Silversmithing Graduate Apprenticeship Scholarships 2023-24

Call for Applications

Closing date: 5 January 2024

Following the success of its 2023-24 programme, the Trustees of the South House Workshop Trust are delighted to announce up to THREE fully-funded Silversmithing Graduate Scholarships for 2024. These residential scholarships are being made available to accelerate the professional careers of promising silversmiths through four months of intensive training. The four-month long scholarships will give up to three silversmiths the opportunity to learn a variety of silversmithing skills in intensive residential placements with leading silversmiths Rod Kelly based in Shetland and Brett Payne and Chris Perry based in Sheffield. The course will cover in detail: raising, chasing, engraving, soldering, forging, hinge making and hammer work along with discussions about design, marketing and selling.

The Trustees recognise that applicants may have various ongoing commitments and they will try, along with the Master Silversmiths to be very flexible regarding dates and travel. The training will take place in one-month long blocks. Each scholar will be placed for a total of two months with one maker in either Shetland or Sheffield and then placed for a further two months with another maker, in either Shetland or Sheffield. There will be some flexibility both on the makers and on the scholar’s behalf. There will be negotiated travel breaks between the blocks of training to suit each individual and each maker.

Criteria

Successful candidates must be UK residents willing to commit to attending up to four months of training held in one-month blocks within a set timeframe. All applicants must have completed a related BA degree and be a minimum of three years out of University or completed postgraduate training at University or Bishopsland. It would be seen as beneficial if applicants are in the process of running their own workshops and producing and exhibiting their own work.

How to apply

Please forward an up-to-date CV including website and social media links if available. Please also provide up to one written sheet of A4 stating why you feel you would benefit from this training scheme, your aspirations for the future and what most inspires you regarding your silver work. Three past scholars Dr Karen Westland, Alice Fry and Sheng Zhang have said they are available to answer any questions that applicants may have regarding the scholarships. The aim is that following selection by Trustees and Advisors that scholarships will begin in early Spring 2024. Last year’s Trustees report can found on: www.rodkellysilver.co.uk

Applications should be sent to: southhouseworkshoptrust@gmail.com

About the South House Silver Trust

The South House Silver Workshop Trust [Reg Charity No 1151646] was set up in 2013 by master silversmith Rod Kelly (MA RCA). The main focus of the Charity’s artistic and creative activity is to provide intensive training to emerging and established makers in uniquely placed and fully equipped workshops in Shetland. The Charity’s objects are exclusively charitable according to the laws of England and Wales. In particular, the provision of vocational training in the fine and applied arts and need and assistance in the establishment of such persons as craftsmen.

E: southhouseworkshoptrust@gmail.com

W: facebook.com/silverworkshoptrust

W: rodkellysilver.co.uk, brettpayne.com, christopher-perry.co.uk

These scholarships have been made possible by the generous support of:

The Goldsmiths’ Company Charity
The Clothworkers’ Company
The Radcliffe Trust
The South House Silver Workshop Trust
The South Square Trust
The Saunders Family
Argex Ltd
And other donors who prefer to remain anonymous