Training bursary for crafts involving precious metals

£4,000 Precious Metal Bursaries for Training

The Heritage Crafts Association and the Royal Mint 

Deadline: 5pm on Friday 10 March 2023

This training bursary is targeted at trainees and prospective trainees of crafts involving precious metals who are experiencing financial hardship. It is sponsored by The Royal Mint and is one of a suite of awards and bursaries offered by Heritage Crafts to support and celebrate heritage craftspeople.

Apply for up to £4,000 to start training in a precious metal craft or to further develop your skills.

Many people are dissuaded from training in precious metal heritage crafts because of the cost, and therefore the make-up of the sector is not truly representative of the mix of backgrounds that make up the UK as a whole. This bursary has been set up to help cover or subsidise the cost of training for someone who would otherwise be prevented from pursuing this career path as a result of the cost.

You could be just starting out on your journey in precious metal crafts or at the point where you want to turn a hobby into a career, or you could already be a maker who is looking to further develop your precious metal craft skills.

Precious metals crafts are those which feature precious metal as a primary material. They can include but are not limited to jewellery making, silversmithing, coppersmithing, gilding, hand engraving, medal making, silver spinning, metal thread embroidery, engine turning (guilloché), concert flute making.

If you are new to a craft and you would like assistance with finding a trainer, please get in touch and we will do what we can to help. Successful applicants will be supported by the Heritage Crafts team to develop an action plan. We will work with you to monitor progress and support you to achieve your aims.

What can this grant be used for?

There are a number of routes to learning a craft skill. Applicants can apply for a grant for any amount up to £4,000 which can cover or contribute towards:

• the costs of training with a craftsperson;
• the costs of attending a specialist training course;
• the costs of attending an accredited training course;
• undertaking a self-directed programme of training with one or more craftspeople;

The bursary cannot be used for:

• exhibitions or other awareness-raising activities;
• writing publications or books;
• general living expenses;
• marketing activities, website development etc.
• buying specialist tools or materials;
• buying books and study materials.

How to apply

Please apply by completing the application form, which also contains more information about the bursary including the assessment criteria. We will also accept a video application of no more than 10 minutes in length in which you address all of the questions in the form.

Complete the application form here

Assessment, shortlisting and final selection will be carried out by the Heritage Crafts judging team, and interviews will be carried out by Zoom.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 10 March 2023. If you have any questions or need assistance with the application process, please email Mary Lewis at mary@heritagecrafts.org.uk.

For more information:
heritagecrafts.org.uk/precious-metals-bursaries