroidery, stone and wood carving and ironwork.

The awards will be presented at the Heritage Crafts Association’s Annual Conference in May 2017.

The awards and bursaries have been made possible through the generous support of the Heritage Crafts Association’s funding partners, the Marsh Christian Trust and the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS).

Patricia Lovett MBE, Vice-Chair of the Heritage Crafts Association, said, ‘Heritage crafts make up the largest part of the craft sector, yet many heritage crafts are endangered. By funding these bursaries and awards, our partners are helping people learn and preserve these heritage craft skills and heritage crafts. The awards and bursaries make it possible for us to recognise the amazing work being done by skilled craftspeople and volunteers, and the contribution of the heritage crafts to the UK economy. They also make it possible for people to develop their knowledge and passion for heritage crafts, and help ensure these crafts may continue to be enjoyed and practiced by future generations.

‘The heritage crafts sector contributes £4.4 billion GVA in England, as much as the petrochemical industry. But for many years it has been completely ignored and is still not supported by the government. However, these bursaries and awards are a real boost for heritage crafts and craftspeople and mean it is a great time to be working in heritage crafts.’

Craft Fellowships for overseas travel and study, awarded by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and promoted by the Heritage Crafts Association, are also available for craftspeople.

The deadline for applications is 30th November 2016.

Contact Sally Morgan:
info@heritagecrafts.org.uk
www.heritagecrafts.org.uk

awards.heritagecrafts.org.uk